Concentricity gauge?

[loneranger04]

I bought a Sinclair concentricity gauge years ago and it's nice to know that my necks are straight but what I found is using the Lee collet die keeps runout near zero. I bump the shoulders with a Redding body die then neck size with the Lee collet die. I'm sure any mandrel die will do the same.
If I didn't have the money for the concentricity gauge I would just buy the Lee collet and not worry about runout.

 

[Shynloco]

I bought a Sinclair concentricity gauge years ago and it's nice to know that my necks are straight but what I found is using the Lee collet die keeps runout near zero. I bump the shoulders with a Redding body die then neck size with the Lee collet die. I'm sure any mandrel die will do the same.
If I didn't have the money for the concentricity gauge I would just buy the Lee collet and not worry about runout.

Question...so then are you ASSUMING a Lee Collet Die fixes all and that concentricity is good (.01 -.02) using your suggested process, even bad brass that that MAY NOT be concentric due to brass thickness on one side of the necks? Personally, I check my brass using a concentricity gauge after FL sizing and then again check the loaded bullet runout to make sure I'm within tolerance when I'm loading for best accuracy. Bullet alignment with the chamber is critical when looking for the best accuracy your rifle can shoot when testing a specific load. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[loneranger04]

Question...so then are you ASSUMING a Lee Collet Die fixes all and that concentricity is good (.01 -.02) using your suggested process, even bad brass that that MAY NOT be concentric due to brass thickness on one side of the necks? Personally, I check my brass using a concentricity gauge after FL sizing and then again check the loaded bullet runout to make sure I'm within tolerance when I'm loading for best accuracy. Bullet alignment with the chamber is critical when looking for the best accuracy your rifle can shoot when testing a specific load. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

I recently bought 300 rounds of Lapua.260 brass from a friend that was changing calibers and I noticed that the neck runout wasn't very good. I always anneal every time I reload for precision rifle so after annealing I bumped the shoulder then neck sized with the Lee collet. That brought the runout back to near zero. I use a Forester micrometer seating die and runout is very near zero.
I can't take credit for this process. I was taught this from a experienced precision shooter when I first started shooting long range. The other thing he taught me was to never pull a expander ball through the neck of a case you're using for precision rifle. I'll probably get stoned for saying that but I never liked lubing case necks because of the lube residue and if not properly lubed the expander button will tear up the inside of the neck. Just my 2 cents.