Best neck turning tool?

[Jacks Grampa]

Since 25-06 brass is on the shelf between the unicorn and the honest politician I'll be needing to resize and turn down the neck on some 30-06 cases that I have a lot of. I've never needed to turn necks before so I'm not well informed on them. Thanks group, James

 

[boltfluter]

My K @ M has worked well for me when turning by hand. And is reasonable in price.
Paul

 

[DngBat7]

Km, PMA, 21 century all great. Saying that, I have become very fond of the quality of machining and ease of use of the PMA.

 

[Mark W]

I have a couple from Sinclair and one from PMA. The ones from Sinclair work fine if you want to set it and forget it. The one from PMA is really nice and much easier to adjust.

 

[PopCharlie]

I have a couple from Sinclair and one from PMA. The ones from Sinclair work fine if you want to set it and forget it. The one from PMA is really nice and much easier to adjust.

Same for me. PMA tools are great.

PopCharlie

 

[358WCF]

I necked some Lapua 30-06 down & didn't have to turn necks for a standard Remington factory chamber. They had minimal expansion, but still OK. Bullets fit snug in fired case neck. I did skim them a couple of thou with a K&M after a few firings.

Also... I have some of this & it's not bad.

Prvi Partizan Brass 25-06 Remington Unprimed Bag of 50 - Graf & Sons

Imported from Serbia. Fully reloadable brass cases. Accept boxer primers. This is not loaded ammunition.

www.grafs.com

 

[joe139]

R W Hart best I've found

 

[jepp2]

I did the same on these 30-06 Lapua for my 25-06 using the 21'st Century lathe. Owned a few of the Sinclairs, but never used them.

 

[F Class John]

In three different and distinct price ranges I'd say the PMA - 21stC - Autodod

 

[MagnumW]

Im using 21st century lathe seems to work.

 

[Bat Rastard]

I went with a Hornady, and I will be going to the PMA next.

 

[762plinker]

the don Nielson PUMPKIN is THE best, second would be the RASBERRY by bruno's.
i cut in 2 passes, i have other makes for the first cut, but i own about 8 pumpkins....
that is a big clue

 

[wheelgun7360]

PMA works for me!!

 

[nmkid]

For me, light, smooth cuts work out the best.

 

[Jacks Grampa]

I went with a Hornady, and I will be going to the PMA next.

What do you not like about the Hornady? I'd like to be able to clamp my turner to the bench.

 

[LHSmith]

What do you not like about the Hornady? I'd like to be able to clamp my turner to the bench.

I believe you get better results when the cutter floats. I use K&M with carbide mandrel and carbide cutter with the proper angle (holding and feeding it by hand ) and spin the brass in a lathe using Sinclair case holders ( not the universal type). I don't think Hornady offers many tooling options. You will always get wobble holding cases with shell holders. But I am turning necks for competition in a variety of cartridges- for what you're doing the Hornady should work fine.

 

[Bill Norris]

R W Hart & Forster both work well for me.

 

[Bat Rastard]

What do you not like about the Hornady? I'd like to be able to clamp my turner to the bench.

I do not like the trial and error way you have to set the shoulder stop.
Also, the bore of the casting is larger than the outside diameter of the shaft running through it. Those tolerances are probably necessary for manufacturing, but in my use cause binding and side to side variation.
I will likely keep the Hornady for a rough 1st pass, and use a PMA ( yet to be acquired) for finishing.

The picture might not help, but I was trying illustrate the cut into the shoulder. It isn't uniform around the case. Deep on one side nonexistent, or shallow on the other. I attribute it to the play in the shaft.

I think it will be fine for roughing.

 

[PatMiles]

My 13x40 lathe is the best!

 

[Straightshooter1]

I do not like the trial and error way you have to set the shoulder stop.
Also, the bore of the casting is larger than the outside diameter of the shaft running through it. Those tolerances are probably necessary for manufacturing, but in my use cause binding and side to side variation.
I will likely keep the Hornady for a rough 1st pass, and use a PMA ( yet to be acquired) for finishing.

The picture might not help, but I was trying illustrate the cut into the shoulder. It isn't uniform around the case. Deep on one side nonexistent, or shallow on the other. I attribute it to the play in the shaft.

I think it will be fine for roughing.

The cuts not being uniform was an issue I experienced when I first started turning necks. And the reason I was seeing that was that I was turning the necks before the brass was fully fire formed. In addition to having the cases fully fire formed, annealing them after firing and before turning helped get the sizing consistent to where I get very consistent light cuts into the shoulders.