RCBS two-die set expander problems?

Chrossphyre

Chrossphyre

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I worked up some loads for my A/R (NEA 1st Gen 10.5 CQB for those who may be interested and NO I'm not interested in hearing all the anti-NEA comments about my baby, which runs like a swiss watch) using Varget and a Hornady 55g FMJ boattail. These have loaded for me just fine. During the recent period of scarce reloading components I bought a couple of boxes of Hornady flat base spire points of the same weight. After reloading a pile of the BT's, I decided, since I had the press all set up (single stage Rockchucker II for those who may be interested and YES I agree, it is a truly great press). However, when I went to seat the bullet, it crushed the neck. I checked to make sure I had the right calibre, and yes, it's good. So I'm thinking the expander isn't enlarging the case mouth enough although the primer pin is down plenty far enough to pop the primer. I didn't have more time to devote to the mystery that evening. And since I know there are any number of grizzled reloaders out there in their dark basements, surrounded by part-pounds of powder still in metal cans and sets of dies in calibres not in general use since the Boer War, who are just itching to share their hard-won knowledge, I thought I'd ask here first.

Anyone had this issue, or any bright ideas?
 
The thickness of the case neck, annealing and brass spring back will effect neck tension, meaning the inside diameter of the case neck.

Try using a VLD Inside Chamfer Tool, it "eliminates damage to bullets caused by the sharp edges of cartridge case necks
The sharp 22 degrees on the VLD reamer allows all bullets to slip easily into the case ensuring the best accuracy."

http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-VLD-Inside-Chamfer-Tool/dp/B001OPNR7I

Or you can use a Lyman type "M" expander, NOTE: Just expand the case neck slightly into the "second" step. This expands the case mouth slightly for easy seating, do not over do this or you may need to taper crimp the case mouth to reduce the case mouth diameter. "DO NOT" take it up to the third step of the expander as this flairs the case mouth. I read about this in another forum and this Lyman type "M" expander were being used by competitive shooters to reduce bullet runout during seating.

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Most resizing die expanders are .001 to .002 smaller than bullet diameter and the Lyman type "M" expander is .003 smaller which is good for semiautos.
I use the VLD tool and the Lyman type "M" die for loading my AR15 rifles and it does help to ease seating and reduce neck runout.
 
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