5.7 brass

[lead chucker]

I've been thinking of trying to make 30 cal bullets with 5.7 brass. how are you guys expanding the neck? Would a guy make a taper punch to expand the neck? After that would can you get away with one draw to get the case to .305-.306. This maybe less time consuming than making bullets out of copper tubing.

[runfiverun]

a spud works.
before I got that I just used a couple of neck sizing dies.
after annealing I can size them down to 304 in one pass on the RCBS.

[R.Ph. 380]

I got a mandrel from BT sniper specifically for the 5.7x28. Have to be careful though, if you press it to deep in the brass, the brass can get stuck on the mandrel and require a propane torch to get it off. Really discolored my mandrel before I figured that one out.

Bill

[R.Ph. 380]

I got a mandrel from BT sniper specifically for the 5.7x28. Have to be careful though, if you press it to deep in the brass, the brass can get stuck on the mandrel and require a propane torch to get it off. Really discolored my mandrel before I figured that one out. You know what I bet would work? One of the Lyman M dies for short 270, then 308, anneal and then draw down. Just got to get it down enough to accommodate the draw punch.

Bill

[clodhopper]

I use a 7mm TCU sizing die to open up 5.7 cases.

[lead chucker]

What does the mandrel look like? What the diameter of the draw punch? Thanks for the replies.

[just bill]

a spud works.
before I got that I just used a couple of neck sizing dies.
after annealing I can size them down to 304 in one pass on the RCBS.

Explain this spud for me, I'm not fully visualising this tool.
Thanks,
Bill

[clodhopper]

This is the neck expander/decapping stem from a 7mm TCU sizing die. Most 7TCU cartridges were home made from .223.
You just need something small enough to enter the case mouth and stretch the neck up to the diameter you want as it passes through.

[runfiverun]

it's kind of like the third die in a pistol die set.
it's rounded off at the nose and just tapered so the case mouth rides up it to expand.
the best way to explain it I guess is.
take your index finger, point it up with the nail away from you, and look at that shape.
elongate that just a bit and go from 5mm to 7.5mm in about 3/8th's to half an inch.
now that diameter runs the rest of the length of the rod into the die.
if I had to make one I would probably just modify an M-die.

[BlackoutBuilder]

If you anneal them first, wouldnt it keep from sticking?

[maxreloader]

annealing just makes the brass softer and more pliable. Maybe some Imperial dry neck lube?

[BlackoutBuilder]

Yes, I thought the softness might keep it from hanging on.

[Pee Wee]

If you anneal them first, wouldnt it keep from sticking?

You don't want to anneal them first, I have done that and when you try to expand the mouth they just collapse. Now you can lube each and every one inside and out to keep them from collapsing, which is what I had to do in order to save the 3000 that I was working on. (a pain in the buttocks) Duke in Florida bought the swagging dies for the 30 cal set up from BT Sniper so it has all of the dies included to do all the steps for swagging 30 cal. We have now made over 6000, we had a swagging party this past Friday at Duke in Florida's house and did 1800 in 5 hours. He took a photo of them and should be posting shortly.

[midnight]

R.Ph 380: There is an easy way to get the stuck brass off the mandrel. Just take the mandrel with the brass stuck on it over to a flat anvil and lay it on the anvil horizontally. Then with a small tack hammer tap the brass lightly while rotating it and it will slip right off th mandrel.

Bob

Edit: Sinclair makes different size tapered neck expanding mandrels that fit in a single die body and I use it to expand 5.7 necks.

[just bill]

PeeWee, with the bad experience with .308 cases necking them down and have them crush not being appealed, I was wondering about expanding the annealed 5.7 cases. Guess I'lll find out when my stuff all comes together.
Bill

[Pee Wee]

PeeWee, with the bad experience with .308 cases necking them down and have them crush not being appealed, I was wondering about expanding the annealed 5.7 cases. Guess I'lll find out when my stuff all comes together.
Bill

I have an annealeez annealer and anneal all of my rifle brass. But the boolit ends up at .308 when it comes out of the point form die that we use from BT Sniper. I believe and BT or Duke can verify that. When it comes out of the core set die it is at .309 and then brought back down to .308 out of the point form die. So unless you have a point form die at different size, that to me would be the only way to expand the boolit.

[runfiverun]

don't anneal them.
open them first.
then burn them with the torch.
pin tumble.
lube
push them through the sizer.
check the lube.
then core seat and point form.
clean the lube off. [I use my wet tumbler with walnut media]
now pin tumble them again if you want them super shiny.

[just bill]

Let me clarify, when perping .308/30-06 cases trying to get 2, .458 jackets necking down the top of the cases to make the jacket from the tops,when I try to neck down I get more crushed cases then not.
Bill

[R.Ph. 380]

R.Ph 380: There is an easy way to get the stuck brass off the mandrel. Just take the mandrel with the brass stuck on it over to a flat anvil and lay it on the anvil horizontally. Then with a small tack hammer tap the brass lightly while rotating it and it will slip right off th mandrel.

Bob

Edit: Sinclair makes different size tapered neck expanding mandrels that fit in a single die body and I use it to expand 5.7 necks.

Thanks. got an item # for that Sinclair product? found the mandrel, couldn't find the die body.

Bill

[lead chucker]

Do you need a die body to support the case while it is being brought out to size? or can you put the case in a shell plate seems pulling the mandrel out would not be a problem,