Do you mandrel after using an FL bushing die?

[Schmo]

As the title says, for those that use a bushing die, are you still using a mandrel in a second step? Or is the bushing good enough for consistent NT?

 

[wapitibob]

I have to now because my 7PRC ADG brass is not very good, neck thickness variance at almost .002. I made a "mandrel" by turning down a .30 cal expander ball to .280". I put that expander in an old sizer body and screw it in so it sticks out far enough to just hit the neck. Minimum decapping mandrel from SAC is .281" but I may give one a try and see how my groups are with .003 neck tension.
Never did with Nosler 7stw brass, neck only, and wall thickness within .0005.

 

[Dmoua]

Depends what your end goal is but yes I run a mandrel.

 

[Schmo]

Depends what your end goal is

Uh, consistency

 

[Dmoua]

Uh, consistency

Looks like you answered your own question.

 

[HuntHarder]

I full length size without the expander ball and mandrel, using moly with Redding bushing dies.

 

[streamerfish]

If I was going to use a bushing die, I would use a madrel.

 

[hickswr]

I took a dremel to my expander ball so that it’s .003 under bullet diameter. This way it only touches the neck if the case mouth is deformed.

I don’t use a mandrel and accuracy and SDs (6 dasher PRS) are as good as when I used a mandrel.