This winter I purchased a used 6mm BR Ackley for 600 yard IBS, so decided it was time to improve my case prep equipment.
First was a case lathe for neck turning.
After seeing other member’s posts about using a 181 rpm motor similar to Benchrite, I went that direction. Got this at Zoro. https://www.zoro.com/dayton-ac-gearmotor-181-rpm-tenv-115230v-1lpv2/i/G2706986/
Purchased a case holder and drill chuck from PMA.
The motor mount is a piece of 4x4x.25 aluminum angle. Since I’m in the middle of a wood working project, I make a block out of some oak scraps.
Used my K&M neck turner for the initial cut, and a new PMA for the final cut. PMA lube in a needle bottle. Overall worked great and have a thickness of .0113 +/- .0001 according to my inexpensive Lyman ball mic. Neck turning is almost fun.
Drill chuck works great with the Sinclair carbide primer pocket uniformer/cleaner.
I also decided to use pin gauges and expander mandrels to control neck tension.
Members Joe R and F-Class John have posted great info and videos on using these, and communication with Joe was very helpful to understand springback, and what bushings and pins would most likely hit my target neck tension.
So I made a wood block to hold 21st Century die and expanders, and also the pins I purchased from McMaster Carr. Two of the pins are metric “X” pins to really split hairs in the neck ID range I plan to target (maybe overkill though). .2410 / 6.1280mm / .2415 / 6.1405mm / .2420
Porters Precision Products LLC is another expander option -- he makes a special die to hold pin gauges that he tapers one end of. http://portersprecisionproducts.com/
How did it work? First IBS 600 yard target was 2.395” and I was 3rd of 15 for group. Next match, smallest LG group of the day with 1.347” but DQ’d on the 4th target in the 25-35mph cross wind. Now the trigger actuator needs to improve his skills to be as good as the equipment.
Its an extra step in the reloading process, but I agree with others who use them, expanders give us better control of neck ID before we seat the bullets.
First was a case lathe for neck turning.
After seeing other member’s posts about using a 181 rpm motor similar to Benchrite, I went that direction. Got this at Zoro. https://www.zoro.com/dayton-ac-gearmotor-181-rpm-tenv-115230v-1lpv2/i/G2706986/
Purchased a case holder and drill chuck from PMA.
The motor mount is a piece of 4x4x.25 aluminum angle. Since I’m in the middle of a wood working project, I make a block out of some oak scraps.
Used my K&M neck turner for the initial cut, and a new PMA for the final cut. PMA lube in a needle bottle. Overall worked great and have a thickness of .0113 +/- .0001 according to my inexpensive Lyman ball mic. Neck turning is almost fun.
Drill chuck works great with the Sinclair carbide primer pocket uniformer/cleaner.
I also decided to use pin gauges and expander mandrels to control neck tension.
Members Joe R and F-Class John have posted great info and videos on using these, and communication with Joe was very helpful to understand springback, and what bushings and pins would most likely hit my target neck tension.
So I made a wood block to hold 21st Century die and expanders, and also the pins I purchased from McMaster Carr. Two of the pins are metric “X” pins to really split hairs in the neck ID range I plan to target (maybe overkill though). .2410 / 6.1280mm / .2415 / 6.1405mm / .2420
Porters Precision Products LLC is another expander option -- he makes a special die to hold pin gauges that he tapers one end of. http://portersprecisionproducts.com/
How did it work? First IBS 600 yard target was 2.395” and I was 3rd of 15 for group. Next match, smallest LG group of the day with 1.347” but DQ’d on the 4th target in the 25-35mph cross wind. Now the trigger actuator needs to improve his skills to be as good as the equipment.
Its an extra step in the reloading process, but I agree with others who use them, expanders give us better control of neck ID before we seat the bullets.
