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A question for the followers of the silver stream. Had my Mauser out of cobwebs at the week end with very encouraging results.
I normally neck size my 8mm cases and shoot jacketed bullets.
I made up some 180grain cast boolits using Unique and 2400 the results were surprising. Its spurred me on to dabble a little further.
Any way my question is. I normally neck size the cases.
When using cast boolits I use a tapered expander to flare the case mouth. In the past I have all ways used full length sized cases for cast then expanded the case mouth with a M die or a tapered expander.

Is it OK to use neck sized cases and then expand the neck to accommodate the cast boolit or should I be full length sizing the case every time and then expanding the case mouth.

Neck size then "M" die neck expand with appropriately sized spud. Tapered flaring serves no useful purpose with cast boolits other than been used after the "M" die to help centre case in the throat.

When I use the term tapered expander this is the sort of thing I am talking about this one came from Buffalo arms.
On the right is my 8mm M die and on the left my tapered expander that I normally use. Are you saying I should not use this type of tapered expander and to just use the M die. The tapered expander goes from .322 to .325.

Is it stepped with parallel sides like the "M" die?

Yes it is.

Sounds to me like an "M" die neck expander than a tapered die then.

May be I am using the wrong terminology It works really well. I screw it in to the M die body and set it up the same way you would a M die. It is pre set for the 180grain boolits.
I just make sure all the cases are trimmed to the same length.
Any way thanks for answering my question about the case neck sizing that's what I will do with the next batch.