Neck Sizing Die problem

[ping]

I have an RCBS .308 neck sizing die that I was using tonight and the piece that holds the part that decaps the primer came off and lodged into the case. I removed it from the case and screwed it back on but it came off again. I dont really use this die for decaping i use a Lee for decaping. My question is if I dont put the pin and the bulb piece it fits into does it affect my neck sizing. So what I will have is the die with the threaded male piece going into the case when i neck size. I tried a few and it does seem to neck size without this piece. Just need someone to qualify this. I find the Lee decaping die to be really durable so i just use it for decaping.

Thanks

 

[243winxb]

The bulb piece is the expander. After the die sizes down the neck, the expander opens the inside of the neck to the correct diameter. If you dont open the neck, the bullet acts as an expander.A flat base bullet will be hard to seat, not so much a boat tail. You need the expander. Lube the inside of the neck also.

 

[fguffey]

Ping, your die should have a date on it, RCBS changed primer punch/neck expander's assemblies, the older primer punch pins are straight, the newer pins use a 'headed pin' you could have the wrong pin.

The neck sizer ball secures the pin to the end of the assemble and must be secured as in tighten securely.



F. Guffey

 

[gamestalker]

If your able to seat flat based bullets without a any issues then it really isn't a problem. The flip side of it is, you'll probably have a little bit more neck tension doing it this way.

 

[Tom488]

The expander ball has a tendency to loosen up a bit, allowing some slop between it and the stem, eventually stripping the threads. If you look closely at the threads on your stem, you'll see the threads look flattened, like an ACME screw. That's because they have been stripped off by the expander.

First - call RCBS and get a new stem. Secondly, when you assemble it, use a little blue Loctite on the threads to secure the expander ball, and prevent it from loosening.

Using the blue Loctite will still let you unscrew the expander should you need to replace a broken decapping pin.

You can also install the expander without a decapping pin, so it only resizes and expands the neck. Your choice.

 

[fguffey]

Ping, if the threaded end of the assembly has slots like colet jaws your die uses straight pins, no slots, your die used headed pins. If you have a Lee die why bother with another die like the neck sizer die, the full length sizer die is a versatile die, I size cases from -.012 shorter than a minimum length case to infinity beyond a field reject gage, somewhere between short chambered length and infinity is neck sizing with a full length sizer die, being called a full length sizer in no way obligates me to use it as a full length sizer die.

And I do not believe you can screw the pin back in, again your die has a date stamped on top of the die, the difference between the die with the headed pin and and straight pin is the diameter of the assembly. Listed in RCBS catalog is a cut off date for necking cases up with a sizer die, again, your die has a date stamped on top of it, unless it is as old as some of my dies from RCBS, older dies have codes, all of the older dies have straight pins.

F. Guffey

 

[ping]

I just looked at my die again and it is slotted on the top. I dont see a date anywhere on the die though. I screwed the inside out and cannot see any dates. On the rim of the die it is labeled "RCBS 30-08 Neck --5". Maybe the 5 means 2005. Not sure. The Lee die I use for decaping is only a decapping die. sort of heavy duty type. Really useful for just that function.

I have used my full length die a few times just to neck size. Not sure if I am doing it right but it neck sizes them ok. Since this is a bolt action rifle I like to just neck size on it. My M1A I have to full length.

So I guess I will call RCBS Monday and see if i can get a new expander decapping rod. That appears to be the name of the piece along with the expander ball and pin. Looked the names up on the documenation that comes with the dies.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[243winxb]

This might be a case form die ??

"RCBS 30-08 Neck --5".

Forms 300 Savage from 308 win. Maybe??

 

[fguffey]

Die kit #58193 $234.00 dollars to go from 308 W to a 300 Savage. if that is the case, or die, look for the rest of the kit.

Just possible the die is stamped 308 (W ?) and the word 'neck' is missing and the '5' is/should be '05 as in 2005, and there should not be so many blanks to fill in.

F. Guffey

 

[ping]

Called RCBS and they are sending me free the guts of the die so i am good again. Very cool.