Mosin 91/30 Neck Expander Die

[Larry Gibson]

Thanks Larry. So, if I understand this, the bushing die tool essentially neck sizes only, similar to a collet die but with more size control depending on the bushing you use? I looked at the Redding site and note for 7.62X39 they mention bushing sizes .328 to .336, which I assume is the outside measurement of the neck. So, if that is true should I be able to measure the inside and outside diameter of the sized case neck and figure out what size bushing I need to get to size it back down to where I want? Is there a discernible amount of spring back after sizing I would need to take into consideration?

Thanks for your patience.

JeffG

Yes, the regular bushing dies just NS to the diameter you want. A selection of bushings .001 apart lets you tailor the sizing for the specific case and bullet diameter used. You can initially get the .002 apart and then get the in between size if you need it. The directions say to measured the outside neck diameter of a loaded cartridge and then subtract .002 or so from that for the "correct" bushing size. I quickly found that does not always work unless you have concentric turned necks. As to spring back I also found that is a big "depends".....on the thickness of the necks and hardness of the cases you have.

I have Redding bushing dies for the 22 Hornet, 7.62x39, .308W, 7.62x54R and 30-06.

The 7.62x39 can also be used to NS the 6.8 CBC and probably the BO cartridges.

The .308W die has been shortened a bit so I can use it with my own .308 CBC, the 22-250, .243W, 244 Rem, .250 Savage, .257R, 6.5 Jap, 6.5 Rem, 300 Savage, 30-30, 32 SPL, 30 & 32 Rem, 30x57 and the .308W.

The '06 bushing die has also been shortened and I NS 6.5-06, 25-06, 270W, '06, .303, 7.65 Argie, 7.7 Jap and a couple more.

I use the .284 Winchester die shortened for the '54R. It also is used for the Swiss cartridge and numerous of the magnums of 6.5 to 30 cal.

Obviously the bushing dies can be very versatile. There's other cartridges I've done or can do but you get the idea. The bushing dies are well worth having.

Larry Gibson

[JeffG]

Well, I must have been in the twilight zone last night. When I took measurements tonight, here were the measurements I got. The Lee expander mic'd .308 with my trusty polish cheap micrometer and after sizing a new unfired Privi Partizan brass, the inside of the neck with a Starrett dial caliper was ~ .307. I'm inclined to get a Redding or RCBS neck sizing die and a Lee universal expander and hope I'm 'almost' done with it.

Pull the expander rod out of the die and measure it would you please? It would be nice to know if they have figured this out.

[JeffG]

I'd like to start by saying thanks to Buckshot for providing the idea and Larry Gibson for providing some detail on resizing a Mauser .325 bullets down to .314 for use in a Mosin 91/30.

I received RCBS neck sizing dies, a Lee Universal Expander die and a Lee push through .314 sizing die today. I have a NOE 326471 mold I use for the K98, sizing them to .325 for that rifle. I started by sizing/lubing the 326471 GC bullets to .325, which were cast of COWW plus 2-3% tin then age hardened for a couple months. They were shoed with copper checks from Blammer. After they were lubed and sized, I adjusted the Lee classic cast single stage press with the Lee .314 push through die so I'd have good leverage. I then pushed them through the die, slowly but firmly without stopping. They came out looking fine and measured .314, see picture below. The Privi Partizan brass was neck sized with the large expander RCBS provided in their die set then flared with the Lee Expander just enough to start the GC into the brass. There was no shaved lead and I seated the bullet to 2.810, which was deeper than I wanted but was needed to be able to chamber the round without forcing the bullet into the lands. It left just enough of a land on the bullet exposed that I was able to lightly crimp it in place. CCI LR primers and a Lee scoop of IMR-4198 (20.5 grains) was used as a starting load. I fired these at about 25 yards before the light ran out to get an idea how it was going to shoot. Yep, about 6 inches low or so, will have to wait for good light and some shots from a rest to see what it looks like this weekend. It was a good day.

[tomme boy]

I like the look of the bullet! You might want to try loading some with just 2-3 groves filled with lube.

[JeffG]

Call me scared, but it's working and hate to play with the lube just yet, but I may try that at a point. I lubed all of them to run through the .314 sizer, wiped the base and seated, wiping the excess off what was left outside the case, which I guess left 5 grooves with lube. I fired about 5 shots prior to these loads, looked at the barrel and it hardly looked like it had been fired, with slight powder residue when I swabbed the bore. It seems to like it.

I need to push these over the chrony and see what they are doing and start making some adjustments.