Case Neck Tension

[Black_Talon]

Don't know where in SoCal you're located, but the Angeles Reloading Store carries both the steel Wilson bushings and the titanium nitride Redding bushings.

[smokingloon]

There's the problem.
You need a bushing if you want the neck sized.

It's not a surprise that the neck will not hold a bullet as you have not sized the neck.
The die only sizes the body.
The bushing sizes the neck.

I just figured they all sized the neck. Learned something new today.

I'll just get the .335 and call it a day.

[ar15barrels]

I just figured they all sized the neck. Learned something new today.

I'll just get the .335 and call it a day.

Measure some loaded case neck diameters on some ammo that uses the same brass.
Subtract 0.002" from that dimension and buy THAT bushing.

Also, switch out the expander button on your decaping stem for the one in the little bag in your die box.

[Gnzrme]

I have the same die in both full and neck sizing...neither one came with a little bag with an expander button....

[ar15barrels]

I have the same die in both full and neck sizing...neither one came with a little bag with an expander button....

See the little bag below?

This is everything that came with my set.

That's the non-expanding decapping pin retainer.
The expander button is shown installed on the decapping stem of the dis-assembled die.

If you bought the dies new, call redding.
If you bought used, then the seller kept them...

[ar15barrels]

I am currently not running any sort of bushing.

Currently using a dial caliper to make measurements.

This is everything that came with my set.

Something else I just noticed...
See that little knurled nut on the decapping stem?
That's supposed to be tightened against the bushing height adjuster to lock the decapping stem in place.

Once you have the bushing, you have two adjustments.
FIRST, you adjust how much of the neck is going to be sized by the bushing.
This is done by turning the large threaded piece into and out of the die body, then setting the lock ring.
After that, check how much decapping pin is protruding out the bottom of the die.
You want about 1/4" sticking down, nothing more and nothing less.
You have to remove the bushing height adjuster from the die body to adjust the decapping stem protrusion so be careful not to disturb where the lock ring is set.
Make your adjustment to the decapping stem as needed, then tighten the small locknut to retain the decapping stem protrusion adjustment.