8x57 Mauser 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.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
What is your barrels diameter ?

[skeet1]

Doug,
I think you may be right, your expander soes seem to be a little small.

Skeet1

[Doug Bowser]

Good morning
What is your barrels diameter ?


I don't have a rifle. I just have the dies. Now I will have to find a rifle to use the dies with.:roll: Just another excuse to buy a rifle.

What I need to know, is what expander ball diameter is standard for .323" bullets?

[beemer]

I just pulled the expander out of my Lee 8x57 FL die. It measured very close to .322.

beemer

[Shepherd2]

The expander ball on my Hornady set measures .3195". Thought it would be a couple thou bigger.

[missionary5155]

I don't have a rifle. I just have the dies. Now I will have to find a rifle to use the dies with.:roll: Just another excuse to buy a rifle.

What I need to know, is what expander ball diameter is standard for .323" bullets?

Well then I would not be real worried about the expander.. you can always buy a replacement expander at whatever diameter some future rifle bore you encounter.

[GrizzLeeBear]

Sounds like you might have an expander for the the older "J" bore. The 8x57(J) used .318 bullets when it first came out. After a few years they changed to the "standard" .323 bore 8x57(JS) for which the vast majority of 8mm are chambered for. Like missionary said, you should be able to order a standard 8x57 expander from Midway, Midsouth, etc.

[Maven]

Doug, I have 2 expander assemblies for my RCBS + 1 additional RCBS expander ball. The 2 newer ones measure .3245" and .3220". The oldest one is a bit smaller, but not so small as to allow loading the .318" bullets. By way of contrast, my 26 yr. old Lyman 8 x 57mm FL die has a .3235" expander ball.