What did I do wrong? Weak neck tension.

[Pareto]

I've successfully reloaded a few dozen Lapua 6br cases 2x to 3x. But recently, about 8 to 9 of these cases, even after resizing with a full length bushing die, seem to have weak neck tension. Bullets seem to push down easily after seating. Force is required to seat bullets with a Wilson seater and arbor press, but after insertion the bullets easily keep going with a mild touch. What to do with this brass? Keep resizing to work harden? Toss them?

Thanks

 

[Lucky6547]

If you aren’t annealling, then you’re going to have to use a smaller bushing to get the same or close to the same results.

 

[SSL]

You say a bushing die? Try a smaller size bushing? I would definitely anneal while you are at it.

 

[Dave M.]

I've successfully reloaded a few dozen Lapua 6br cases 2x to 3x. But recently, about 8 to 9 of these cases, even after resizing with a full length bushing die, seem to have weak neck tension. Bullets seem to push down easily after seating. Force is required to seat bullets with a Wilson seater and arbor press, but after insertion the bullets easily keep going with a mild touch. What to do with this brass? Keep resizing to work harden? Toss them?

Thanks

You are not annealing and have significantly work hardened your brass.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I've successfully reloaded a few dozen Lapua 6br cases 2x to 3x. But recently, about 8 to 9 of these cases, even after resizing with a full length bushing die, seem to have weak neck tension. Bullets seem to push down easily after seating. Force is required to seat bullets with a Wilson seater and arbor press, but after insertion the bullets easily keep going with a mild touch. What to do with this brass? Keep resizing to work harden? Toss them?

Thanks

This can easily happen with variations in neck wall thickness often found in less quality brass. Also, with such brass there can be enough variation in spring back to lead to this. . . especially if the neck tension you're working with is small. The ease fix is to simply use a smaller bushing, though you're likely to still have such variation in "neck tension"/interference. You'll be ok to still use that same brass after resizing with a smaller bushing.

You didn't say if you use an expander button in the sizing die or a mandrel afterward. Using a mandrel after sizing with a bushing die can give you more control over issue.

 

[Tesoro]

If I dont anneal with 6br lapua brass I get split necks. That brass is hard to start with. So I anneal every time..no big deal dosent take long. End of problem and consistent seating pressure to boot.

 

[Pareto]

I have been annealing every 2x shots and I feared I had over annealed, perhaps.

 

[AlNyhus]

If the neck tension is getting lighter, it's likely you're stess relieving the necks too often. -Al

 

[ShtrRdy]

I had this happen when the diameter of the pressure ring on the bullet was quite a bit larger diameter than the bearing surface. The manufacturer had me send in a few samples and then replaced the box of 500.

 

[bozo699]

I have been annealing every 2x shots and I feared I had over annealed, perhaps.

You may not have got them hot enough to anneal them at all?…..
Wayne

 

[Tommie]

Ok this answer is pretty basic. Is the bushing securely seated in the die?

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

some basic measuring tools will tell you if this is neck tension vs annealing too long issue....

 

[Webster]

I've successfully reloaded a few dozen Lapua 6br cases 2x to 3x. But recently, about 8 to 9 of these cases, even after resizing with a full length bushing die, seem to have weak neck tension. Bullets seem to push down easily after seating. Force is required to seat bullets with a Wilson seater and arbor press, but after insertion the bullets easily keep going with a mild touch. What to do with this brass? Keep resizing to work harden? Toss them?

Thanks

After re-reading your post you said the bullets enter the case mouth with a little force then seat the rest of the was easily. I interpret this as a couple possibilities:
1. The bullet dosn't enter the case neck opening perfectly aligned, then it straightens out.
2. The case mouth opening is not perfectly round or chamfered
3. Maybe both.

Sounds like something I wouldn't worry about? Is the bushing free floating in the die so it tries to center on the case mouth? Is the bushing the proper chamfered end down. RCBS the numbers go up.

What's the neck o.d. before sizing, after sizing and with a bullet in the case? . If it shoots decent groups I wouldn't worry about it. How OCD you get depends on if you compete and what size groups keep you happy. You will get longer case life and more consistant shoulder bemp and tension if you anneal. I anneal with a hand held propane torch it works fine for me. In one of Erik Cortina's video's he anneals brass with a Bench Source annealer then measures seating pressure with a gauge. He didn't get consistant numbers. Seems to be some variables that are not accounter for?