Neck Turning

Because I like the idea of a uniform neck thickness for various reasons. None of which will probably meet your degree of approval, but it works for me.
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I gotta agree with you on that. I don't see how creating uniform neck thickness could be a bad thing. And I have encountered different brand brass which varied considerably.

I hear guys talking about a .002 or maybe a little smaller clearance factor between chamber neck and loaded neck dimension, and that seems pretty sensible to me. I think if you go much tighter than that, you may wind up with tight necks in a hot chamber due to expansion.

I'm relatively new to the neck turning thing, and am only doing it since acquiring a bench rest rifle with a fairly tight chamber that I have to create my brass for by necking down a larger caliber. My last neck turn setting is actually .0015 under chamber dimension, and gave good results with my last groups, even with a hot rifle. That's where I'm going to stay for awhile. jd
 
Everyone here should read "Secrets of the Houston Warehouse", a very good read. Pay particular attention to neck clearance comments at end of article.

Don't have it - do a web search and read carefully. It will be worth your time.
 
Ahhh cmon. Can't ya just give us the quick run down.:rolleyes: I've gotta get my butt to the salt mine, and don't have time to do a search right now. :D

Rocky is the road in my quest for knowledge. jd
 
I'm relatively new to the neck turning thing, and am only doing it since acquiring a bench rest rifle with a fairly tight chamber
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I form cases, it is practical because of cost. I have purchased 30/06 cases for .01 cent each, that was 1,400 cases for $14.00. When forming 308 cases for 7.62 chambers formed cases tighten the neck. As I said before, I want my cases to release the bullet.

Turning/reaming necks for the sake of vanity? Then there are the reloaders that require therapy after confusing mistakes with donuts. I create donuts when forming, most of my fired cases will never create a donut, it is possible to create donuts when turning necks.

jdscholer, turning because of a bench rester chamber is necessary because of the "rifle with a fairly tight chamber". Back to turning for the sake of turning, some reloaders have 'V' blocks with dial indicators/run out gages etc. A reloader that uses run out gages will not have surprises when turning the out side of the neck.

F. Guffey
 
I form cases, it is practical because of cost. I have purchased 30/06 cases for .01 cent each, that was 1,400 cases for $14.00. When forming 308 cases for 7.62 chambers formed cases tighten the neck. As I said before, I want my cases to release the bullet.

Turning/reaming necks for the sake of vanity? Then there are the reloaders that require therapy after confusing mistakes with donuts. I create donuts when forming, most of my fired cases will never create a donut, it is possible to create donuts when turning necks.
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I am still trying to figure out what you are trying to say, and what it has to do with neck turning.

And how does a breakfast treat get woven into reloading?
 
The only neck turning I do is when a pretty girl walks by, I does help my wife's accuracy with the frying pan (LOL).

Like I said worry more about trigger control than turning necks.

Jim
 
Poconolg,

Honestly, with Lapua brass, I don't think neck turning will buy you much.

What accuracy are you getting? What are you wanting? What distances will you shoot? We need more to really help you. Gun? Weight? Optic?

Typically once a barrel is proven good, accuracy is about finding the right bullet at the right OAL, with cases that fit the chamber well and low runout of the bullet. Obviously due diligence must be done to find the powder charge and primer.
 
"I have purchased 30/06 cases for .01 cent each, that was 1,400 cases for $14.00."

You got ripped off then. Should have paid the man 14 cents, not dollars.
 
When I'm feeling flush, which isn't often, I order a hundred Lapua 6 BR brass for a buck apiece shipped. When they get here, I neck them down to 22 BR, and expand the neck with a high set expander ball. Then trim to length. Then must turn the necks or they won't begin to fit in my chamber. Also run them through the small base 308 die, one time only, so that the case body also fits in the chamber.

After all that, I am able to fire multiple times with a partial full length resize, and life is good. I won't even begin to tell ya what I had to do to form cases from 7 BR brass that I acquired for a "good deal".:rolleyes:

So far, I'm still able to convince myself that I'm having fun, and learning a lot as I go. jd
 
You got ripped off then. Should have paid the man 14 cents, not dollars.
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You would be correct if the cases were not on a 'time lock'. He had decided the cases were not worth selling because of the condition. He was convinced the cases would require days and days of tumbling, then there was the time lock.

Each case had a black 30 caliber wasp in it. Some refer to the wasp as being a dirt/mud dauber. I had time, so I paid the dealer $14.00 for the 1,400 cases.

Later, one day my wife opened the garage and claimed a small black cloud left when she opened the garage door.

Meanwhile, back at the flea market, I explained to the dealer cleaning the cases/removing the patina was a small mater of cleaning the cases in vinegar for 15 minutes then rinse.

And then? I found 4 belts/partial belts of linked 30/06 ammo. 800 rounds total. I pulled the tracers and AP bullets and then saved the powder.

Trimming cases, there is no excuse for me not knowing the length of the chamber, again I have one chamber that is .011" longer from the shoulder to the bolt face than a SAAMI length go-gage. I am not adding to the length of the case from the mouth of the case to the case head, I am adding .014" to the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head.

Dave P., you are correct, "I have purchased 30/06 cases for .01 cent each", he threw the wasp in for free. If each of those mud daubers ate one insect I am ahead.

F. Guffey
 
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I would also like to thank you oldman for the Houston Warehouse article. I finally got a chance to read it, and absorb some of the very pertinent information it shares.

Reading stuff like that makes me feel like a pretty rank amateur; I'm still trying to get my rifle to shoot in the .200's, and those guys thought that .020" was mediocre.

The article definitely gave me some ideas on the next issues that I need to address. jd
 
Jim243 posted trigger change, I agree 100%. My 308 started out as a stock Rem.700 LTR for benchrest shooting only. I reload my rounds, getting good groups. Stock triggers are around 3.5 lbs, benchrest shooting triggers are in ounces. Dropped in a Jewell trigger set at 10 oz. my groups at 200 yard zero went from 3/4 to 1/2". After shooting a 10 oz. trigger for awile it seems like a stock trigger to me.When someone else tries it, I always here them say thats a hair trigger. After 4000 rounds down the barrel had the action blueprinted with a new Rock Creek M24 5R 11.27 twist. Groups are 1/2 to 1/4 at 200 yards. If the rifle was in a locked in rest it would be one ragged hole no dought. Shooting with a rear bag & Harris bi pod. I'm shooting a Sierra 168 gr, HPBT F/C & ADI brass, IMR 4064 40.5 gr. works great in my rifle. It's nice fine tunning a load, but the biggest jump in accuracy came with a trigger change. Hope I helped, Chris
 
Other than uniforming up your necks, which *may* give a measurable result, the only reason to neck turn is to be sure you have at least .003" clearance in the chamber for a clean bullet release. I prefer .004" clearance myself.

In a standard chamber, the Lapua brass will have necks that expand at least that much. So, unless you have a tight neck chamber, the answer is no. Don't neck turn. It's a lot of work for no appreciable gain *unless* yours is a non standard, tight necked chamber.

My $.02
 
Some guys will turn case necks just enough to create a more uniform neck thickness
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I would be one of those, it helps to uniform case neck tension and helps to identify brass that needs to go the scrap bin.
 
Considering you've got quality brass to begin with not sure how much it would benefit from neck turning if at all or whether its even needed with your chamber.

If you are looking to increase accuracy you may do well to look at getting a OAL gauge so you can get that bullet close to the lands. I know those Bergers can be quite picky about where they are seated.

Someone else mentioned Sierra 168's and 4064 which is a known accuracy combo. 8208 isn't a bad powder either and is quite capable of providing excellent accuracy.
 
If you would like to find out if neck turning helps to get a smaller group. You could be a good example to show us what your average groups are now and what happens after you turn the necks. That would help us all as far as learning the facts. Make no other changes other turning the necks. If you are willing to do that I for one would like to know what the results would be. Start with a large sample 10-20 rounds without. Then 10-20 rounds with turned necks. Are you willing to take the challenge?
 
Longshot4- I do not turn my necks either( Lapua Brass). However most of the guys I shoot with do. They swear by it. Now does it make a difference at 3 to 5 or even 600 yards, Probebly very little, but now stretch it to 1000 yards and beyond, I bet it makes a good difference. To pull good groups at that range everything comes into play, including turning necks. I at some point in time will start,but for now-There are just to many other things I need first. It has been said that each step in brass prep can add up to 2% accuracy to your load. Now while 2% is not much, add all the steps up and it comes to a bit. possibly the difference between MOA and Sub MOA. Neck tension is a factor in neck turning,You and I both know how important that is in long range shooting. The ability to keep your MV at 8 to less FPS MV difference is needed. Heck as a joke I tell some of the people that ask me about it- Hey the way you comb your hair in the morning makes a difference:D. Your fighting the wind changing directions 3 different times, mirage from both barrel and ground, amongst other things. Just makes sense to get as much right from the get go as you can.
 
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