Important: neck tension & neck turning question.

[gilmillan1]

I would like to discuss some of you all's experience in competitive shooting when it comes to the issue of neck tension.

I would like to focus this discussion to the effect that neck tension and neck turning has in regards to accuracy during competitive shooting.

Now, assuming you have your perfect powder charge and seating depth shooting out of a custom rig, how much does neck tension affect its accuracy?

I have been reloading for several years now, and I do neck turn some cases, but I have never tested the difference in accuracy between a turned case and a non-turned case. I am talking about turning cases for the purpose of making them more consistent, not because the rifle needs it to chamber a round.

Can anyone chime in?

 

[BCoates]

I have been wondering the same thing for awhile. Even my match chambers a large enough to use no-turn brass, but I wonder how much accuracy can be gained.

 

[L-46]

Neck turning not so much for accuracy, the case necks should be less than .0015". If you have .003" than i would consider turning.
as for tension variations, well that will show on your target. if you can feel it with your seater die through the press handle, than you have to much variation, for BR accuracy.

 

[ShootDots]

I have stated this a hundred times on this forum. There are VERY few things that make a BIG difference. Good barrels, the right twist, the right powder and a great bullet. The "small things" that take accuracy to "the next level" is the CUMULATIVE EFFECT of doing all those 'small things".. Weighing cases,sorting bullets, ACCURATELY weighing powder, turning necks,getting the right neck tension, trimming meplats, pointing bullets etc...etc.. You can obtain good accuracy without those "small things" BUT you will not get CONSISTENTLY accurate loads for top competition(s), especially at long(er) ranges, without making them a part of your load development / regimen..

 

[artbosco]

With my 6PPC and 30BR I've seen tight cloverleaf groups go to one hole groups with as little .001" change in neck tension.

Let me follow that up by also saying that I turn for tight neck chambers where I leave only .002" to .0015 Total chamber clearance [half of that on each side of the case, .001" to .00075"].

I believe it's *very important to line up the centerline or axis of the bullet with centerline or axis of the barrel as much as safely possible. Years ago some shooters used only .0005" on each side which was cutting things pretty close.

Neck tension in itself doesn't accomplish much if a bullet gets deformed having to rise up out of a chamber in order to fine the centerline of the barrel.

*Jamming bullets into the lands and *only sizing 70% of a neck [leaving 30% not sized] goes along way towards enhancing *centerline to centerline alignment.

 

[smoking-brass]

I have stated this a hundred times on this forum. There are VERY few things that make a BIG difference. Good barrels, the right twist, the right powder and a great bullet. The "small things" that take accuracy to "the next level" is the CUMULATIVE EFFECT of doing all those 'small things".. Weighing cases,sorting bullets, ACCURATELY weighing powder, turning necks,getting the right neck tension, trimming meplats, pointing bullets etc...etc.. You can obtain good accuracy without those "small things" BUT you will not get CONSISTENTLY accurate loads for top competition(s), especially at long(er) ranges, without making them a part of your load development / regimen..

I agree with shootdots 100 percent! When it comes to top competitors they do all the small things that Ben mentioned....it is a pain in the butt...it does pay off at the end of a match when x's are the only thing separating the top scores!!

Vince

 

[CJ6]

Neck turning not so much for accuracy, the case necks should be less than .0015". If you have .003" than i would consider turning.
as for tension variations, well that will show on your target. if you can feel it with your seater die through the press handle, than you have to much variation, for BR accuracy.

Decimal point out of place ?