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Effect on neck tension on accuracy

Effect of neck tension on accuracy
Hi to all
I Best describe myself as a hunter who aspires one day to be a bench shooter

I reload and shoot the following calibers on a regular basis
I have been lurking around for some time and appreciate some input from bench shooter their opinion on neck tension and accuracy
I have always been instructed by my peers to buy bushing so the net neck tension is 0.001 over measured
I also understand you guys shoot mainly single shot manual feed and some of my guns are multiple shots hence high neck tension is needed
My question is how much and is accuracy the benchmark for selecting what tension one shoots at ?

After load development I now ended up with varying tension from 2 thousand to 4 thou
Sand
My main calibers are
20 tactical
6x47lapua
6mmppc
6.5x55 sewed
Thanks In advance
 
Good morning.I recently got into the tricks for accuracy,just because,that's what we do,and there is no sence in trying to develope a very accurate load,without trying about everything possible,depending on the ultimate use for the rifle.I'm turning necks for my 243AI for a .270 neck chamber,so need .268 or less for my loaded rounds.Using a .226 neck bushing,I found when seating some bullets,that they went into the case too easy.Measurement confirmed thinner necks,thus less tention.I now sort my cases for load development,plus sort the bullets for ogive length(can be .015 difference from the same box).I single load all my guns,but would use .003-.004 tension,in a magazine,or clip.Loading high volume for Varmints,I tend to eliminate other steps,like weighing bullets and cases.
 
I have several mag fed bolt rifles, and none of them use more than .002" neck tension, and I have used .001" with no ill effects many, many times.

I do not believe that you actually gain bullet pull resistance when using more than .002" neck tension. I simply feel you will expand the neck with the bullet and hurt concentricity.

If you need increased bullet pull, use the normal .001 or .002 neck tension, and add a slight crimp with a Lee factory crimp die. I have them for several different calibers, and I have yet to see it degrade the accuracy of any of them if used properly and you do not over crimp.

Some may disagree and feel that crimping a bullet with no cannelure will hurt it, but I have been doing just that for quite some time now and if anything, it has improved accuracy in a few rounds.

One thing that will have an effect on neck tension that some overlook, is over-hard brass. It will not hold the bullet near as well as good soft brass will. Softer brass has more elasticity, and thus will actually tend to hold the bullet much better.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.
 
I am a beginner in comparison to most of these guys, but I have found that the only real effect I get from neck tension is when I have variation. If all are the same most of my guns will shoot very well with a good load. However I don't compete, and to me .3 inches is a great group and what I am looking for at 200 yards. I have a load for each rifle that will do this. For my 45/70 encore I have to lower the standard to 3/4 at 200, but with nearly a half inch of bullet diameter this seems sufficient.
 
everything is about consistency right?

All cases or batches of cases have variances. Lest say 5% just for the heck of it. If your neck tension is .003 then you'll have 5% of that. If your neck tension is .001 or .002 than 5% of that will be less. So I use as little tension as i can get away with, just to cut down on one more variable or inconsistency. Might not be much of a difference but if you keep stacking inconsistencies your gonna have a hard time getting great groups
 
londonhunter said:
Effect of neck tension on accuracy
Hi to all
I Best describe myself as a hunter who aspires one day to be a bench shooter

I reload and shoot the following calibers on a regular basis
I have been lurking around for some time and appreciate some input from bench shooter their opinion on neck tension and accuracy
I have always been instructed by my peers to buy bushing so the net neck tension is 0.001 over measured
I also understand you guys shoot mainly single shot manual feed and some of my guns are multiple shots hence high neck tension is needed
My question is how much and is accuracy the benchmark for selecting what tension one shoots at ?

After load development I now ended up with varying tension from 2 thousand to 4 thou
Sand
My main calibers are
20 tactical
6x47lapua
6mmppc
6.5x55 sewed
Thanks In advance

Let me ask a question. Since 3 of those rifles listed or 2 are custom 20 tactial,6x47 Laupa maybe 6ppc how are those rifles shooting? Is the 6ppc a tight neck?

You also didn't mention if you clean up the neck? the varation your seeing in neck tension could be neck thickness (not sure how many times cases have been fired)and you might have to buy different bushing to offset that increase.

I use Wilson seater and arbor press after almost 30yrs using that set up you can feel when neck tension starts to increase. Sincalir handles carbide neck busing for the 6mm in 1/2 thou from .2570" to .2595" for the tight neck 6mm rifles.

Well good luck

After afew firing I use an inside neck reamers on a fired case might help also.
 

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