Minimum Neck Clearance for .222 Rem

[Max]

I recently ordered a Shilen match barrel in .222 rem for my Savage LRVP. I believe the neck in the chamber will measure .250" which wil mean that I'll need to turn the necks on my brass (particulaly if it 's Lapua ). Can anyone tell me what the minimum and ideal neck clearance should be.

 

[Preacher]

.003 is a good place to start....

 

[Max]

Thanks Preacher, I assume you mean a total of .003 not .003 per side.

 

[Preacher]

Yes on the total.....

 

[BoydAllen]

To reinforce what Preacher wrote, shooters have a tendency to think that smaller clearances are always better. In many cases they are not. .003 is a good number.

 

[Catfish]

I, personally, like to start with .002. I know some people that use 0 neck expantion, but even a small amount of dirt messes up the apple cart. There in no magic number, but the less you work the brass the longer it will last. On the other hand, the closer tolerance you use the higher the probability of malfunction due to dirt.

 

[Max]

Thanks for your input guys, sounds like a good place to start.

 

[BoydAllen]

I have shot so little that the pressure ring bulge causes the outside of the neck to be scuffed as the bulge entered the chamber. The reason that I like more now is that some shooters that I respect have convinced me that there is more to it than safety or brass life, that the way a bullet is released from the case neck can affect accuracy, in very subtle ways.

 

[Max]

Thanks BoydAllen, think I'll start with .003 and see how it goes. Can always change it later.