Frank,
Thank you for your reply.
On the Form and Trim die, one reason I was hesitating to use a hacksaw was the crowded access on the T-7 turret and the resulting brass debris since I was temporarily working the cases in the family room vice the normal loading room (den). Just trying to be social and not have the boss on my tail. That said, I'll give it a run in the proper environment but I did notice that it seemed like I can't manipulate much variation in OAL. I screwed the die in and backed it off but the result seemed to be the same OAL except for variation in the length of the neck.
I lubed the inside and outside of the case and even rubbed lube directly on the expander which are the long tapered variant not ball shaped. I'm starting to believe my tubing cutter trim is the culprit as Fritzcat suggested and your suggestion of the hacksaw cut or another cleaner cutting tool should not change the brass dimensions as much prior to running the expander through.
Understood on the Redding instructions but the fact is that there are indeed two viable parent cases and as long as both create safe & accurate ammo it seems a bit incomplete to address only a single parent case source. Clearly I didn't come with the complete case forming knowledge set and even the Redding website is spare on instructions and so far the few loading books I've looked at haven't been much help either. Hence the appeal for help here among folks who are far more experienced.
As to the brass, I was using the South African once fired only to see if I could correctly form the cases and will use Lake City almost exclusively after I can produce correctly dimensioned cases to satisfaction. So far I'm glad I went that route as I've buggered up about 8 cases out of 12. No harm no foul on throw-away cases but I more jealously guard cases that are effectively match prepped except that I'm not turning the necks. I don't have all that much time so the "Brass Services" post from Hoser next to mine is fortuitous. I need to get an advertising cut; I'm hooking him up
as a representitive of the inept newbee in need of adult assistance.
Best,
Brad
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