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Thread: Help Bulge at base of neck

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Help Bulge at base of neck

    I'm resizing 25-20 to 218 bee - hull going easily into full length die but getting small bulge at base of neck

  2. #2
    Boolit Master


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    Can you post a picture? A small bulge inside or outside?
    Inside is a "doughnut" from moving all the brass sizing it down. You can use a neck reamer to remove it.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Shopdog's Avatar
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    Does the resized case fit in the chamber?

  4. #4
    Boolit Mold
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    yes chambers fine in Marlin - wondering if case would fire form with just a primer

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master



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    Is the bulge at the base of the neck or the base of the shoulder?

    Back in the day before 6mm XC brass was available we had to form them from 22-250. That mushroomed the shoulder as shown in the second pic here. https://midsouthshotreport.com/2019/...-fire-forming/

    A full power fire forming load would properly form the case.

    If it's due to the case wall thickening it will have to be removed through reaming or outside turning.
    Last edited by M-Tecs; 09-20-2025 at 09:04 PM.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

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  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    Would have to develop pressure with powder. Primer alone will not do anything.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

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    IS the new neck down into the shoulder of the old case. When reforming down brass thickens getting into the old shoulder brass is thicker and going smaller to the new neck thickens it even more. Were you using an expander ball this should make the inside straight and push the ring to the outside.
    When sizing down you need to pay close attention to wall thickness ( loaded round dia) to ensure there is room for the neck to release the bullet when firing

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Shoulder on Bee is further forward than on .25-20. Run a .25-20 through .218 Bee FLS die and you will have a portion of unresized neck. The shoulder on the newly formed case will also be further back than on a fired Bee case. All of this blows out the first time you use the reformed case.
    It'll be handy if I never need it.

    Insomniac, agnostic, dyslectic - awake all night wondering if there is a Dog.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Bad Ass Wallace's Avatar
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    I reform 32/20 into 25/20 and down to 218 M/Bee. Is the bulge you see similar to the case on the left? This is normal and nothing to worry about.

    Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


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    Really need forrest80 to come back and clarify where and what his "bulge" is. I'll post a pic for him if he can email one. PM me and we can set it up.

  11. #11
    Boolit Mold
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    Yes bulge exactly like Bad Ass Wallace picture - what load do you use to to fire form should I use starting load?

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master



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    What the picture shows what would be the same as a false shoulder for fireforming brass. Even on rimmed cartridges using a false shoulder has benefits when fireforming some caliber conversions. Like BAW says it's normal for what you are doing and not an issue.
    2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

    "Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
    – Amber Veal

    "The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
    - Wayne Dyer

  13. #13
    Boolit Master hoodat's Avatar
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    Go forth and don't worry about it. And DON"T think that you should try to size them out. That little bulge is your new head-space shoulder for your chamber. Set your die to barely bump it unless you run into head-space issues. jd
    It seems that people who do almost nothing, often complain loudly when it's time to do it.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master


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    You guys solved it! YAY!

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check