Straight decapping rod (no ball expander)

[divingin]

Expanders help with projectile insertion (for ease as well as to prevent shaving) and proper neck to projectile tension.

A sizing die that is equipped with an expander ball is generally designed to size the neck smaller-than-desired; the ball then opens it up to the proper diameter as it is pulled back through the case neck. This allows brass with different neck wall thicknesses to all end up about correct for holding the bullet without needing too much seating force (as the final sizing step is done from the inside.)

Getting rid of the expander ball (or reducing the diameter) will result in the inside neck diameter of the sized brass being smaller than intended. That may or may nor make a difference to you. You can test it out by sizing the brass with the expander, removing it and sizing it again. Check to make sure your bullet seating operation will work (too small a diameter may cause you to collapse shoulders and such.)

[tabascoz28]

The new decapping rod comes today so after tomorrow's range day I'll know if my current expanderless setup is ok for the nato brass (Frontier) brass. I may put the expander back in if I don't need to lube the inside of the case. That Hornady One Shot worked great actually, made it feel like my regular die with lanolin.

[jtv3062]

So do those pin retainers work on neck sizing dies or did they give you the whole rod?
I'm expanding the necks in a separate operation. I have found that the necks get a little deformed with the expander button when the brass comes out of the forming dies.

[boyguan]

if your decapping only, why not get the squirrel daddy rods. I use them in my universal lee dies.

https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Daddy-Hardened-Decapping-Upgrade/dp/B018V7L3C2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=decapping+rod&qid=1609798990&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-5

[ar15barrels]

No, I'm hoping this small base takes care of all that.

The shoulder LENGTH is usually what's causing tight ammo, not the case body diameters.
That being the case, the small base won't help unless the standard die is faulty.

What you really need to do is learn how to adjust the dies.

[tabascoz28]

The new rounds worked well in all my barrels, small base without expander ball, One Shot. I've got the expander ball coming and will make my next batch with it.

I know this proves nothing, it may be that my die got lose in the press. The only problem that I have been able to eliminate is dirt and grime cause I cleaned the hell out of the chambers, (which I never have to do with the M&P15). Ha ha

[tabascoz28]

Got the regular decapping pin with the regular expander ball, worked fine as well. I think it was just the bad process of my lubing the cases. One shot has been working great, much better than lanolin as far as no clean up and easy of use. Just costs....

[sigstroker]

I have not been measuring the shoulder, just dropping them in a finished case gauge. At one point I had a crimp problem, it would crush the shoulder, so I used the gauge and checked all 500 of my last batch and cleaned and readjusted the crimp die. This was never an issue until the new barrels. I even have that White Oak that didn't have this issue either.

Thank you for giving me something else to think about. What method do you recommend for adjusting shoulder on a 223 in a progressive. I've done it with a redding die, Rock Chucker and special shell holders for my 308.

A Dillon case gauge will show if the shoulder isn't being bumped back enough. Since I only load for autoloaders I run the case all the way in, shellholder solidly against the die base. Never had a case fail a check wrt shoulder.

[sigstroker]

if your decapping only, why not get the squirrel daddy rods. I use them in my universal lee dies.

https://www.amazon.com/Squirrel-Dadd...g-goods&sr=1-5

I use a Lee decapping die, works with every case.

[tabascoz28]

I have an orange Lyman case gauge, is the Dillon special?