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Anyone use a 21st Century Neck Lathe

I am having issues with my neck turning lathe. For some reason I can't get the neck/shoulder junction cut to be consistent all the way around my case. About one quarter of the case at this point cuts too much into the shoulder while the remainder of the case doesn't get touched at this point. I can run these cases through my friend's K&M and cut properly into the shoulder all the way around the case. Any pointers from someone with this setup?
 
That usually happens if the case isn't indexed on the turning mandrel deep enough. Try adjusting the mandrel a hair 'outwards', so that the cutter touches the shoulder a bit deeper. That should solve the issue.
Also, I am guessing you've verified that you have the correct cutter for the cartridge you are turning.

It might help to first adjust the mandrel and then also re-adjust the height of the cutter to make sure you don't shave too much brass from the shoulder.
 
Also, is this new brass? If so, try full length resizing to even up the shoulders. I have found that same problem with new brass. Either size first, then try it again. Or just cut a little deeper.
 
08glide,
Try readjusting the setting (depth) for the mandrel on the lathe that prevents you from cutting beyond a certain point. That way you set a limit on how far you run the brass into the cutter and the result should be the same. Works for me.

Alex
 
I am having issues with my neck turning lathe. For some reason I can't get the neck/shoulder junction cut to be consistent all the way around my case. About one quarter of the case at this point cuts too much into the shoulder while the remainder of the case doesn't get touched at this point. I can run these cases through my friend's K&M and cut properly into the shoulder all the way around the case. Any pointers from someone with this setup?

Have you reread the instructions on setup carefully and called 21st Century to ask them for assistance? They are a very good and customer oriented supplier. JME. WD
 
Thanks for the replies guys, I spoke with John and he was very helpful. My brass is new and I had neck sized and then run through the expander. I grabbed a piece of once fired and it cut perfectly. I am either going to full length size this new brass to square everything up or fire it once and then turn the necks.
 
I am having issues with my neck turning lathe. For some reason I can't get the neck/shoulder junction cut to be consistent all the way around my case. About one quarter of the case at this point cuts too much into the shoulder while the remainder of the case doesn't get touched at this point. I can run these cases through my friend's K&M and cut properly into the shoulder all the way around the case. Any pointers from someone with this setup?
also make sure brass is trimmed to same length.
 
I use the 21st century lathe to clean up the necks on 6x47 Lapua Brass. I have found that full length sizing from 6.5x47 brass in the first prep step causes a great deal of neck wall thickness variability, and it's nearly impossible to get a good consistent turn into the shoulder. This problem gets much better if you wait to clean up the neck and shoulder after firing one time first. Of course your chamber neck diameter must allow you to do that.
 
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I use the 21st century neck turning lathe on new brass. I have seen the issue you are describing from time to time a attributed it to the case not being centered in the tail stock case holder so that it would wobble noticeably as it turned. Check to make sure the case is centered in the tail stock driver assembly and that the tool body mounting bolt is not so tight that the tool body can't self align with the spinning driver assembly.

Ken
 

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