The Redding .297 Heat-Treated Steel Neck Sizing Bushing (Model: 73297) is a precision reloading component designed to size cartridge case necks without an expander ball. Built for bench-mounted reloading presses, it sizes brass necks to an exact 0.297-inch inside dimension to control bullet tension, reduce case neck runout, and prevent work-hardening of the brass.

Key Features

• Controlled Sizing: Enables neck sizing in exact 0.001-inch increments, allowing handloaders to establish consistent 0.001-inch to 0.002-inch bullet tension.
• Heat-Treated Construction: Manufactured from high-grade steel heat-treated to Rockwell C 60–62 and hand-polished to minimise sizing friction on lubricated case necks.
• Extended Brass Life: Eliminates the standard expander ball pass, maintaining concentricity and preventing premature brass fatigue.
• Wide Die Interchangeability: Directly fits all Redding Type S Bushing Full-Length Dies, Redding Type S Neck Sizing Dies, Redding Competition Neck Sizing Dies, and standard L.E. Wilson-style bushing dies.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Model Number: 73297
• Internal Diameter (ID): 0.297 inches
• Outer Diameter (OD): 1/2-inch (12.7 mm)
• Length: 3/8-inch (9.525 mm)
• Material & Hardness: High-grade steel, heat-treated to Rc 60–62
• Weight: Approximately 10–15 g (packaged weight approx. 30 g)
• Power Requirements: None (mechanical reloading accessory)

Who is the Redding .297 Heat-Treated Steel Neck Sizing Bushing for?

• Precision rifle handloaders (Benchrest, PRS, and F-Class) — sizes case necks to a fixed 0.297-inch internal diameter without using an expander ball, maintaining concentricity for loaded cartridges measuring approximately 0.298 to 0.299 inches in outside neck diameter with this neck sizing bushing.
• Long-range hunters — delivers consistent 0.001-inch to 0.002-inch bullet tension on custom bottleneck cartridges using a hardened Rc 60–62 steel neck sizing bushing to extend the working life of high-value brass.

Less suitable for: Handloaders seeking minimal friction and reduced lubrication requirements, who are better served by a Titanium Nitride (TiN) coated bushing, or cases with severe neck-wall thickness variations where a mandrel-based expander die is better suited to prioritise internal diameter uniformity over outside diameter sizing.