The Redding .196 Heat-Treated Steel Neck Sizing Bushing (MPN 73196) is a precision reloading component engineered to size cartridge case necks without an internal expander ball. Measuring 0.500 inches in outer diameter by 0.375 inches in length, this bushing freely interchanges across all Redding Type S Bushing Sizing Dies, Redding Competition Bushing Neck Sizing Dies, and standard 1/2-inch bushing dies from RCBS, Hornady, and Wilson. Machined from tool steel hardened to Rockwell C 60–62, it features a hand-polished internal surface designed to minimise sizing friction, reduce neck runout, and prolong brass life by sizing only the external neck dimension.

Key Features

• Precision Neck Tension Control: Provides an exact 0.196-inch inside diameter, allowing handloaders to precisely set bullet tension on small-calibre cartridge necks.
• Expander-Free Sizing: Eliminates the need for conventional expander balls, significantly reducing brass working and neck runout.
• Hardened Tool Steel Construction: Heat-treated to Rockwell C 60–62 with a hand-polished interior surface for smooth case passage and resistance to wear.
• Universal 1/2-Inch Outer Profile: Built to standard 0.500-inch O.D. dimensions for cross-compatibility with Redding Type S, Redding Competition, and other 1/2-inch bushing sizing dies.

Product Specifications

• Manufacturer: Redding Reloading Equipment
• Model Number (MPN): 73196
• Internal Sizing Diameter: 0.196 inches
• Outer Dimensions: 0.500-inch (1/2") outer diameter x 0.375-inch (3/8") length
• Material: Heat-treated tool steel
• Hardness: Rockwell C 60–62 (Rc 60–62)
• Weight: Under 15 grams (0.5 oz)
• Die Compatibility: Redding Type S Full-Length and Neck Dies, Redding Competition Bushing Dies, and standard 1/2-inch bushing dies from Hornady, RCBS, and Wilson
• Lubrication Requirement: Case neck lubrication required

Who is the Redding .196 Heat-Treated Steel Neck Sizing Bushing for?

• Australian benchrest competitors — Requires a 0.196-inch internal diameter neck sizing bushing to precisely control bullet grip on sub-calibre match cases while maintaining hardness at Rockwell C 60–62 to eliminate dimensional drift across extended loading sessions.
• Varminters reloading .17-calibre cartridges — Needs the 0.196-inch dimension to set 0.001" to 0.003" neck tension on brass such as .17 Remington, .17 Mach IV, or .17 Hornet measuring between 0.197 and 0.199 inches across loaded case necks.
• Precision target shooters — Uses the 0.500-inch outer diameter bushing inside Type S dies to size case necks without an internal expander ball, actively extending case life and minimising neck runout.

Less suitable for: Cartridges with loaded neck diameters outside the 0.197-inch to 0.199-inch range (which require a different internal diameter bushing between .185" and .368"), sizing steps requiring more than 0.004 to 0.005 inches of brass reduction in a single pass (which require preliminary body dies or stepped bushings), or reloaders seeking lube-free operation (who should select a Titanium Nitride coated bushing model).