Neck Turning Questions

[NYDAN]

I haven't been on the forum in a long time due to work requirements and a much needed vacation. I hope I am not asking questions which were recently discussed. If so, I apologize.

I have been thinking about neck turning but I have a couple of questions:

1. When is the best time to turn the neck? After firing, or after resizing, or before firing at all?

2. What do you need to do after neck turning? Do you need to fire form the case again, or can you just run it through a sizing die again?

3. Would a simple hand held tool to adequate for my of load development and reloading for one hunting rifle?

Thank you for furthering my education.

Dan

 

[Charlie-NY]

IMO - cases should be FL sized and then run over a mandrel that is .001" larger then your cutter mandrel so the case doesn't gall. This also moves any irregularities in neck thickness to the outside where they can be turned off with your cutter. The least amount of cutting is usually the best unless you are working with a tight neck chamber. If you cut off brass all the way around the neck then you have taken off more then necessary. Necks that are too thin will not hold bullets well unless bushing dies are used.

Sinclair Inter sells a case turning tool that you use with a drill/power screwdriver. It makes using your hand tools MUCH easier and the outcome is more uniform.

You will usually need to resize again before reloading.

Years ago I neck turned everything. Now, after many years of shooting, I realize that very competitive ammo can be made without neck turning. I buy Lapua brass whenever possible but have gotten some amazing groups with off-the-shelf Win or Rem cases that were match prepped but not neck turned.

I have several neck turning tools that are sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Years ago I neck turned everything. Now, after many years of shooting, I realize that very competitive ammo can be made without neck turning. I buy Lapua brass whenever possible but have gotten some amazing groups with off-the-shelf Win or Rem cases that were match prepped but not neck turned.

I have several neck turning tools that are sitting on the shelf collecting dust.

So what tricks did you find that helped as much or more?

I have Lapua brass for only one rifle (30-06) as they don't make brass for my other calibers. I might already be prepping in the same way you are, but like Dan I've thought about neck turning. If I can do without it, I will.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

I think Charlie-NY has addressed this subject fairly well!
I would just like to ask Dan a polite question; What is it that you are hoping to achieve by neck turning you cases?

FYI, here are some of my limited experiences with neck turning;
Unless you have a firearm capable of shooting extremely small groups, don't even bother as this is one labor intensive and Boring job!

It would help to buy a separate Expander Die and both a Case Neck Expanding Mandrel and another Neck Turning Mandrel to speed up this onerous task!
FYI, I have the Sinclair Int'l versions of these three items Gen-2 Expander Die (Part # 749 011 715, for .17 thru .338 Cal), and caliber specific Neck Expand and Neck Turn Mandrel, and they are great!

You need to use a good lubricant on the Neck Turn Mandrel, when you are neck turning the cases. Sinclair's sell some of this but I haven't used it. I have always used "XTP" automotive oil additive!

I have a couple of Sinclair neck turning tools, and they are very good to use, as are most of the other hand held units!
The advice I was given by a world champ BR shooter) is, the Hand Held untis do a better job than the Case Trimmer mounted Neck Turners!

Dan, if I think of any other things, I'll post them.

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

 

[NYDAN]

G'Day Fella's,

I think Charlie-NY has addressed this subject fairly well!
I would just like to ask Dan a polite question; What is it that you are hoping to achieve by neck turning you cases?

Homer

Homer, I am hoping to achieve better or more consistent accuracy. My rifle does shoot some very good groups (approaching bug holes) but I am struggling to make it happen consistently. I was thinking that concentricity might be the variable I am not controlling.

Dan

 

[rick smith]

I have turned necks in a variety of calibers and found that it was pretty much a waste of time except for one wildcat I have. Measure the concentricity of your loaded rounds, that should help more than turning necks. If you have a ball micrometer, measure the neck thickness on six to eight places. There are many causes of inconsistent groups and neck turning would likely be on the bottom of the list. Rick.

 

[longrangehunter]

Homer summed it up in a nut shell. I don't bother unless forced too.

Rick's answer is spot on as well. Loading perfectly straight ammo is far more relevant to accurate loads then if they were neck turned to clean up the high spots.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Thank You for that LR Hunter!

Dan, I had a bit of think about other potentials in regard milking the most out of your rifle.
If you believe or want to neck turn, go ahead with this but unless your rifle has a custom "Tight Neck Chamber", only remove enough brass from the case neck, to clean up most of the variation in the case neck!
You will be surprised by the variation you see, when you start to neck turn cases, as they can vary a lot!!!

My other thought goes back to what Rick and LRH have said above, with regard to loading ammo where the seated bullet, is straight in the case!
I use either Custom made (to suit the chamber) or Wilson made Inline and Bushed Loading Dies and an Arbor Press, when loading ammo for several of my Long Ranger rifles.
As a result of case neck turning, this may be your only option, depending on how much brass you remove from the case neck?
These Wilson-In Line Bushed Reloading Dies, are also available from Sinclair Int'l.

By the way, I don't work for Sinclair Int'l, I just like their products and great customer service!

Dan, this can be a bit daunting, so if you have any questions, if I can't help, I'm sure several of the other blokes on here can.

Doh!
Homer
.