8x57 Die question

[Doug Bowser]

I have a FL 2 die set of RCBS 8x57 Mauser dies. What I am asking is, the neck expander measures .317". Isn't the expander supposed to be .320" to .322"? Maybe someone was using this set of dies to load 8x57I ammunition with .318" bullets.

[BerdanIII]

That's how I read it. I had to buy a 0.317" expander ball when I wanted to try J-word .32 Special bullets in a 7.92mm Mauser. If I remember correctly, the expander ball is 0.320" in Hornady dies and 0.322" in RCBS dies. Without the expander ball in place, the sized case neck won't accept a 0.311" tapered expander. I think this is overkill, myself.