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My complements on your clever design. A lot of people overlook lock rings, assuming that they are square. Our experience (a friend who has a lathe and I) have found that generally they are not. The punch holes are unique and IMO a clever addition. Including a ring die in the bottom of the die insures better alignment of the case than any other expander die that I know of. Without that extra guidance case necks can end up more crooked than one would like after expanding. It is good to see a fresh take on this type of product.
I received my prescription today Dr. Cortina and they are a very nicely made Die and Mandrels indeed. I think the groups are about to get even smaller. Thanks for that and all of the good and informative videos.
I will be ordering one for my 6.5 creedmoor. I'm also needing a tuner. My groups have improved since I've started tuning in a few years back. Thank you
I’d love to see these in the 300 PRC. I agree 100% on utilizing every aspect of each step in resizing. Often wondering why someone hasn’t brought out a full length/mandrel die. Very interested in seeing what you come up with next. Love the vids👍🏻
This is a great concept. I have some 308 Lapua cases that some were fired in an ar-10 I no longer own. I didnt want to have to buy a small base die just for those 20 or so cases. They'll chamber in my bolt gun before even sizing, but id rather be sure of consistent case size. I'll for sure pick one up at some point. One thought that crossed my find is a belted magnum one would be sick. These cases are notorious for swelling above the belt, and while there is a die available to fix this, it'd be easier and more efficient to do it with this die.
Is the body sizing necessary every time? I would like to use the mandrel to open up the case mouth but worried of over working the lower section of the brass. Thanks for your amazing product and information.
Id love to see ir stuff on brownells or some big dist. After how many loads do you see “clickers”? Full powder on lapua 284s Id love to buy one to extend my brass life and easy of shooting but want to make sire its worth it. My primer pockets on some hot loads wear out first. Can you do a video showing the benfits? As you say ots in the numbers. I understand what you said, but i want verification b4 buying one. Id like to see a side by side comparison of fl sizing die vs small base/bottom bushing die like you have.
I thought the Wheeler versions of the 6.5prc chamber reamers are supposed to "fix" the clicker issue? Are you still getting clickers even when you use a Wheeler spec reamer?
To use the expander mandrels properly, do you size the necks down further than one would with a "traditional" bushing die setup and then expand back up with the mandrel? If so, how much further down would you size the neck before using the mandrel?
At time 6:03 you discuss the upcoming case neck brush adapter. I’m loading 6.5 Creedmoor on a Dillon XL750. What compatible brush do you recommend I obtain in advance of getting your adapter?
Do you know about what dimensions it sizes the base down to? I have a redding type S die and have already had it replaced by redding once. This new die is only sizing the base of my Laua die down to .534 at the .200 line. My reamer is cut to .535.
Is it worth running a bushing full length sizing die and then a expander madrel? Instead of just a standard full length sizing with expander pulled out.
Is there any potential to affect the bump you achieved with your FL die by sizing the base again? I’m thinking purely in terms of the brass growing in length because it’s being compressed at the base, not any contact with the shoulder.
Logic would say yes depending on how you sized the case before using the mandrel die. If the mandrel die ends up sizing a large amount the brass has to flow somewhere and that usually ends up increasing the base to shoulder length. Just like if you don't have a FL die set properly it will cause the case to come out longer base to shoulder than when it went into the die.
@@kondzio99999 can't be done because the FL die, unless custom made, would then size the neck back down below the size the mandrel has opened it up to. The whole point of the mandrel is to set the final neck diameter before bullet seating.
@@MMBRM Yup, you're right. I forgot that the main goal of this product is to size the neck with mandrel. Considering that I can just assume (because I didn't tested it) that it may have some influence on the final headspace due to as you said, large amount of brass will go upward the case. I wish to see some tests.
ya, im not sure about that base resize. very well could affect shoulder length. i'm not really seeing the benefit as the case should already be fully sized at this point. if it was made like the SAC seating die, i could see the benefit. Maybe thats the idea, just harder to explain to the masses. One thing I'd like to see is a decapping expander Mandrel with larger then bullet size mandrels so that it could be run in a progressive to make sure neck dings are straitened out before resize
The same thing occurred to me when I saw how much it was sizing that case. If it's sizing the bottom of the case a significant amount it's going to change the base to shoulder measurement that you've so carefully set up your FL die to achieve. Same thing that happens with an improperly set up FL die which isn't constraining the shoulder. Case comes out longer than it went in.
I had to come back to watch this one again as I was processing some 6.5 PRC brass. Sure enough, my cases have a little swell at the base! I just ordered one of these dies for the 6.5 with the .262 mandrel. I think this die will help extend the working life of my brass. I assume, since I deprime separately, that I can just remove the expander ball from my sizing die since the necks will be sized by the mandrel...correct?
@@ErikCortina my die arrived while I was in Raton, literally just got home and unloaded the truck...can't wait to check this out and run some 6.5 PRC through it. BTW, we had some wicked weather last week...golf ball sized hail on two different days, power outage for 24 hours (they brought a gen set in to run the range) and wind, LOL. Poor truck took a beating.
I would think by squeezing (sizing) the case at the same time you are running the mandrel into the neck, it would create more concentrically between the neck and the case body. I haven't heard of anyone mention addressing concentrically while using expander mandrels. Why is that???
Seems that if you squeeze the base smaller the case has to get longer and mess with the headspace set with the FL sizer. Hope Erik answers this question soon. Love the concept!
I was thinking the same thing about it affecting the shoulder bump measurement. Wouldn’t the base resizing make more sense in the full length sizing process so that the shoulder bump remains as it was intended?
Guys, if you want to use this product in your reloading process and are concerned with this, measure it! If you start with a .002” bump and after using Erik’s die you end up with a .001” bump, then just start with a .003” bump.
I had the same thought. Not on the website at this point, but a belted version would probably be the most useful case for this die. Anybody who has loaded many belted mags has no doubt experienced the bulge above the belt.
Una pregunta tonta... A stupid question... If we use this neck expander to lower the waist of the brass, logically it will grow upwards and we will have to redo the full length with the correct headspace. No?
I’m just getting into reloading and this is a bit confusing for me. I bought your 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC, and 300 PRC mandrel dies today. Now I’m wondering what mandrel size I need if I’m loading, Lapua Brass, hand loads, and if these bump the shoulder .002 like you recommend? I’m finding it hard to determine if there is a die that does all this? Or does this resize to Sammi specs and it’s not required to bump the shoulder? Too many questions here. But thank you for your videos. I am learning a lot. It’s just a bit confusing.
Mandrel dies do not push the shoulder back. They only expand the necks after sizing. Mandrel should be 0.002” under bullet diameter. For FL sizing, look at our micro HS sizing dies.
I think Whidden tried this concept and it didn't work because you cant size the web of the case and it would end up cracking the dies. So how does this work differently?
