Neck turning

[Doublejake]

How thin is two thin? I’m currently at 9K.
Anyone else have issues getting the KnM to make proper adjustments? I just saw PMAs micro adjustments turner! Wished I saw that before! So far the biggest frustration with Neck turning is adjusting the turner, then once I get it to get correct cut, I tighten it to lock it in place and it moves it in deeper. Uhhh

 

[jackieschmidt]

You are at .009 thick?
What caliber bullet, and what is the neck diameter of your chamber?

 

[searcher]

Should not be a problem. I'm getting ready to turn a new large batch of brass that is right around .012" and the consistency isn't looking too good. I'm sure I'll end up around .010" +/-, and I'll be shooting that out of an A/R so really want to keep them as thick as I can.

 

[Dave M.]

If you are seeing lots of variation in neck thickness after turning, you are likely:
1. Turning too quickly
2. Creating too much heat (use a better lube or lube more often)
3. Or the expanding mandrel is not sized correctly to give a tight fit on the turning mandrel. The two mandrels should work in tandem. If the brass is too loose on the turning mandrel it will wobble and you can see quite a bit of variation (I know because I’ve done this myself).
Dave

 

[ScottVA]

Maybe, maybe not. As @jackieschmidt pointed out, it depends on the caliber and neck diameter of the chamber. In the days of the .262" neck chamber in the 6PPC, shooters routinely turned necks anywhere from .0080"-.0085" which followed the phrase "turn thin to win".

 

[searcher]

If you are seeing lots of variation in neck thickness after turning, you are likely:
1. Turning too quickly
2. Creating too much heat (use a better lube or lube more often
3. Or the expanding mandrel is not sized correctly to give a tight fit on the turning mandrel. The two mandrels should work in tandem. If the brass is too loose on the turning mandrel it will wobble and you can see quite a bit of variation (I know because I’ve done this myself).
Dave

I agree. Gotta be tight, turned slow enough to not generate too much heat and omit annealing just before turning.

 

[Andy Work]

Are you using a K&M expander? Their turn tool pilots are slightly oversized compared to other brands.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Quit being frustrated, get the PMA. Thin to win, that's how I was raised. Every time a piece of brass drops of the bench I wince. But my rifles are very accurate.

 

[Dave M.]

I agree. Gotta be tight, turned slow enough to not generate too much heat and omit annealing just before turning.

I’ve used lots of different lubes to turn necks but so far the best are:
1. An 8oz bottle of a mystery machining fluid given to me by my cousin (looks and feels like 5W-30 motor oil)
2. Hobo oil. This works great. No build up on the turning mandrel, neck thicknesses easily +/-0.0003” (and generally +/-0.0002”), and a little bit of it goes a long way.

I’ve also used LPS Tapmatic Edge Creme. This works well but because it is a creme, it is hard to get it even coated on the machining surface.

Dave

 

[Dave M.]

Are you using a K&M expander? Their turn tool pilots are slightly oversized compared to other brands.

I am. But I had to contact them because my expander was opening the neck up too much and then I got a loose fit on the turning mandrel. They gave me a better match to the turning mandrel I have and ever since the tolerance on turned necks are very tight.

 

[DocBII]

I am. But I had to contact them because my expander was opening the neck up too much and then I got a loose fit on the turning mandrel. They gave me a better match to the turning mandrel I have and ever since the tolerance on turned necks are very tight.

Good day,

The K&M expanders are inexpensive enough to turn or polish them down to where you get a good tight slip fit to the turner mandrel. The turners are inexpensive enough for me to have one for each cartridge/caliber, about 12 at this point. Same with the expander holder.

Don't have a good way to mark all these items. On some I've tried etching, scribing, or painting. Same problem with their cutters.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[searcher]

I’ve used lots of different lubes to turn necks but so far the best are:
1. An 8oz bottle of a mystery machining fluid given to me by my cousin (looks and feels like 5W-30 motor oil)
2. Hobo oil. This works great. No build up on the turning mandrel, neck thicknesses easily +/-0.0003” (and generally +/-0.0002”), and a little bit of it goes a long way.

I’ve also used LPS Tapmatic Edge Creme. This works well but because it is a creme, it is hard to get it even coated on the machining surface.

Dave

I have tried a lot of lubes too and also found the thinner viscosity to be best. I now just dip my necks in Kroil.

 

[searcher]

Are you using a K&M expander? Their turn tool pilots are slightly oversized compared to other brands.

I'm using Sinclaire expanders. (Now Brownell's?) Seems the key with any of them (not too tight or loose) is to anneal evenly BEFORE the last neck sizing prior to turning. Definitely helps stop them from going wild and springing back unevenly. Doing that has really evened them out for me.

 

[JFrank]

I only turn necks for one rifle but when I started I called Pat at PMA and he hooked me up with everything I needed including the expander, case holder, lube and of course the cutting tool itself with correct angle blade.
It was a little learning curve to get the speed down but a couple buddies talked me through it.

 

[Dave M.]

I have tried a lot of lubes too and also found the thinner viscosity to be best. I now just dip my necks in Kroil.

I love the way Kroll smells, my girlfriend hates it and can’t stand when I use it for anything. Lol

 

[searcher]

I love the way Kroll smells, my girlfriend hates it and can’t stand when I use it for anything. Lol

It smells like - Victory!

 

[Dave M.]

Quit being frustrated, get the PMA. Thin to win, that's how I was raised. Every time a piece of brass drops of the bench I wince. But my rifles are very accurate.

Every single time I drop a piece of brass it dents the neck…then I’m so anal, that I won’t shoot it again for record until I’ve shot it in the chamber (it becomes an instant fouler / sighter).
Dave

 

[JEFFPPC]

Every single time I drop a piece of brass it dents the neck…then I’m so anal, that I won’t shoot it again for record until I’ve shot it in the chamber (it becomes an instant fouler / sighter).
Dave

I no longer look at them. Pick them up and toss them. So after many years with the BRX and even longer with 6 PPCs sporting .262 necks I have a barrel coming in 6BRA featuring a .269 neck. Hands no longer like all that turning. I have a lifetime supply of new PPCs that only need fireformed. Cleaning to .269 will be a breeze. Wish I had bought the PMA tool long before I did, its great.

 

[Dave M.]

I no longer look at them. Pick them up and toss them. So after many years with the BRX and even longer with 6 PPCs sporting .262 necks I have a barrel coming in 6BRA featuring a .269 neck. Hands no longer like all that turning. I have a lifetime supply of new PPCs that only need fireformed. Cleaning to .269 will be a breeze. Wish I had bought the PMA tool long before I did, its great.

My dasher barrels are all .270 or .271” necks. I still turn everything but now I’m turning our dasher brass to 0.0115”.
I’ve tried 12.5, 12.0, 11.5, 11.0 and 10.5 thou necks in the dashers with 270-271 chambers; and the 11.5 thou necks consistently shot the best.
Dave

 

[Doublejake]

You are at .009 thick?
What caliber bullet, and what is the neck diameter of your chamber?

.330 chamber, loaded round is .32745