Forming 25-06 brass from 30-06 - when to turn necks?

[jepp2]

I am limited on the brass for the my 25-06, and have some 30-06 Lapua coming. I have already demo'ed my reforming process and it looks like I am gaining about 0.0015" neck thickness. I was going to turn the necks after I size them down, but seem to recall reading about someone turning before the neck down.

I don't have to turn the necks for adequate chamber neck clearance, but just want to do so for consistency of neck wall thickness. I thought by turning AFTER necking down, my cut finish at the shoulder would be better located. Thoughts?

Here is what my demo cases look like after necking down.

 

[NC308]

I have done it several times and never turned the necks.

 

[strut64]

Agree with Josh! if your neck clearance is fine after sizing use the brass as if.

 

[KMart]

If your chamber is a factory/SAAMI chamber, you shouldn't have turn if you don't want to. I have resized and shot Remington, Winchester and Nosler brass from 30-06 to 25-06 with no problems.

 

[jepp2]

If your chamber is a factory/SAAMI chamber, you shouldn't have turn if you don't want to.

With the Nosler brass I am currently using, my loaded neck OD's (prior to turning) were running 0.285" after seating and 0.290" after firing. So my chamber neck diameter is probably either 0.291 or 0.292 (I just checked the SAAMI drawing and it shows 0.292"). The Lapua typically runs about 0.001 - 0.0015 thicker than standard brass and it will be gaining the added thickness from necking down. So I might be close. But I'm planning to turn the necks for consistency.

 

[ebb]

I many years ago made 50 or 100 25-06s from 270 brass that I had been given by a friend. I loaded them up after running them through a 25-06 die and cutting them to 25-06 OAL. The 6th shoot was really loud and the bolt had to be forced open. The primer I never did find, the case had so much pressure against the bolt that the head stamp was gone. I did not get hurt, the gun was OK, but I was very close to having an accident of major proportions. Just because Josh and Kmart got away with it means nothing but they got lucky. What if your gun has a tighter chamber than the guns they used. What if several of the pieces of brass are thicker than the norm. If you have ever heard of tolerance stacking you know how anything that is made can be vastly different than another made on the assembly line right next to it. My mistake was at the objection of my mentor who I choose to ignore, the 270s would seem to have less chance to make a thicker neck than the 30-06 you are using.

 

[AckleymanII]

I would turn them at 30 caliber then neck them down.

 

[Preacher]

Turn them down first, just kissing the shoulder with the cut..
look for about .001 over where you want the 25's to be, and then after firing reduce them to where they need to be for your chamber..

 

[Bill Norris]

I sized 100 Lapua 30-06 cases down for my factory Rem 700 25-06 LRP rifle before turning and they would not chamber until I turned them down @ .015.

 

[mikecr]

I wouldn't turn them, as you already have excess neck clearance in my mind.
But if skim turning, I would do it while it can be expanded and fit the best on your turning mandrel.
That's NEW brass condition.

 

[snoopy001]

I am limited on the brass for the my 25-06, and have some 30-06 Lapua coming. I have already demo'ed my reforming process and it looks like I am gaining about 0.0015" neck thickness. I was going to turn the necks after I size them down, but seem to recall reading about someone turning before the neck down.

I don't have to turn the necks for adequate chamber neck clearance, but just want to do so for consistency of neck wall thickness. I thought by turning AFTER necking down, my cut finish at the shoulder would be better located. Thoughts?

Here is what my demo cases look like after necking down.

View attachment 1188147

you're right, i do it any time on RWS and Lapua brass and for the only consistency reason.

 

[jackieschmidt]

In any Case I make by either necking up or down, I do the neck turning as the last operation before fireforming.

 

[mikecr]

Well if necking up, and NOT turning as new, you're missing the best opportunity to mitigate donuts.