Expander Mandrels, who uses them? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

canny · 09-11-2022, 01:09 PM

For ever I’ve always just used factory Redding/RCBS dies and had good results. Recently I’ve ran into a couple problems with 257 WBY (crunching necks during seating) and 7WBY (tight bullet fit). I broke out the calipers and determined that the factory FL dies are creating excessive neck tension, .0045” for 257 WBY and .005” for 7WBY.

I ordered a 21st century body die and expander mandrels that should result in .0025” of neck tension. Hopefully that corrects the issue and also gives more consistent results.

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WTucker · 09-11-2022, 01:15 PM

I use the same 21st century setup for several different calibers. Very happy with it so far and it is really consistent.

Slick8 · 09-11-2022, 01:58 PM

I size .002 under with a FL bushing die then take it to .001 under with a Sinclair mandrel die.

Additionally I anneal after each shot. Imo-if you want the precision dimensions gained from a mandrel die then you should anneal. Without you'll incur spring back from work hardened necks.

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JakeGraves · 09-11-2022, 02:17 PM

I use the same 21st Century expander with .241 insert on all of my competition loads. My process is:
Clean brass in vibratory tumbler to get outside clean
Anneal in AMP
Spray lube with 10% lanolin, 90% alcohol
FL size with SAC FL dies
Clean lube off of cases
Seat primer with 21st Century priming tool
Throw powder charge with AutoTrickler
Seat bullets with Arbor press and in line seating die
Mark brass

Cajun Blake · 09-12-2022, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeGraves

I use the same 21st Century expander with .241 insert on all of my competition loads. My process is:
Clean brass in vibratory tumbler to get outside clean
Anneal in AMP
Spray lube with 10% lanolin, 90% alcohol
FL size with SAC FL dies
Clean lube off of cases
Seat primer with 21st Century priming tool
Throw powder charge with AutoTrickler
Seat bullets with Arbor press and in line seating die
Mark brass

100% spot on if you're serious about consistency and accuracy.

I can say that based on my past experiences and reloading practices, Jake Graves is an ADDICT like me

Notaguide · 09-12-2022, 04:51 PM

Relatively new to reloading (2yrs) but follow a similar process as Jake's. I first encountered inconsistent neck pressure while seating until I started annealing. Then experimented using a K&M neck cutting expander mandrel before taking the leap. Now using K&M -.002 mandrels for the three calibers I load. It does add another step in the process but I don't see going back to a expander ball. After seeing the benefits of both annealing and expander mandrels, I just don't see how anyone achieves consistent neck pressure beyond virgin brass.

texasforever · 09-12-2022, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notaguide

Relatively new to reloading (2yrs) but follow a similar process as Jake's. I first encountered inconsistent neck pressure while seating until I started annealing. Then experimented using a K&M neck cutting expander mandrel before taking the leap. Now using K&M -.002 mandrels for the three calibers I load. It does add another step in the process but I don't see going back to a expander ball. After seeing the benefits of both annealing and expander mandrels, I just don't see how anyone achieves consistent neck pressure beyond virgin brass.

What if I told you even virgin wasn’t consistent

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Notaguide · 09-12-2022, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texasforever

What if I told you even virgin wasn’t consistent

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I'll have to take your word for it. I would have been super excited just to find once fired brass

texasforever · 09-11-2022, 09:00 PM

Well I was gonna give my two cents, but it seems jake said all that needs to be said

stick to that process and ammo is never the issue

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Mike D · 09-12-2022, 07:40 PM

I do very similar to what Jake does, except I anneal after sizing/trimming/cleaning and just before seating bullets.

The force gauge on my arbor press shows much more consistent seating tension by annealing just before seating.

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kck · 09-12-2022, 10:09 PM

I do but not to achieve a final size. I use an expander mandrel a half a thou over the mandrel on my K&M neck turner to eliminate as much wobble and uneven cut as possible. My final sizing is done with the bushing in the FL sizer needed to give me 2 thou tension with respect to the thickness of the necks I choose to turn to.

09-11-2022, 01:09 PM	#1
canny Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montgomery County Hunt In: Houston & Zavalla	Expander Mandrels, who uses them? For ever I’ve always just used factory Redding/RCBS dies and had good results. Recently I’ve ran into a couple problems with 257 WBY (crunching necks during seating) and 7WBY (tight bullet fit). I broke out the calipers and determined that the factory FL dies are creating excessive neck tension, .0045” for 257 WBY and .005” for 7WBY. I ordered a 21st century body die and expander mandrels that should result in .0025” of neck tension. Hopefully that corrects the issue and also gives more consistent results. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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09-11-2022, 01:15 PM	#2
WTucker Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Orangefield Hunt In: Harper, TX and Sour Lake, TX	I use the same 21st century setup for several different calibers. Very happy with it so far and it is really consistent.

09-11-2022, 01:58 PM	#3
Slick8 Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Richmond, Texas Hunt In: In the woods	I size .002 under with a FL bushing die then take it to .001 under with a Sinclair mandrel die. Additionally I anneal after each shot. Imo-if you want the precision dimensions gained from a mandrel die then you should anneal. Without you'll incur spring back from work hardened necks. Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

09-11-2022, 02:17 PM	#4
JakeGraves Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Hunt In: Bronte, TX	I use the same 21st Century expander with .241 insert on all of my competition loads. My process is: Clean brass in vibratory tumbler to get outside clean Anneal in AMP Spray lube with 10% lanolin, 90% alcohol FL size with SAC FL dies Clean lube off of cases Seat primer with 21st Century priming tool Throw powder charge with AutoTrickler Seat bullets with Arbor press and in line seating die Mark brass

09-12-2022, 04:51 PM	#6
Notaguide Eight Point Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waco - Rockport Hunt In: Evant	Relatively new to reloading (2yrs) but follow a similar process as Jake's. I first encountered inconsistent neck pressure while seating until I started annealing. Then experimented using a K&M neck cutting expander mandrel before taking the leap. Now using K&M -.002 mandrels for the three calibers I load. It does add another step in the process but I don't see going back to a expander ball. After seeing the benefits of both annealing and expander mandrels, I just don't see how anyone achieves consistent neck pressure beyond virgin brass.

09-11-2022, 09:00 PM	#9
texasforever Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: wharton Hunt In: lavaca co.	Well I was gonna give my two cents, but it seems jake said all that needs to be said stick to that process and ammo is never the issue Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09-12-2022, 07:40 PM	#10
Mike D Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Texas Hunt In: Haskell County, TX	I do very similar to what Jake does, except I anneal after sizing/trimming/cleaning and just before seating bullets. The force gauge on my arbor press shows much more consistent seating tension by annealing just before seating. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

09-12-2022, 10:09 PM	#11
kck Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: La Grange, TX Hunt In: Fayette, Colorado and Maverick County	I do but not to achieve a final size. I use an expander mandrel a half a thou over the mandrel on my K&M neck turner to eliminate as much wobble and uneven cut as possible. My final sizing is done with the bushing in the FL sizer needed to give me 2 thou tension with respect to the thickness of the necks I choose to turn to.