Spindrift
Well-Known Member
Lee offer a cheap, universal decapping die. I’ve had one lying around for a while, don’t remember why I got it..... The die body will accept almost any cartridge, and has a slim decapping rod that’ll pass through almost any neck- hence the «universal» designation. I bet many of you have this gadget lying around.
The other day, I made the observation that this universal decapping rod share shank dimensions with the Lee «easy-X» expander/decapper rods, typically used in conjunction with their standard FL sizer dies. Hence, it should be possible to install an easy-X expander rod (of any dimension) in the decapping die, making an expander die. The easy-X expander rods are offered separately, as replacement parts, for a few bucks. They are made from soft steel, and can be easily honed down, by chucking them in any standard hand drill. They have a really long, gentle cone to them.
I wanted an expander to improve my case forming from 30-06 to .35 Whelen. While this has worked quite well, using range pick-ups and a Lee FL-die, I have observed an unusual amount of case stretching when firing full-power jacketed loads. By first expanding the neck to over- caliber diameter, and then sizing in a carefully adjusted FL die, there will be a small «false shoulder» at the base of the neck on which the cartridge can headspace. By doing this, I gain full control of the all-important shoulder position, despite using pick-up brass of unknown headspace.
I had a .416 expander lying around, honed it to .380, expanded a .30-06 case and then ran it in the .35 Whelen sizer die- worked like a charm!
I have a .30-06 with a long chamber, where the bolt will close on a no-go gauge. I’ll get a 8mm expander for this. By first expanding the neck to 8mm, and then sizing the case in a correctly adjusted FL- die, I can form cases in a much healthier fashion- and get more reloads from the brass.
PS the retaining nut on the Lee- dies might seem to require blue-in-the-face torque levels to retain the expander; the trick is to degrease the shaft, and inside of the nut.
The other day, I made the observation that this universal decapping rod share shank dimensions with the Lee «easy-X» expander/decapper rods, typically used in conjunction with their standard FL sizer dies. Hence, it should be possible to install an easy-X expander rod (of any dimension) in the decapping die, making an expander die. The easy-X expander rods are offered separately, as replacement parts, for a few bucks. They are made from soft steel, and can be easily honed down, by chucking them in any standard hand drill. They have a really long, gentle cone to them.
I wanted an expander to improve my case forming from 30-06 to .35 Whelen. While this has worked quite well, using range pick-ups and a Lee FL-die, I have observed an unusual amount of case stretching when firing full-power jacketed loads. By first expanding the neck to over- caliber diameter, and then sizing in a carefully adjusted FL die, there will be a small «false shoulder» at the base of the neck on which the cartridge can headspace. By doing this, I gain full control of the all-important shoulder position, despite using pick-up brass of unknown headspace.
I had a .416 expander lying around, honed it to .380, expanded a .30-06 case and then ran it in the .35 Whelen sizer die- worked like a charm!
I have a .30-06 with a long chamber, where the bolt will close on a no-go gauge. I’ll get a 8mm expander for this. By first expanding the neck to 8mm, and then sizing the case in a correctly adjusted FL- die, I can form cases in a much healthier fashion- and get more reloads from the brass.
PS the retaining nut on the Lee- dies might seem to require blue-in-the-face torque levels to retain the expander; the trick is to degrease the shaft, and inside of the nut.
