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Hello everybody!
I need a .513″ expander ‘plug’ for my RCBS 50-95 die set. My rifle requires .514″ bullets. I have one on back order with Buffalo Arms, but they don’t know when it will be made. Is there another source out there for custom expanders? RCBS cannot furnish one that big. I purchased a .514″ plug from CH, which does not provide sufficient bullet retention for use in a tubular magazine. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
GMC(SW) - USN Retired 1978 - 2001
November 7, 2015
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Roundsworth said
Hello everybody!I need a .513″ expander ‘plug’ for my RCBS 50-95 die set. My rifle requires .514″ bullets. I have one on back order with Buffalo Arms, but they don’t know when it will be made. Is there another source out there for custom expanders? RCBS cannot furnish one that big. I purchased a .514″ plug from CH, which does not provide sufficient bullet retention for use in a tubular magazine. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
It’s been my experience they wait until they have sufficient orders to make it worthwhile. They don’t know when they’ll have enough orders but I suspect they make several runs a year, hopefully won’t be much longer. Cheaper than having a machinist make one for you. If you have a drill press maybe you could polish the .514 plug down a smidge with emery cloth.
Mike
I make mine out of pin gauges. Bevel one end to get it started. I use a universal expander mandrel die to hold it. Force fit the pin in the mandrel.
https://www.carbideanddiamondtooling.com/514-Minus-Class-ZZ-Pin-Gage-Black–ID-JR52514M_p_79028.html
https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/expander-die-body
I have never asked 21st Century if they would make a custom mandrel and die body.
I do have a drill press that doubles as a ‘lathe’ . I cannot chuck the expander in the press, due to the knurled end being a skosh too big. I will carefully reduce the knurling and take a bit off the plug. Thanks for the links. I will check them out.
GMC(SW) - USN Retired 1978 - 2001
Roundsworth said
I do have a drill press that doubles as a ‘lathe’ . I cannot chuck the expander in the press, due to the knurled end being a skosh too big. I will carefully reduce the knurling and take a bit off the plug. Thanks for the links. I will check them out.
Modern expander mandrels have a shoulder so they don’t drop through the die. You have to drill the die so you can fit the gauge pin in the hole. It has to be a very tight fit since these don’t have a shoulder. Most standard modern mandrels stop at about 30 cal.
https://www.shootsmallgroups.com/product/mandrels/
https://www.unknownmunitions.com/product/expander-mandrels/
Scroll to the black die. This die is made out of a soft material and has a window so you can see if the case mouth is going to hit the die. Much easier to drill out.
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