Users of Forster custom neck honed die.

[whatsupdoc]

I am looking to have my Forster FL 6.5 creed die honed to .2890, this will give me the same neck tension that I am using with my bushing die. Or maybe a little tighter to .2885.

Are you guys using the expander? Does it make a difference in runout?

I really do not want to use the expander avoiding lubing the inside of the neck.

 

[Hondo64d]

I don’t use the expander in my honed dies. One of the reasons I got them honed is so I wouldn’t have to use the expander.

John

 

[ZiaHunter]

Have a Forster Dasher die with the neck honed to .265. Settled on this dimension by experimenting with different bushings to get the desired tension. Used an arbor press with pressure gauge and chamber seating die to to determine. Use the die without an expander and TIR is approximately .0005 or less. You should be gtg at .2885. BTW I turn necks.

 

[Sheldon N]

I use an expander, but not the Forster one. I expand separately using a Sinclair carbide turning mandrel which is 0.002 smaller than bullet diameter. Forster die is honed to 0.0035 smaller than loaded round, then expander pushes it back out to 0.002 tension. No turn necks.

I like the expander die because it takes care of case mouth dents from shooting matches or dropping brass on the ground and accidentally stepping on it, etc.

 

[mi223]

I use an expander, but not the Forster one. I expand separately using a Sinclair carbide turning mandrel which is 0.002 smaller than bullet diameter. Forster die is honed to 0.0035 smaller than loaded round, then expander pushes it back out to 0.002 tension. No turn necks.

I like the expander die because it takes care of case mouth dents from shooting matches or dropping brass on the ground and accidentally stepping on it, etc.

I will admit that I havent done a lot of experimenting with this, but it only makes sense to me to size from the inside. The bullet seats on the inside so why wouldn't you size from the inside? (rhetorical question, i know lots of guys have other theories) if sizing from the outside your neck thickness is always a variable. Neck turning reduces this but it is still a variable. Just my honest opinion.

 

[natdscott]

Sizing with mandrels from the inside can induce concentricity errors because the body and shoulder of the casing are not supported. The theory of self-alignment via 'float' is cool, but it doesn't always hold up.

IF a guy wants to do that approach, I strongly suggest he be running the rounds over a wheel. This is not necessarily a CONSTANT QA/QC procedure, but it can be used to diagnose the presence of, and quantitatively represent, procedural and equipmental issues leading to TIR.

Among other things, a concentricity tool at least allows you to intelligently answer the question: "What is this mandrel and die giving me compared to just the sizer, and is that acceptable?"

 

[padom]

Using a mandrel actually gives the least amount of runout of any method I have tested. I have been resizing and tested extensively them all from FL dies with and without expander, bushing dies, collet, mandrels, etc.

I have consistent TIR of .0005 when using a Forster honed FL sizing die with no expander button honed to .004" under final neck diamater than a 21st Century TiN expander mandrel to set final .002 neck tension. I do this with 6.5cm, .223, 6.5x47L, .308 and .300blk. All on a Forster Co-Ax and tested after each step with a 21st Century Concentricity guage. A close second with least amount of runout is a Forster FL sizing die with their high expander button installed.

I havent seen or experienced this method inducing runout...

 

[918v]

I use custom honed necks but still have to expand because Forster will not hone the neck to the size I need.

Second, I doubt Forster will hone your neck to .2895” due to eccentricity concerns, but maybe they will. I’m not an expert on 264 calibers.

Third, use imperial graphite on the inside of the neck and an expander mandrel. You can leave the graphite in the neck and just go ahead and charge and seat. There aren’t any concentricity issues with that process. I get zero to .003” TIR with shit brass.

 

[Sheldon N]

Sizing with mandrels from the inside can induce concentricity errors because the body and shoulder of the casing are not supported. The theory of self-alignment via 'float' is cool, but it doesn't always hold up.

I've tested extensively and the mandrel induces no runout for me. Nice, dead straight cases, even though I'm doing it on a Dillon 550.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Ok, going to have to decide what direction to take. I am glad I asked the question, many times using a proven method helps increase ones sanity.

All I know is, every time I ask a question on how to do something it costs me money