Reloading Setup Question

[BVickery1974]

For Case Trimming this is a good solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FvVZ-_XY1I&t=14s

Hornady OAL Gage ( you mentioned that you already have the Hornady Bullet Comparator and Hornady Shoulder Bump / Body Comparator)
> determine bullet seating to the lands
> not as relevant for AR15 where mag length set the load length

Sinclair Chamber Length Gage
> determine max length of rifle's chamber so that you know max length to trim cases.

Frankford Arsenal Hand Priming Tool

21st Century Neck Expander Die & Mandrel (don't use the factory expander ball that comes with the FL Sizing Die)

LE Wilson Case Gage

Didnt grab them yet. So do I since it is for an AR?

[Oso Polaris]

Oso... Is each 21st Century mandrel $21.50 or is that for a specific set of 5 mandrels? 21st Century has some interesting & unique pieces of equipment.

They offer three types of construction/finish with the price depending upon the finish: Stainless Steel ($11/mandrel); Titanium Nitride coated Steel (on sale being phased out $18/mandrel); and new product Black Nitride coated Steel ($34/mandrel). For those who are shooting Benchrest/F-Class with custom chambered rifles that require neck turning the cases, 21st Century also sells very specific diameter mandrels (.001" increments) in a range around a designated bullet diameter in order for you to custom tailor the neck tension. For a complete set of these mandrels for a specific caliber you are looking at $175/set.

Your AR15 chamber is oversized and you most likely aren't neck turning or using custom made dies so there is plenty of fudge-room. I would recommend just going with the standard mandrel dimension... select one from list below (links to all 3 coatings).

You will want to buy a Neck Expander Die (it holds the mandrel... there is the option of buying one with a "window" material cut away so that you can see how far up your case is going on the mandrel)

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/expander-die-body/v/904-GenX%20w%2Fring

Here is the 6.5mm Expander Mandrel (this is the standard dimension):

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/black-nitride-expander-mandrel/v/NBE26

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/titanium-nitride-expander-mandrel/v/NE26

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/ss-expander-mandrel/v/E26

[Oso Polaris]

Didnt grab them yet. So do I since it is for an AR?

Sorry please clarify - Which didn't you grab? Thanks

[BVickery1974]

Sorry please clarify - Which didn't you grab? Thanks

Hornady Bullet Comparator and Hornady Shoulder Bump / Body Comparator)

[Oso Polaris]

BVickery 1974

Out of an AR15 you are more likely to run into a magazine length restriction before you have issues with too long of a Cartridge load length.

You definitely want the Shoulder Bump / Body Comparator... this is critical to properly setting up your FL Sizing Die to ensure reliable feeding and extraction. Doesn't matter what type of rifle (bolt or AR), you are going to take measurements from a couple of fired cases from your rifle. The tool measures the length from the base of the case to a point along the shoulder. Ignoring spring-back of the brass case, this gives you an approximation of your rifle's chamber. Now when you set up your FL sizing die, you will screw in down until you bump the shoulder .002"-.004" shorter than the measurement from the fired case.

Note: Measurements of fired cases and initial set-up cases should be done without the primer in the case. Primers may/may not be fully seated (flush or slightly below the surface) and as such may give incorrect measurements.

[BVickery1974]

Thanks! Will order those next.

[lazyengineer]

BVickery 1974

Out of an AR15 you are more likely to run into a magazine length restriction before you have issues with too long of a Cartridge load length.

You definitely want the Shoulder Bump / Body Comparator... this is critical to properly setting up your FL Sizing Die to ensure reliable feeding and extraction. Doesn't matter what type of rifle (bolt or AR), you are going to take measurements from a couple of fired cases from your rifle. The tool measures the length from the base of the case to a point along the shoulder. Ignoring spring-back of the brass case, this gives you an approximation of your rifle's chamber. Now when you set up your FL sizing die, you will screw in down until you bump the shoulder .002"-.004" shorter than the measurement from the fired case.

Note: Measurements of fired cases and initial set-up cases should be done without the primer in the case. Primers may/may not be fully seated (flush or slightly below the surface) and as such may give incorrect measurements.

Sort of. In my experience, AR15 Grendel barrels can be very short-throat depth. And so I've discovered it's easy to end up jammed into the lands with a blunt light bullet, well before magazine length. 90 TNT's in particular, but others as well. I'd definatelly suggest testing this, before just assuing a mag-length OAL still has plenty of freebore.

[myrifle]

Sort of. In my experience, AR15 Grendel barrels can be very short-throat depth. And so I've discovered it's easy to end up jammed into the lands with a blunt light bullet, well before magazine length. 90 TNT's in particular, but others as well. I'd definatelly suggest testing this, before just assuing a mag-length OAL still has plenty of freebore.

Agreed. No matter if it's a ar15 action you should have and use the tools to measure bullet contact to lands and also know what max length your mag allows.

That way you can document that and have all the data possible.

[Old Bob]

They offer three types of construction/finish with the price depending upon the finish: Stainless Steel ($11/mandrel); Titanium Nitride coated Steel (on sale being phased out $18/mandrel); and new product Black Nitride coated Steel ($34/mandrel). For those who are shooting Benchrest/F-Class with custom chambered rifles that require neck turning the cases, 21st Century also sells very specific diameter mandrels (.001" increments) in a range around a designated bullet diameter in order for you to custom tailor the neck tension. For a complete set of these mandrels for a specific caliber you are looking at $175/set.

Your AR15 chamber is oversized and you most likely aren't neck turning or using custom made dies so there is plenty of fudge-room. I would recommend just going with the standard mandrel dimension... select one from list below (links to all 3 coatings).

You will want to buy a Neck Expander Die (it holds the mandrel... there is the option of buying one with a "window" material cut away so that you can see how far up your case is going on the mandrel)

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/expander-die-body/v/904-GenX%20w%2Fring

Here is the 6.5mm Expander Mandrel (this is the standard dimension):

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/black-nitride-expander-mandrel/v/NBE26

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/titanium-nitride-expander-mandrel/v/NE26

https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/bu...-mandrel/v/E26

What are the actual diameters of the stainless steel, titanium & nitrided mandrels? I was thinking .261" & .262" mandrels would be sufficient for good neck tension depending on bullet diameters. What I've been doing is using different sized neck bushings when resizing my brass. With case neck inside diameters of .261" & .262" bullets seem to load easily but with good tension. With an inside diameter of .260", and under magnification, I can see some minute copper scrapings at the case mouths. Also, the ring at the nose of the bullet left by the seater stem is a little more pronounced.

This is part of all the fun of reloading - figuring out what works best for you. I've been reloading since the 70s & I'm still learning new things.

[jasper2408]

What are the actual diameters of the stainless steel, titanium & nitrided mandrels? I was thinking .261" & .262" mandrels would be sufficient for good neck tension depending on bullet diameters. What I've been doing is using different sized neck bushings when resizing my brass. With case neck inside diameters of .261" & .262" bullets seem to load easily but with good tension. With an inside diameter of .260", and under magnification, I can see some minute copper scrapings at the case mouths. Also, the ring at the nose of the bullet left by the seater stem is a little more pronounced.

This is part of all the fun of reloading - figuring out what works best for you. I've been reloading since the 70s & I'm still learning new things.

I just measured my 26 caliber stainless steel mandrel and it is .263 and if I remember correctly it usually leaves the neck .2625". You might look at the 6.5 caliber sets and buy just the size you need. I usually get about .0005" less from the stated diameter. I have the stainless steel mandrels only.

Edit: I also turn my necks so that could make a difference in the final diameter dimensions that I am getting.

[Oso Polaris]

I have the standard 6.5mm Titanium Nitride "TIN" finish and it measures 0.263". I just measured my cases after using the expander mandrel and the neck ID is 0.2615"-0.262".
I annealed the cases after FL sizing, but before using the expander mandrel for the necks.

[mdram]

I have the standard 6.5mm Titanium Nitride "TIN" finish and it measures 0.263". I just measured my cases after using the expander mandrel and the neck ID is 0.2615"-0.262".
I annealed the cases after FL sizing, but before using the expander mandrel for the necks.

shouldnt you anneal before fl sizing?

[myrifle]

shouldnt you anneal before fl sizing?

No after sizing that way the annealing process releases the cold working your die as done.

[mdram]

No after sizing that way the annealing process releases the cold working your die as done.

thats the first time i have ever hear this
even amp says before

[Lemonaid]

I as well question annealing after sizing. You would loose some of the neck tension needed that sizing imparts.