Case neck thickness

[Davidb187]

How much variation is too much for you when you measure your cases? I just weight sort some Lapua 308 brass and played with my new REDDING case neck thickness tool.
I was wondering if +/- .002 is too much.
(I mean in one case for a no neck turn chamber)

 

[spclark]

That’s quite a variance, that’s on ONE case?

Or what you’re seeing as a min/max spread across ten, twenty cases you’ve measured?

I’ve used Lapua for 8, 9 years (Palma since ‘10) & neck thickness on a number of new cases over the years runs 0.0142” +/- 0.0003” max, usually less. Measured with a Sinclair digital against their ball anvil.

I don’t need to neck-turn... but I do anyway.

 

[mikecr]

It's not that high. Probably picking up some neck runout.
You need a ball mic for thickness

 

[Davidb187]

That’s quite a variance, that’s on ONE case?

Or what you’re seeing as a min/max spread across ten, twenty cases you’ve measured?

I’ve used Lapua for 8, 9 years (Palma since ‘10) & neck thickness on a number of new cases over the years runs 0.0142” +/- 0.0003” max, usually less. Measured with a Sinclair digital against their ball anvil.

I don’t need to neck-turn... but I do anyway.

The worst i'm seeing is .002 spread. I'm reading .015 overall thickness but some goes .014 on one side and .016 on the other.. I agree that i'm most than likely picking case runout too..
I was trying to take the easy way by asking but i'll test with thickness sorted brass and non-sorted too see if it will really make a difference to me. Should be easy as my load is already worked up. Worst case i'll turn my case neck.
Deer season is over and i've got nothing to do.

 

[Shynloco]

I have to agree with Sp, For me, any neck thickness variation over .0005 is unacceptable because that leads to uneven neck tension. From everything I've been taught and read over the years, what you do to one, you do to all.....evenly. It's really about trying to control variables that promote consistency and uneven neck tension does not promote consistency. Personally I'd sort the brass first by neck thickness and then decide which has the highest number. The .014's, if in the minority, may just end up being used as foulers (and general testing of powders) and then the rest turned to.015. Good luck and have fun.

Alex

 

[nmkid]

Well, in my case I ended up with a Mitutuyo mic and was, (after a couple of hours of measuring/remeasuring) unpleasantly surprised at the readings I had initially gotten with my Redding tool.

 

['Freak]

The Redding tool was meant to be only a quickie neck thickness “sorting” tool.

 

[mikecr]

The Redding design has potential for quick measure, but you'd have to replace the tubing anvil with a ball anvil, and use a better indicator. Add a case mouth stop.
Basically, rebuild it I guess...

 

[Davidb187]

The Redding design has potential for quick measure, but you'd have to replace the tubing anvil with a ball anvil, and use a better indicator. Add a case mouth stop.
Basically, rebuild it I guess...

Just what i need another useless tool. Lol
I'll buy a ball mic. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

[mongo chicago]

Everyone will gang up on me for this, but my first question is where are you in your shooting skills? If you are a marksman trying for sharpshooter, or sharp shooter trying for expert, you would be better off honing your shooting skills instead of worrying about case weight etc. If you are an expert class trying for master, or master trying for high master, then yes, give more attention to case prep. I've seen (not referring to you) more shooters spending a lot of time over case prep etc. and they can"t even hit the paper.

 

[Davidb187]

Everyone will gang up on me for this, but my first question is where are you in your shooting skills? If you are a marksman trying for sharpshooter, or sharp shooter trying for expert, you would be better off honing your shooting skills instead of worrying about case weight etc. If you are an expert class trying for master, or master trying for high master, then yes, give more attention to case prep. I've seen (not referring to you) more shooters spending a lot of time over case prep etc. and they can"t even hit the paper.

While i'm by no mean an expert i

Everyone will gang up on me for this, but my first question is where are you in your shooting skills? If you are a marksman trying for sharpshooter, or sharp shooter trying for expert, you would be better off honing your shooting skills instead of worrying about case weight etc. If you are an expert class trying for master, or master trying for high master, then yes, give more attention to case prep. I've seen (not referring to you) more shooters spending a lot of time over case prep etc. and they can"t even hit the paper.

In fact it's the first time i worry with case weight and neck thickness..((i've got nothing to do right now it's already too cold outside) but i only buy premium brass. I'm shooting tactical style with different field positions and only shoot from a bench for load devs..
There's no such thing as markmen sharpshooter and experts here. There's only hunters and a couple weirdo with these crazy heavy rifles lol.

 

[Richard Coody]

While i'm by no mean an expert i

In fact it's the first time i worry with case weight and neck thickness..((i've got nothing to do right now it's already too cold outside) but i only buy premium brass. I'm shooting tactical style with different field positions and only shoot from a bench for load devs..
There's no such thing as markmen sharpshooter and experts here. There's only hunters and a couple weirdo with these crazy heavy rifles lol.

it is all in what you want to do. i agree that actual trigger time is very important but so is creating the best reloads you can. you can't improve as a shooter without the equipment (rifle and ammo) capable of showing that improvement

i don't even bother to reload for my 5.56 AR. Cheap bulk ammo fits the bill.

same with my grendel AR. factory hornady works great for hog hunting and i don't have to worry about losing my brass.

my hunting rifles i do use lapua brass and berger bullets and weigh powder with adam's autotrickler system but i don't spend hours on brass prep. solid half moa performers.

now my bench guns. brass is weigh sorted and neck turned and annealed every firing, bullets are weigh sorted and sorted by base to ogive, powder is weighed to .02 grains, custom sizing dies are used, wilson seating dies with a 21st century hydro press and loaded rounds are.sorted by seating effort and lastly loaded rounds are sorted by concentricity with 21st century concentricity gauge. the perfect ones shoot better than the rest by maybe a 0.10. i do this because i enjoy the reloading as much as the shooting.

 

[seymour fish]

The worst i'm seeing is .002 spread. I'm reading .015 overall thickness but some goes .014 on one side and .016 on the other.. I agree that i'm most than likely picking case runout too..
I was trying to take the easy way by asking but i'll test with thickness sorted brass and non-sorted too see if it will really make a difference to me. Should be easy as my load is already worked up. Worst case i'll turn my case neck.
Deer season is over and i've got nothing to do.

That’s terrible, and requires neck turning