Sinclair mandrels

[6pakzak]

Thinking of getting the Sinclair mandrel die for 223 and 6.5 creed, I would get the carbide mandrels which are kinda pricey for each one, what size mandrels would you recommend I start with for each caliber?

 

[SealT5]

Their expander mandrels come in one size per caliber. Being .001" undersized you will wind up with .002"-.003" of neck tension.

Good luck. I switched to using mandrels for neck tension several years back and will never go back to bushings.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I switched to using mandrels for neck tension several years back

Why? Did you have a problem with the die expander?

 

[QuietTexan]

21st Century and K+M both make sets graduated in 0.0005" increments for tuning neck expanding. Sinclair mandrels are (at least the last time I looked) for turning kits and come in one size. LE Wilson makes a mandrel for ironing out dinged necks on new brass.

 

[COPrecisionRifle]

I have the exact setup that you are talking about and it is pretty amazing the concentricity and SD difference that you get with the expander mandrel! It cut my ES down to 10 on my 6 creed loads just because the neck tension was so much more consistent (i think lol). But i would highly recommend them!

 

[Seabeeken]

21st Century and K+M both make sets graduated in 0.0005" increments for tuning neck expanding. Sinclair mandrels are (at least the last time I looked) for turning kits and come in one size. LE Wilson makes a mandrel for ironing out dinged necks on new brass.

21C also makes a standard expander size for each caliber and another for turning in addition to expanders on .0005 increments.
NKS, I've pulled all my decap rods out of my dies and use mandrels exclusively. Wont be going back either

 

[sig2009]

Thinking of getting the Sinclair mandrel die for 223 and 6.5 creed, I would get the carbide mandrels which are kinda pricey for each one, what size mandrels would you recommend I start with for each caliber?

You don't need the carbide.

 

[COPrecisionRifle]

You don't need the carbide.

Why wouldn't you run carbide?

 

[SealT5]

Why? Did you have a problem with the die expander?

I wouldn't call it a problem? I just found a better way to get what I want. I use Wilson seating dies and a K&M arbor press with force dial indicator. My run out and my SD/ES #'s are noticeably lower. I'm deep in the rabbit hole. Not to mention seating Bullets is an absolute dream

And as far as needing to choosing a mandrel size. Simply starting with 001" less than bullet diameter will be a great place to start. I've played with mandrels quite a bit. I've owned the K&M turning kit with mandrels in .0005 increments and found it to be unjustifiable for my needs.

As far as carbide I've only used them on my turning mandrels. Expanders I just use plain ol' steel with imperial media

 

[sig2009]

Why wouldn't you run carbide?

Because it's not needed. A regular steel mandrel will last a couple lifetimes of daily usage.

 

[COPrecisionRifle]

Do you lube your mandrel when you use it?

 

[6pakzak]

I was thinking carbide cause heard they are much smoother and won't fall the case

 

[QuietTexan]

You aren't going to gall a case by expanding. Turning is when it could actually happen because of the prolonged sliding contact.

Do you lube your mandrel when you use it?

Yes, even the carbide turning mandrels. But that's mainly for the cutter, benefits for the mandrel are ancillary. Running carbide dry just because it might be ok isn't something I care about, lube isn't hard to deal with.


I still recommend one of the brands that sell in more increments than "expanding" and "turning" because if this works out for you (and I think it will) eventually you'll use brass that needs to be worked differently or want to experiment with different mandrels, and you'll have to buy a new die then because you can't get a mandrel in a different size than the two options they offer. So just get a 21st Century, K+M, or Short Action Custom die and -0.001" mandrel now, and then later you're only out cost for a mandrel and not a mandrel+die. I have Sinclair and Wilson mandrel dies and they are very rarely used compared to my 21st Century.

 

[bamban]

I bought steel mandrels (turning and expanding) and added them to the batch of barrels I sent out for meloniting. Melonited mandrelsay not be as hard as carbide, they are the next best thing for a fraction of the carbide cost.

I send outy 223 and 308 brass to be processed, and primed. When I load them on the 650s, the station 1 will have the 21C universal expanding die. Melonited mandrels in this application do not need any lube. They just get shinier over time.