30BR bushing choice

[STP]

My Savage 30BR is ready go. I borrowed a drill press and used the K&M neck turner purchased here and ONT 200 pieces of Lapua brass. My question is what neck bushing diameter would be preferred for the first attempt? I do not want to size down too far from the get go. My chamber neck diameter is .330 and I turned the brass to .010 neck thickness.

Regards,

Scott

 

[markr]

I like to turn mine a little thinner than that....maybe .0096 to ensure clean release of the bullet. I use a .324 bushing. Your mileage may vary.

 

[amamnn]

.308" bullet + .020" neck wall (two sides of the .010" neck have to be considered in the diameter) = .328" which is just right for a Robinette necked chamber (.330")

So, what you need to decide is how much tension you want to use to hold the bullet in the neck. Assuming your bullet has no oversized pressure ring but is a straight .308" use of a .324" bushing gets you .004" neck tension, which a lot of people consider to be optimum.

There is a very good article on this website that covers this subject with advice from some of the best if not the absolute best 30BR shooters in the world.


My current 30BR barrel likes about half that tension. As we know--all barrels are different and you have to experiment.