Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

[TAC308]

First off, I'm attempting to reload my once fired Southwest Ammo Winchester .308 brass.

If I follow the RCBS directions for choosing neck bushing I'm confused. Here's why:

1. An unfired SW ammo cartridge measures .334", subtract .002"-.003" = .332"-.331"

2. A fired brass has a neck thickness of .015". If I multiply by 2 + .308" then subtract .001" = .337"

Then, RCBS "suggests that you have neck bushings one to two sizes above and below your target diameter. "

I don't know about you, but I don't have $25 EACH to try out a bunch of bushing sizes.

I'm hoping that someone can help me determine a good bushing size, because you can probably see why I'm confused on where to start!

Thanks in advance.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First off, I'm attempting to reload my once fired Southwest Ammo Winchester .308 brass.

If I follow the RCBS directions for choosing neck bushing I'm confused. Here's why:

1. An unfired SW ammo cartridge measures .334", subtract .002"-.003" = .332"-.331"

2. A fired brass has a neck thickness of .015". If I multiply by 2 + .308" then subtract .001" = .337"

Then, RCBS "suggests that you have neck bushings one to two sizes above and below your target diameter. "

I don't know about you, but I don't have $25 EACH to try out a bunch of bushing sizes.

I'm hoping that someone can help me determine a good bushing size, because you can probably see why I'm confused on where to start!

Thanks in advance. </div></div>

You are not getting a good neck thickness measurement. All of the Winchester brass I've measured using a good ball mic. is close to 0.013" +/- 0.0005" or so.

The other problem is that you actually do need several different bushings to reliably get to your desired neck size. This is especially true when you have to resize the neck more than about 0.005" because then you will need to resize your necks in two steps or they tend to come out oversized (too inconsistently too small) and concentricity can be hurt. Following German Salazar's testing and trying it out for myself I found that he is right and that when using bushing dies this is the only way to reliably achieve perfect neck sizing hence bullet tension. Look at this LINK and read it carefully to see what I am talking about.

Hope this helps!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

You just opened a can of worms man.

I've got once fired Winchester that measures ~ .345... which according to the link you provide I'll need to re-size twice...

This is turning into a science project from hell. I thought reloading was fun???

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

How do you know when you have the "right" amount of neck tension??

 

[ED_RN]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Ideally for single feeding you want 0.001" neck tension, for feeding from a magazine in a bolt gun 0.002", and 0.003" for auto loaders feeding from a magazine.

I would think that 331 would be about 0.002" tension most WW brass. So about plus or minus 0.001" would be a good range. Do not buy the titanium bushings the steel one are cheaper....

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

"I don't know about you, but I don't have $25 EACH to try out a bunch of bushing sizes."

Nor do I. So I use Lee Collet Neck sizers. They work great no matter what neck thickness I have.

How much "tension?" Well, actually what you're talking about is and interference fit between the neck and the bullet. Any difference greater than 1 - 1.5 thou means nothing to actual bullet grip, smaller necks just take more bullet seating effort to stretch the brass passed its eleastic limit.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

I'm feeding my bolt gun via 10 round magazine.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"I don't know about you, but I don't have $25 EACH to try out a bunch of bushing sizes."

Nor do I. So I use Lee Collet Neck sizers. They work great no matter what neck thickness I have.

How much "tension?" Well, actually what you're talking about is and interference fit between the neck and the bullet. Any difference greater than 1 - 1.5 thou means nothing to actual bullet grip, smaller necks just take more bullet seating effort to stretch the brass passed its eleastic limit.</div></div>

I need to work with the RCBS die that I have...

Thanks for clarifying the tension. So, basically the bullet will "force" the brass back out? If so, why don't I choose a "tight" bushing and be done with it???

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You just opened a can of worms man.

I've got once fired Winchester that measures ~ .345... which according to the link you provide I'll need to re-size twice...

This is turning into a science project from hell. I thought reloading was fun??? </div></div>

Tac308,

Is this for a bolt gun? I just remembered that RCBS Gold Metal dies are FL neck bushing dies similar to the Redding Type S Match FL dies. I'm using a .308 Redding Competition die set along with a Redding Type S Match FL bushing die in a Dillon RL550B progressive press. I neck size using the Redding Comp neck bushing die with the larger 0.005" chunk of neck sizing to be done then finish the case off with a FL resize and the selected target neck size bushing. Works great with very precise neck resizing. It's not so bad really and the shooting results are excellent. Aren't RCBS steel bushings only $12 or so like the Redding bushings? I'm running the Redding Titainium Nitride bushings and have about 7 of the things but they do seem to work better than plain steel bushings. If you have a lot of brass you will find that some batches are different and require a range of bushings to get the desired neck tension.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Yes, this is for a bolt gun that I'll be using a 10 round magazine for.

Thanks

 

[SPAK]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"I don't know about you, but I don't have $25 EACH to try out a bunch of bushing sizes."

Nor do I. So I use Lee Collet Neck sizers. They work great no matter what neck thickness I have.

How much "tension?" Well, actually what you're talking about is and interference fit between the neck and the bullet. Any difference greater than 1 - 1.5 thou means nothing to actual bullet grip, smaller necks just take more bullet seating effort to stretch the brass passed its eleastic limit.</div></div>

I need to work with the RCBS die that I have...

Thanks for clarifying the tension. So, basically the bullet will "force" the brass back out? If so, why don't I choose a "tight" bushing and be done with it??? </div></div>

Trying to seat a bullet into a neck that's too small will probably just increase runout and make it difficult for consistent seating depths. Doesn't do anything good to the bullet, might deform or shave some of the jacket it on the seating which is never good. You're definitely working the brass more than it has to. Bullets aren't really meant to be used as expanders for the brass.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frogman77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Trying to seat a bullet into a neck that's too small will probably just increase runout and make it difficult for consistent seating depths. Doesn't do anything good to the bullet, might deform or shave some of the jacket it on the seating which is never good. You're definitely working the brass more than it has to. Bullets aren't really meant to be used as expanders for the brass. </div></div>

OP,

I agree with the frogman's post. Neck tension and concentricity issues aside if you have oversized your case necks (made them smaller than necessary) you will deform and damage your bullets which is not good for accuracy. Simply scraping a small bit of the jacket off or gouging the boat tail will change your bullet's flight path. It doesn't take much to make one bullet fly different from the others which ruins accuracy.

I am familiar with this problem and learned about it the hard way. I was having accuracy problems with a known good load using the same batch of primers, powder, cases and bullets. Wondering what I did wrong I found all of the cases measured externally perfect, datum line and ogive were perfect for this rifle. So I had to disassemble a few rounds only to discover that I had to disassemble the rest of the batch of 100 rounds to fix the problem. I found after disassembling a few rounds that I had not changed the neck bushings when I changed batches of brass causing the necks to be oversized (too tight) which caused deformed and damaged bullets. I considered to damage to be minor (small grooves, a few burrs in the jackets of the SMK175's I was using) but it was more than enough to make this batch fly unpredictably past 400 yards. After disassembly, cleaning up the necks by running the neck ball through the case mouths and resizing using a two-stage neck resize these cases again shot like they were supposed to. But the bullets never shot right again no matter what I did to them so they got tossed out.

We are for the most part all here to share information and experience. Learn from my mistake and the huge experience in that link I posted. Bite the bullet and buy or borrow a ball mic so you can accuracy measure your case necks and a small range of bushings for your neck bushing dies. You will be paid back with much improved accuracy and having the right bushings on hand for two-stage neck resizing and the possibility of needing different bushings as your collection of brass grows.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

"So, basically the bullet will "force" the brass back out? If so, why don't I choose a "tight" bushing and be done with it??"

Well, added runout IS the common result of excessive "bullet tension", ie, more than maybe 1.5 - 2 thou, and many guys seem to target 3 - 4 thou for some reason. ?? But, sure, seating does make the bullet into the final 'expander' in any case.

Your question about finding the 'right' size neck bushing is why many of us avoid bushing sizers and choose Lee's Collet Die instead. Bushings work great for brass that's been neck turned to a consistant thickness to match a tight necked chamber but few of us have that. Those of us using factory SAAMI chambers and common cases already have a sloppy neck fit. Turning necks will certianly reduce case runout but going thinner than a bare minimum simply serves to make the sloppy fit even worse.

Fun is where you find it. Either we enjoy the pursuit of accuracy or we don't; reloading will never replace spin-the-bottle for party fun.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, this is for a bolt gun that I'll be using a 10 round magazine for.

Thanks </div></div>

TAC308,

I forgot to mention that do not turn my necks and use 0.001 neck tension no problems in my Remington 700. I find this is a good number when I use the two-stage neck sizing method. The necks are sized virtually perfect this way and the neck grip seems pretty consistent especially when using Imperial neck lube with Imperial lube media.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Thank you all for your input.

I thought I was doing good to buy the gold medal die set when I saw it on sale at Midway a few months ago...oh well...

So, if I don't mind spending money on the cheaper steel bushings can I use the die that I have?? Or should I just use the bullet seating die and buy a Lee Collet die?

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thank you all for your input.

I thought I was doing good to buy the gold medal die set when I saw it on sale at Midway a few months ago...oh well...

So, if I don't mind spending money on the cheaper steel bushings can I use the die that I have?? Or should I just use the bullet seating die and buy a Lee Collet die?

</div></div>


Notthing wrong with the RCBS bushing dies. Just use the steel bushings and be sure to lube the cases using graphite. It will work just fine.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Okay... bushings are on order. I went with the steel bushings since they were cheaper than the Tungsten (.331-.334 and a .338 for those "wide" mouths

I remeasured the fired brass... and when I put more pressure on the mic I came up with .013" which is closer to an unfired round which makes sense.

I guess if you don't put enough pressure on the mic when measuring fired brass the radius can through off the measurement???

At any rate, I'm set to go once the bushings arrive. Oh, and I'm going with ultrasonic to clean the brass.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

I have another question - how do I know when I have enough bullet tension? Do you guys pull on the bullet?? What's the trick??

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay... bushings are on order. I went with the steel bushings since they were cheaper than the Tungsten (.331-.334 and a .338 for those "wide" mouths

I remeasured the fired brass... and when I put more pressure on the mic I came up with .013" which is closer to an unfired round which makes sense.

I guess if you don't put enough pressure on the mic when measuring fired brass the radius can through off the measurement???

At any rate, I'm set to go once the bushings arrive. Oh, and I'm going with ultrasonic to clean the brass.

</div></div>


TAC308,

It will all work out fine. Be sure to tty the two stage neck sizing by first using about a 0.335" bushing to start with and then a second stage down to 0.332" or some combination of bushings that make the larger step first and the second step less than a 0.004" difference. I think you will see that the finished neck size almost perfectly matches your final bushing size. In any case the results will be much better than doing a single stage from fired brass case to final neck size bushing. If you don't use the two stage sizing you may need to go up a couple bushing sizes form your calculated target neck bushing size to avoid making the case necks too small and worse, unpredicatable in net neck size and neck tension. This ruins vertical repeatability and can give you stringing.

You should probably just buy an inexpensive ball mic instead of forcing your calipers to do a different tool's job. I've seen decent ball mics on sale for under $40 you just have to be patient. Putting extra force on your calipers is just going to damage them and give you an incorrect reading. It is cheaper to buy the right tool for this than to wreck your existing measurement tools.

Which ultrasonic cleaner are you going to go with? I bought some ultrasonic cleaner but have not managed to get over to Harbor Freight yet to see if they have something usable or not.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

I have some fired cases that are ~ .345" (Winchester)

The largest bushing I have is .338" then .334" to .331"

So, I planned to use the .338" then .331" or .332" OR would you first use the .334" then .331" or .332"?

Thanks for the info on the ball mic. I didn't know that calipers weren't the best tool to measure brass wall thickness...

I went with the Lymann ultrasonic cleaner from Midway for ~ $110. Vinegar has been found to clean very well - http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have some fired cases that are ~ .345" (Winchester)

The largest bushing I have is .338" then .334" to .331"

So, I planned to use the .338" then .331" or .332" OR would you first use the .334" then .331" or .332"?

Thanks for the info on the ball mic. I didn't know that calipers weren't the best tool to measure brass wall thickness...

I went with the Lymann ultrasonic cleaner from Midway for ~ $110. Vinegar has been found to clean very well - http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html </div></div>

TAC308,

Wow, your fired brass measures 0.345" at the neck? That's a little bit larger than I would expect, 0.340"- 0.342" seems typical but the difference is not that big. Sure, I would try the 0.338" and then down to your target neck size of 0.332" but you might find that you need to buy a 0.337" or 0.336" bushing to get the best results from two stage neck sizing. You just want to make the second stage to neck sizing no more than a 0.005" jump.

Please don't take it the wrong way I didn't mean to slam you I wanted to help you get the best possible results with the least amount of frustration.

Keep us posted on how well the ultrasonic cleaner works!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Man, are you kidding? I appreciate you teaching me something...

I figured you'd recommend a .336" bushing, so I went ahead and ordered one with a RCBS ball mic.

Thanks for your help!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Okay guys, I think a .333" is a little too tight. Because I can see a tad bit of copper near the neck on SOME of the reloads... so, I'm guessing that the ass end of the bullet is being peeled...

I bought a ball mic and remeasured the Win brass... and sure enough it was .013" - Thanks for that tip YAOG.

So, I used the RCBS recommended size derived from the the math .013 x 2 + .308 - .001 = .333".

So, I guess I'm going to go up to a .334" or .335" until I don't see peeled copper anymore?? Please help.

Also, I made up a few different roads for load development and I'd hate to toss them because of this. Has anyone had the peeled copper scenario and still had great accuracy for load developemnt?

Thanks!

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay guys, I think a .333" is a little too tight. Because I can see a tad bit of copper near the neck on SOME of the reloads... so, I'm guessing that the ass end of the bullet is being peeled...

I bought a ball mic and remeasured the Win brass... and sure enough it was .013" - Thanks for that tip YAOG.

So, I used the RCBS recommended size derived from the the math .013 x 2 + .308 - .001 = .333".

So, I guess I'm going to go up to a .334" or .335" until I don't see peeled copper anymore?? Please help.

Also, I made up a few different roads for load development and I'd hate to toss them because of this. Has anyone had the peeled copper scenario and still had great accuracy for load developemnt?

Thanks! </div></div>


TAC308,

If you measured your case necks carefully you should not be having this problem. Could the problem be caused by sharp case necks or an obstruction in your bullet seater causing poor seating?

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay guys, I think a .333" is a little too tight. Because I can see a tad bit of copper near the neck on SOME of the reloads... so, I'm guessing that the ass end of the bullet is being peeled...

I bought a ball mic and remeasured the Win brass... and sure enough it was .013" - Thanks for that tip YAOG.

So, I used the RCBS recommended size derived from the the math .013 x 2 + .308 - .001 = .333".

So, I guess I'm going to go up to a .334" or .335" until I don't see peeled copper anymore?? Please help.

Also, I made up a few different roads for load development and I'd hate to toss them because of this. Has anyone had the peeled copper scenario and still had great accuracy for load developemnt?

Thanks! </div></div>


Oh I forgot to ask you, what bullets are you using? Also was this a 2-stage neck resize? If so was your last neck sizing pass less than 0.005"? This is the problem with neck sizing more than 0.005", the brass ends up being sized too much and the necks finish SMALLER than your target neck size.

HTH!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

I took my time measuring the brass. Granted I only measured a handfull of cases, but do I really need to adjust the bushing size for each case???

I'm using SMK 175 bullets.

The neck size was around .345" and I was necking them down to .333" in one step. I'm setting the bushing to about halfway down the neck, so there is a crease on the neck between the old size and new size.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I took my time measuring the brass. Granted I only measured a handfull of cases, but do I really need to adjust the bushing size for each case???

I'm using SMK 175 bullets.

The neck size was around .345" and I was necking them down to .333" in one step. I'm setting the bushing to about halfway down the neck, so there is a crease on the neck between the old size and new size. </div></div>

Hi TAC308,

You probably over sized the necks by making the jump from 0.345" to 0.333" all in one step. Measure a sized but un-assembled case neck to see what the outside neck measurements are. Chances are good that they are probably too tight now and this is what is scraping and damaging your bullets. Over sizing and wrecking concentricity is what 2-step neck sizing avoids. Also the partial neck sizing is not good, size the whole length of the neck to avoid the step in the neck.

HTH!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Thanks YAOG.

I'll try the .338" then .334" on the next batch.

So, do I have a ruined batch now??? Should I pull all the bullets and start over???

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

I think I found a problem...

When I use a .338" bushing and size a Win brass that starts off at .345" I get .332" as my final outside diameter!!!! WTF!!!?!

I'm about over these damn bushings....

PLEASE HELP.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think I found a problem...

When I use a .338" bushing and size a Win brass that starts off at .345" I get .332" as my final outside diameter!!!! WTF!!!?!

I'm about over these damn bushings....

PLEASE HELP.

</div></div>


TAC308,

That smaller neck than the bushing you picked result is called oversizing! Did you read the German Salazr article I posted above? Oversizing as you have found is not no B.S. but an issue caused by trying to make too big a change in neck size in one step. Did you rear the article I posted previously? If not here it is again: <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Two-Step Sizing and Concentricity.</span></span> This is good stuff to know and is likely the cause of the bullet jacket damage you have.

 

[BK7saum]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay guys, I think a .333" is a little too tight. Because I can see a tad bit of copper near the neck on SOME of the reloads... so, I'm guessing that the ass end of the bullet is being peeled...

I bought a ball mic and remeasured the Win brass... and sure enough it was .013" - Thanks for that tip YAOG.

So, I used the RCBS recommended size derived from the the math .013 x 2 + .308 - .001 = .333".

So, I guess I'm going to go up to a .334" or .335" until I don't see peeled copper anymore?? Please help.

Also, I made up a few different roads for load development and I'd hate to toss them because of this. Has anyone had the peeled copper scenario and still had great accuracy for load developemnt?

Thanks! </div></div>

How are you chamfering the inside of the case necks? I found that using a 22 degree VLD chamfer minimizes scraping of the bullet jacket during seating.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BLK7</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay guys, I think a .333" is a little too tight. Because I can see a tad bit of copper near the neck on SOME of the reloads... so, I'm guessing that the ass end of the bullet is being peeled...

I bought a ball mic and remeasured the Win brass... and sure enough it was .013" - Thanks for that tip YAOG.

So, I used the RCBS recommended size derived from the the math .013 x 2 + .308 - .001 = .333".

So, I guess I'm going to go up to a .334" or .335" until I don't see peeled copper anymore?? Please help.

Also, I made up a few different roads for load development and I'd hate to toss them because of this. Has anyone had the peeled copper scenario and still had great accuracy for load developemnt?

Thanks! </div></div>

How are you chamfering the inside of the case necks? I found that using a 22 degree VLD chamfer minimizes scraping of the bullet jacket during seating. </div></div>


He has oversized his necks by making too big a jump in sizing.

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

So are you telling me that I have to size (4) times?

.345" to .340" to .335" to .333"

FUCK THAT. There has got to be a better way to neck size................I'm so frustrated with this reloading crap.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So are you telling me that I have to size (4) times?

.345" to .340" to .335" to .333"

FUCK THAT. There has got to be a better way to neck size................I'm so frustrated with this reloading crap. </div></div>


No I'm sugessting that you try the two-stage neck size per the article. Make your first pass a 0.338" and your final neck size 0.333" and your necks will be sized nearly perfectly once you break out of the odd sizing you made. You will need to use a die with an internal neck expander to even out your cases with stepped necks and then go back and size the necks again. The trick is that once you have used the expander ball you need to measure your cases to make sure whatever bushings you use that you come up with a combination that brings you to the second and final neck bushing step 0.005" or less.

For example let's say your necks after using a die with expander are at 0.338" (I have no idea what neck size you will wind up with because you have done strange things to your case necks) you will need to use a 0.333" bushing to get to 0.333" neck size. Or say your expanded necks are 0.340", start with your 0.336" bushing and finish with your 0.333" bushing. You will in the end have a good 0.333" neck if you follow these directions.

Look at it this way, you got to learn a lot about case sizing and your brass got a little bit more of a work out than you did. Brass is inexpensive and your experience level is better for it. Keep us posted on your results!

HTH!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

Okay, thanks for the advice.

Please know, that I could care less about using the (40) rounds that I have made for "load development" at this point... since they were sized once (and have a crease because I didn't have the bushing set low enough), and they are peeling the ass off the bullet. I'll use them for shooting plates or something...

I'll start over with (40) once fired cases. I'll size them with a .338" then with a .333". Then I'll chamfer the inside of the neck slightly, then throw my powder and load a bullet.

Geez... I'll be better after all this, I promise... thanks for the help man!

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay, thanks for the advice.

Please know, that I could care less about using the (40) rounds that I have made for "load development" at this point... since they were sized once (and have a crease because I didn't have the bushing set low enough), and they are peeling the ass off the bullet. I'll use them for shooting plates or something...

I'll start over with (40) once fired cases. I'll size them with a .338" then with a .333". Then I'll chamfer the inside of the neck slightly, then throw my powder and load a bullet.

Geez... I'll be better after all this, I promise... thanks for the help man! </div></div>


TAC308,

I think you should try using your "stepped" cases to confirm what I posted is working for you or not. Be sure to follow the die instructions for seating the bushing in the die body. I do not have an RCBS neck bushing die (I have a Redding die) and the RCBS GM dies may or may not be different. The Redding Type S Match Full Length bushing dies allow the neck bushing to "float" to self center on the case as it sits in the FL sizing die reducing run-out. Seems to work pretty well as this is confirmed by testing using a run-out fixture.

The stepped cases should size O.K. but may have a bit more run-out, not a deal breaker and you will not have to toss the brass. You cal also use old or odd ball cases for setting up your dies without messing up your working brass. I use brass that I do not want to load for "testers" and as case gauges for the Redding instant comparator. This allows me to have a preassembled perfect dimensional dummy round to use in the comparator to quickly confirm my setup before I start a batch of a particular operation like sizing or seating.

I wish you were local I'd show you or come over and help you. It is really an interesting technical challenge to work this stuff out and it's entertaining and saves me money on ammo. Of course the problem is that I spent that saved money on more loading equipment, tools and toys. LOL!

HTH!

 

[TAC308]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

YAOG,

Question - if after sizing my .345" necks with a .338" and the results are .333", what is the point in sizing them again with a .333" bushing??

Thanks man!

 

[YAOG]

Re: Neck Bushing Size - RCBS Gold Medal Die

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TAC308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">YAOG,

Question - if after sizing my .345" necks with a .338" and the results are .333", what is the point in sizing them again with a .333" bushing??

Thanks man! </div></div>

I was just throwing out examples there. If indeed you started with a 0.0345" neck and used a 0.338" bushing and ALL of the necks are 0.333" after the 0.338" bushing leave them alone. If you have a few that are still too large run them through the 0.333" to finish them off. I think that with your stepped necks you should first run an expander ball through all of them first and then do the first neck sizing and go from there. But try the expander ball on one or two before you do the whole batch.

HTH!

If that happens