223 Dilemma

[Tentman]

Hello Folks

I have a 223 target rifle that I use for FTR shooting. Currently it shoots better than I can, and will shoot good enough to for possibles out to 600 yards if I hold it right. I bought the rifle with the load development "done" , the recipe is a bit unusual in respect the the choice of brass (Federal nickle plated) but I haven't changed it because it performs so well.

The rifle is marked as having a .250 neck, and I have found it a bit "tight" on occasion, if I don't keep the necks of the brass well chamfered they sometimes jam, and in a match that's not too good (and potentially might give me a higher than desirable pressure too I guess).

I'd really like to shoot top quality brass (the recipe notwithstanding) but from what I have read I'd have to neck trim Lapua (and most other) brass. I don't neck turn now for any of my reloading.

So I see three options - keep on with the Federal Nickle plated (or another known thin neck brass if there is such a creature), start neck turning, or have the rifle's chamber opened up (if that is indeed possible). I don't want to lose any accuracy.

Your thoughts would be appreciated . . . .

 

[joshb]

I believe there is someone on here that offers to turn necks for a fair price. Do a search, as his name escapes me at the moment.

 

[Steve Ladino]

You should find out the exact chamber neck diameter vs. your loaded cartridge neck diameter to be sure that there is adequate distance between the two measurements, if not ( then neck turn your necks so that when the round is chambered there is a minimum of .001 clearance between the neck of the case and the chambers neck area, even twice this clearance is okay)... any brass case can give good accuracy, neck turning is easy if you have the tools.

 

[XTR]

... there is a minimum of .001 clearance between the neck of the case and the chambers neck area, even twice this clearance is okay)

My 308s tend to run closer to .010 neck clearance, and they shoot great. (and in 6 yrs I've still never split a neck) Maybe not BR great, but usually in the .2s to .3 for vertical at 300 and will hold .5 to 1000. Tight necks really don't do much for you other than cause problems. I don't shoot BR so I'm not sure what the current trends in loading are for those guys, but to shoot high power if you can get under .5 MOA at your intended distance then you have a load that will not hold your back.

... any brass case can give good accuracy, neck turning is easy if you have the tools.

This is very true.

 

[Mozella]

Chamfering brass so that you can force the bolt closed on a chamber which has insufficient neck clearance is generally considered a bad thing. As others have pointed out, there are several solutions, but I would say ignoring the problem would be the worst choice.

I like my 21st Century lathe and cutter head if you decide to turn your brass. But fine tuning your chamber by increasing the neck clearance is a viable alternative. Check out the PT&G throater/necker kit if you decide to do it yourself. You can specify a custom neck diameter if you want something other than standard.

Unfortunately, accuracy is something of an elusive mystery. If washing my lucky underwear once every 6 months throws off my group size, I suspect making any changes to your rifle could do the same.

 

[eric n]

I need a full cleanup on my .250 neck. .0125 + .0125 + .224= .249
I haven't measured a piece of unturned brass in a while but last lot they ran .013 up to .014.
I would keep a close eye on the carbon buildup or you will have problems.

I will never run a tight neck again

 

[jr600yd]

Don't know what the BR guys are running for neck clearence but they do shoot very tight groups. Since your laying in the dirt along with the rain and all the other stuff flying around shooting 20 or more shot strings and not cleaning the rifle between them I would think you'd want a little more than .001 neck clearance. Just in case you know?

 

[Steve Ladino]

I need a full cleanup on my .250 neck. .0125 + .0125 + .224= .249
I haven't measured a piece of unturned brass in a while but last lot they ran .013 up to .014.
I would keep a close eye on the carbon buildup or you will have problems.

I will never run a tight neck again

I need a full cleanup on my .250 neck. .0125 + .0125 + .224= .249

I need a full cleanup on my .250 neck. .0125 + .0125 + .224= .249
I haven't measured a piece of unturned brass in a while but last lot they ran .013 up to .014.
I would keep a close eye on the carbon buildup or you will have problems.

I will never run a tight neck again

I would keep a close eye on the carbon buildup or you will have problems.

I will never run a tight neck again

 

[Steve Ladino]

Thats a half thou per side (.249 that is )

 

[CJ6]

I would think heat expansion from the ammo sitting in the sun or a warm chamber would give you .0005 case growth. .001 (total)is too tight for me. I would also bet that (when measured) those Fed. nickle cases have more than .001 variance between the necks from the factory.

 

[jpretle]

I am running a .250 neck on a 223AI. I use Win brass and LC brass and have not turned a neck.
Loaded rds measure .247-.248.
I would just switch brass. Not much of a fan of nickel stuff, myself.

 

[eric n]

Thats a half thou per side (.249 that is )

I know it is stupid tight.
It's where I had the cutter set, I told myself if I ran into a problem I would turn em a little farther... Never had an issue.
And, I'm stubborn and hardheaded, I just wanted to see if it made a difference... It didn't.
.252's for now on!

Tentman,
What does a loaded round measure?

 

[DRNewcomb]

It's not hard to turn case necks.

 

[Tentman]

Well Eric that was a very interesting question, I measured 10 rounds and they were a fairly even .247/.248 with a couple of exceptions. The exceptions were ok further down the neck, but right at the case mouth they were .250+

Somehow I'm getting the occasional case with "flare" right at the mouth. I have chamfered these so it must be something my seating die is doing . . . any ideas??

 

[DRNewcomb]

. . . any ideas??

Either get a tubing micrometer and reject any cases with a neck wall thicknesses greater than 0.012" or get a neck turning lathe and fix the problem.

 

[chevytruck_83]

Personally I don't think you need to go with a tight neck to get a 223 to run well. Especially in ftr shooting where the wind and shooter have a big influence in shot placement. I would have a smith run a more standard reamer in it and use lapua brass or even lake city like the rest of us. If the barrel shoots now I don't see it not shooting after putting a different size reamer in. Unless of course neck turning is something you want to get into.