Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean2
This will work but you have to short stroke the handle. You run it over the 35 expander and you would have to stop right after it goes over it, before you get to the top of stroke. Once you have opened up all your cases then put the 33 expander button back on and FL size your cases but set the die high enough that the round will chamber but you don't fully size 100% of the neck. You want a small bit of the neck to still be 35 caliber, that is what is referred to as the false shoulder.
Picture I borrowed from the net.
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Dean2’s photo didn’t last long!!! (But a link is in the reply screen, but not the preview.)
A Google image search on “false shoulder” will find many similar, as well as much more information and discussion of the procedure.
Many RCBS type neck expanders are ‘buttons’ or ‘balls’ with very little taper, they are not designed to expand a case neck more than a few thousands of an inch, and may require application of high force which can cause the neck to become non-concentric, particularly if the neck wall thickness is non-uniform. Lube can help reduce this, but
IMHE a better solution is to use an expander with a long taper like a Lee (very long taper) or Hornady (shorter more droplet shaped taper).
Hornady sells threaded rods (# 390969) to allow their expanders to be used in RCBS threaded dies.
Some expanders can be used or adapted for use in other die bodies such as larger caliber, or universal neck, or expander, or de-priming dies.
Alternatively, a suitable 7/8”x14tpi bolt can be turned on a lathe to make an expander mandrel of any size and shape required.
Those who purchase factory loaded ammo, (especially belted case), with the intention of saving brass for reloading, may wish to consider pulling the bullets, then forming a false shoulder to cause the case to properly headspace on the shoulder on first firing and reduce or eliminate the case stretching from initial fire-forming in a long headspace chamber.
Previously fired (and possibly unfired factory) brass may benefit from proper chamfering of the case mouth, and annealing of the neck and shoulder before expanding and fire-forming.
Good Luck, YMMV.