Hand vs Power-Driven Neck Turning

[58weasel]

As I'm not a competition shooter, so I don't have massive amounts of brass some use for a BR chambering; thus I turn all my necks by hand. Question: Does turning by hand give more uniform results?
Or is power driven turning (not on a lathe, of course) giving better results?
Bought me a Mitutoyo neck mic that allows me to measure pretty close to the shoulder and down to the "ten thousandth" in doing so, and I find that the "turn to the nearest ten thousandth" pretty much eludes me in a single pass turning.
Even bought a better turning tool, but it still is not all that close.
Is "all that close" all that important?
Any suggestions from the astonishing collective mind and experience of the purveyors of 6mmBR/Accurate Shooters.com?

 

[dkhunt14]

I think you can turn as good by hand, just a little slower. You should take the cut on multiple passes. I usually set up 2 or three turners and don't take off much on the last pass. Seeing you are not doing big numbers you can take the one cutter and turn your cases; then set to turn a little more off. Matt

 

[58weasel]

Many thanks, Matt, will follow my mic so to speak. Do you ever "re-turn" after multiple firings with a piece of brass?

 

[watercam]

Don't know about Matt but once I cut necks I have never done them again. I do check them once in a while but have never had an issue with them becoming thicker again. Over the course of a dozen firing before I replace them I probably trim three times at roughly .008" each. Not much in other words.

 

[Shynloco]

Many thanks, Matt, will follow my mic so to speak. Do you ever "re-turn" after multiple firings with a piece of brass?

I do what Matt does, by hand. And I check my concentricity on each and every casing after each firing and have actually re-turned a few cases that I showed a few uneven spots (after a few firings) I wasn't thrilled about. On of my shooting buddies loves his drill when turning necks. Each to his own I guess.

Alex

 

[BoydAllen]

Having done it both ways, I prefer to use power, which for me consists of a cordless drill, on low speed, with the trigger only partially depressed. I set up so that the drill can rock as needed to move with the case, and hold my turning tool lightly. Recently, I have switched to a 21st century case holder/driver, and find it much superior to what I was using, a K&M. I go to the shoulder with a faster feed rate than will produce a clean cut and come back very slowly, and then wrap some 0000 steel wool around the neck and spin the case faster (still in low range) to complete the job.

 

[jonbearman]

I dont see any less accuracy using a drill to turn cases and you wont end up with carpal tunnel either. Just ask p1zombie how he does it.

 

[amlevin]

I turn my cases by hand. Gives me something to do on a crappy "TV Night".

I have enough cases already turned and prepped for shooting so I just keep a bowl of new brass that's been fireformed handy. Turn a few cases and then quit for the night. When done I then "rotate out" my old tired brass, putting the fresh stuff into rotation.

Besides, hand turning helps me win any "hand crushing handshake contest" I might encounter 8)

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

As long as the powered drill turns true, I dont see why you wouldnt want to use a powered drill.

 

[Steve Blair]

Probably overkill for small lot turners, but I haven't found anything better. Harbor Freight mini-lathe, 21st Century neck turning tool and case holder. I put a McMaster-Carr split ring on the case holder for better grip and torque. Indicate the mandrel with a wiggler to a couple ten thousandths, slap on the lube and you're good to go. Fully variable speed and gobs of torque, never slows. I do necks in two passes, first to .013" and second to .012". Wall thickness is held to ±.0001". Turning 600 cases prior to Raton could not be made enjoyable unless someone else did it, but this rig made it more tolerable.

 

[Outrider27]

Now that there is quite a lashup. ;D I'm going to have to go down in the basement and take another look at my UniMat lathe in light of that photo....

 

[Barlow]

Having said I would never turn necks again, a couple weeks ago I fired up the old neckturner (thanks Donovan). I bought a battery power screwdriver made by Performax at Menards. It has a handle that pivots and runs at 220 rpm wide open, and costs $20.00. I put the Forster turner in my vise and have at it. Its light and easy to handle and turns just the right speed. Works for me. Barlow

 

[dreever]

Black and Decker cordless screwdriver from Wally World about 17 bucks. Works like a charm.

Danny

 

[Juma]

Dewalt 18v with K&M. Match made in heaven.Use Hornady case lube on neck and Imperial on mandrel.