I shoot a 22-250, How much neck tension is considered too much or too little? I shoot a Rem 700 with a Lilja barrel and a Jewel trigger on a good day I shoot under 1/2" at 100 yds. I am just looking for some input on neck tension. Can neck tension affect accuracy? Thanks for any opinions.
Neck Tension
- Thread starter Poconolg
- Start date
Neck tension can definitely affect accuracy and it's NOT always too much that hampers accuracy.
Yes it can affect accuracy but in my opinion its more about having consistent neck tension rather than having an absolute value as long as its sufficient to prevent the bullets of cartridges in the magazine moving due to recoil.
Many of the long range precision guys go to great length to control neck tension.
PS: That's some nice shooting - whatever you're doing seems to be working quite well. Under 1/2 moa is varmint grade accuracy for sure - I'd be happy with that in a 22 250.
Many of the long range precision guys go to great length to control neck tension.
PS: That's some nice shooting - whatever you're doing seems to be working quite well. Under 1/2 moa is varmint grade accuracy for sure - I'd be happy with that in a 22 250.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
I run 0.002-0.0025 on my 2 Lilja barreled 22-250, Manson reamer (Sig brass)with 0.025 freebore. I haven't messed with the neck sizing they both shoot great, but I have a 204r that just loves 0.007 with Hornady brass and Sierra 39 bk.
Poco -
Howdy !
A reason for the existence of " busing style " neck size ( NS ) dies, is so that shooters / reloaders can try varying amounts of neck tension. Even Lee " collet neck size die " users are known to have more than one diameter of the die's " mandrel ", as a means of trying / using various amounts of " squeeze ".
Even a .001" amount of difference in the diameter of NS bushings and mandrels can make a difference.
I had a load that went from bullets arcing off randomly into a pond off-axis to the bore while trying to shoot
groups @ 100yd; to the best grouping load I eventually found...... w/ just the change to use of a .001" tighter bushing.
YRMV....
With regards,
357Mag
Howdy !
A reason for the existence of " busing style " neck size ( NS ) dies, is so that shooters / reloaders can try varying amounts of neck tension. Even Lee " collet neck size die " users are known to have more than one diameter of the die's " mandrel ", as a means of trying / using various amounts of " squeeze ".
Even a .001" amount of difference in the diameter of NS bushings and mandrels can make a difference.
I had a load that went from bullets arcing off randomly into a pond off-axis to the bore while trying to shoot
groups @ 100yd; to the best grouping load I eventually found...... w/ just the change to use of a .001" tighter bushing.
YRMV....
With regards,
357Mag
Off topic, but nostalgia kicked in and I had to youtube the '70's group Poco. Remember them well.
Assuming you have a bushing full length die try bushings .002-.004" smaller than your loaded neck diameter. Find the best load first, sounds like you have already found that. Then try the different bushing sizes on the range. Three shots of each should be adequate. Use a wind flag and try to shoot the same condition. Shoot early morning so you don't have mirage to contend with. With the 22/250 you can develop some serious barrel heat. So take this into consideration as well but don't shoot a group slow as conditions can change drastically. Understand that trying to shrink a .500" group can demand some expert shooting techniques. I recently ran into this with a friend trying to shrink his varmint rifle groups from .500".
Consistent neck tension becomes very important as your expectations for precision increase.
There is a whole lot more to consistent neck tension than picking the right bushing.
There is a whole lot more to consistent neck tension than picking the right bushing.
Yes and if you're not neck turning it's not going to produce much of anything!
I find this to be true.
Bryan Litz has a vid out there and sez to shoot yer loads without neck turning so you have something to compare it to. He said one load he was testing shot worse with neck turning. Was getting some info from Shawn Carlock one time. He said he quit turning necks 20 years ago.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
I wish everyone would quit turning necks. No doubt a dumb waste of time. Also quite sorting bullets, only a figment of someone's imagination.
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
First of all, do your own experimenting, then you will actually know. Secondly, neck tension is a tuning factor. Some powders like a lot, others less. This is not a guess, I have done the work, which is what I suggest you do. As far as neck turning goes, I suggest you go to a big benchrest match, and do a survey, count the winners who do not turn. The problems that I see is too much internet research and not enough testing at the range. Loading at the range makes the whole thing a lot easier, and faster, fewer components and less barrel wear.
I'm guessing you've done a survey on neck turning. How many have you found to turn vs not?
Lucky Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm trying to get beyond the PD shooter mentality----lots of pretty good ammo--and
I like Boyd's idea of doing your own testing-----if you know how.
In addition to uniformity and tuning, how about the possibility that neck turning
just might promote better alignment of the bullet and bore ?
Its not always easy to see the difference between "it won't hurt" and "wasting time".
A Weldy
I like Boyd's idea of doing your own testing-----if you know how.
In addition to uniformity and tuning, how about the possibility that neck turning
just might promote better alignment of the bullet and bore ?
Its not always easy to see the difference between "it won't hurt" and "wasting time".
A Weldy
It could also make it worse by increasing the radial clearance between neck and chamber- unless you have the bullet out far enough to permit it to center in the throat. Remember the ejector is exerting pressure on one side of the case.
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
If the shank (full diameter) of the bullet enters the freebore as the round is chambered, it will center the round since the total clearance there is typically less than .001, based on nominal bullet diameter. Some factory chamber designs do not have cylindrical free bores but virtually all custom reamers do.
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