Neck tension

[Richard Coody]

Consistent neck tension is hard to master. In my experience the amount of neck tension is less important than consistency. Lots of ways to accomplish it. I thought i had it down pretty good until i got the 21st century hydropress. Learned a lot from that and the important thing was it showed on the target.

With my bench gun i found leaving the carbon in the necks, using a harrel bushing die .002 less than a loaded round and then using a k&m mandrel .0015 less than a loaded round for final sizing with lapua neck turned brass i could keep 80% of.my rounds in the range of seating force i was looking.for.

That is what works for me. Many others use different techniques and get comparable results. Many of the 6ppc shooters use pretty heavy neck tension and they certainly outshoot me. I have even heard shooters say crimping reduces their group size. Probably because it gives them more consistent neck tension.

 

[JFrank]

Will the scale read the same if just the chamber type seater was on it and only hand pressure was used?

I’m not sure, it started as a spoof but it actually works

 

[Jdne5b]

Consistent neck tension is hard to master. In my experience the amount of neck tension is less important than consistency. Lots of ways to accomplish it. I thought i had it down pretty good until i got the 21st century hydropress. Learned a lot from that and the important thing was it showed on the target.

With my bench gun i found leaving the carbon in the necks, using a harrel bushing die .002 less than a loaded round and then using a k&m mandrel .0015 less than a loaded round for final sizing with lapua neck turned brass i could keep 80% of.my rounds in the range of seating force i was looking.for.

That is what works for me. Many others use different techniques and get comparable results. Many of the 6ppc shooters use pretty heavy neck tension and they certainly outshoot me. I have even heard shooters say crimping reduces their group size. Probably because it gives them more consistent neck tension.

80% in what range? (ES), and where do the other 20% fall?

 

[nmkid]

No worries mate View attachment 1125840

No way would I use a bathroom type to measure that. I don't trust them. My bathroom scale always weighs on the high side!!

 

[dsculley]

Richard Coody said:

That is what works for me. Many others use different techniques and get comparable results. Many of the 6ppc shooters use pretty heavy neck tension and they certainly outshoot me. I have even heard shooters say crimping reduces their group size. Probably because it gives them more consistent neck tension.

In his books on reloading, Mr. Lee professed that crimping with his "Factory Crimp Die" increased accuracy due to more consistent neck tension. Most of the reloaders/shooters that I have encountered here on the 'net seem to think that crimping is heresy.

 

[dogdude]

I find Richard Coody's second paragraph too be Correct! I use a K&M force gage too prove my seating pressure...the ones that are a little off are sigthers ..way off foulers.

 

[tom]

Yes, the wrong neck tension can cause vertical stringing, maybe just a vertical spitter, and possibly just one of those on the occasional group. No different than the wrong seating or powder. The best advice is to go outside and let the rifle pick the bushing it wants and not worry about a certain "seating force".

Tom

 

[garandman]

Totally ignoring neck tension, I've gotten all my various bolt gun loads under half moa.

Next up: 224 Valkyrie

YMMV. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

 

[rwj]

I find Richard Coody's second paragraph too be Correct! I use a K&M force gage too prove my seating pressure...the ones that are a little off are sigthers ..way off foulers.

Have you noticed any significant differences in the POI for the foulers and sighters?​

 

[dogdude]

rwj, my foulers go on the back berm..hard too tell..sighters yes..vert.. last six are record rounds..then ten record rounds on target.

 

[muleman69]

Whatever ends up with a 10 to 15 pound bullet pull force.

Not sure how to rig up a pull force gauge but my neck diameter grows about .007 when I seat bullet?

 

[Bart B.]

Not sure how to rig up a pull force gauge but my neck diameter grows about .007 when I seat bullet?

That's about .004" to⁹ .005" more than what I think most people get.

What cartridge are you referring to?

Does your die use an expander ball?

What's a loaded round's neck and the sizing die's neck diameters?

 

[Richard Coody]

80% in what range? (ES), and where do the other 20% fall?

With the hydroseater 8 keep them in the 30's. Over or under sighters.
I don't use my croney except after load development to get average velocity for my kestrel.
D8fference is slight shooting in the 1's and.2's

 

[muleman69]

That's about .004" to⁹ .005" more than what I think most people get.

What cartridge are you referring to?

Does your die use an expander ball?

What's a loaded round's neck and the sizing die's neck diameters?

.280 ai, this is what I'm getting through my neck sizer. I shot a 1-1/8" group at 200 yards last night with it . es 7. sd4.1 Will less tension make these more consistent? I will get back to you on the diameters today

 

[Bart B.]

I don't know what less tension would do. Those numbers are excellent in my opinion. You may not get any improvement.

You'll need to shoot at least 20 rounds to have 90% confidence the results are meaningful.

 

[muleman69]

I don't know what less tension would do. Those numbers are excellent in my opinion. You may not get any improvement.

You'll need to shoot at least 20 rounds to have 90% confidence the results are meaningful.

okay I will shoot 20 more

 

[WIB3]

I use a hydro seating press. Have removed the original pressure gauge with a 0-15 psi digital. I’m shooting a Dasher so not a lot of force needed to seat a bullet. I sort my record rounds based on the seating pressure for every match. Record 10 rounds do not vary more than 1 Lb. It works for me.

 

[hambone1971]

Has anybody ever noticed vertical grouping with inconsistent light neck tension.

I notice a vertical grouping just to the right of a lot of nodes when doing OCW testing.

 

[quest450]

I use a hydro seating press. Have removed the original pressure gauge with a 0-15 psi digital. I’m shooting a Dasher so not a lot of force needed to seat a bullet. I sort my record rounds based on the seating pressure for every match. Record 10 rounds do not vary more than 1 Lb. It works for me.

WIB3, that's interesting, can you give us more details about the digital gauge

 

[WIB3]

I purchased mine thru MSC but many industrial supply company’s sell a wide verity. They also come in a wide price range. I believe I paid around $200.