Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

[CanPopper]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone here can expand the neck area of a RCBS .300 Win Mag small base full length die so it effectively becomes a small base body die.

I've spoken to RCBS about this and they said the neck area has a Rockwell hardness of 60 so they don't want to do it. So I'm wondering if anyone here has some sort of carbide or diamond setup that can expand the neck area of the die so it no longer sizes the neck.

My idea is this way I can use a Redding Neck Sizing die to adjust neck tension instead of being stuck with the default neck tension of the RCBS FL Small Base die.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

I would contact Dave at CH4D. If anyone can he can.
http://www.ch4d.com/
Phone: 740-397-7214

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

Any machine shop with a good set of carbide bits can bore the neck a few thousanths over the normal fired neck diameter and you're done. It's not difficult at all, I've done it by grinding cheap concrete bits and used a drill press. Grinding the cheap bits to the size I wanted was the tricky part. (I've learned to bore from the bottom of the die, not the top, to make a cleaner cut at the shoulder.)

Well, hell, I'll do it for you if you send me the die and pay for the drill bit. PM?

 

[CanPopper]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

Do you also have the ability to polish the enlarged neck area? Otherwise wouldn't a freshly drilled neck portion of the die be quite rough and scar the case neck?

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CanPopper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you also have the ability to polish the enlarged neck area? Otherwise wouldn't a freshly drilled neck portion of the die be quite rough and scar the case neck?

</div></div>
No, you should be opening it up larger than the neck diameter so it should not even touch the neck at all

 

[Jimmym40a2]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

I did this to a 50bmg die. the best was is to check it up in a lathe and use emery cloth on a wood dowel. Wrap it (the emery cloth) around the dowel and move it back and forth to enlarge the hole to the desired depth. The only other was is to have it EDM'ed out to the right size. You will need a good hour+ of polishing to enlarge it.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Looking to turn a Small Base FL die into Body Die

"Do you also have the ability to polish the enlarged neck area? Otherwise wouldn't a freshly drilled neck portion of the die be quite rough and scar the case neck?"

Yeah, I can, just as Jimmy says but it's irrelivant to what's needed. I just smooth the top edge of the shoulder so no burr ring will imprint on the case. As the Mechanic said, IF the die rubs the case neck we can't really call it a 'body die' can we.