I can't get an answer from Criterion on what the neck diameter of my 243 is. My loaded rounds are 271.5-272 with Lapua brass and fired necks are 272.5 at the mouth and 274 near the shoulder. This is on a tactical rife so feeding is a must. Bolt lift is easy and smooth but when I go to pull the bolt back I get a slight stick sometimes. It's not extremely hard but enough to cause me to lose my grip on the bolt sometimes and cost a few extra seconds to cycle. Cases look fine near the web and the primers are still round. Just wondering if the neck might be too tight causing the cases to stick? I can take a fired case and seat a bullet in it and can't pull it out with my fingers, I actually do this to check throat erosion and there is enough tension that it does not push the bullet deeper in the case.
Neck Clearance
- Thread starter jsthntn247
- Start date
In your use I'd shoot for .003" to 0.005" Total clearance. In a pinch you can add a layer(s) of scotch tape to the neck and get a pretty good idea and then comparing that number to the fired case neck dia. (allowing for a bit of springback). Use a micrometer at measurements along the entire neck length.
CatShooter
jsthntn247 said:
Your problem is not the neck - your numbers are fine. You have a "No turn neck", which is very desireable and will give you long case life.
Your problem is your sizing die is not sizing the base enough, so the web is slowly expanding until it is the same size (or a thou larger) than the chamber. SInce the die is not reducing the base enoug, it starts to stick on extraction.
It is easily solved with a new SB body die - they are cheap. You don't neeed to use it every time, just when caes are sticky.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/378388/redding-small-base-body-die-308-winchester?cm_vc=ProductFinding
If the chamber neck was too small, then it would hard to close the bolt and easy to open it (cuz the bullet is not there).
Tim Singleton
Gold $$ Contributor
IMO if you can't slip a bullet into the fired unsized case. There is not enough neck clearance. I turn necks until a bullet will just slip into the fired case.
For my 262 neck chamber I have to have a loaded round that measures .260 for a bullet to slip in the fired case
I don't think that would cause a sticky feeling on extraction. But it will cause inconsistent bullet release
For my 262 neck chamber I have to have a loaded round that measures .260 for a bullet to slip in the fired case
I don't think that would cause a sticky feeling on extraction. But it will cause inconsistent bullet release
I agree with Tim. If you can Seat a bullet in a fired case (unsized )and it wont come out with your fingers pulling on it... That to me says its to tight for a Tactical Field rifle. ( this is not bench rest or F class!) More room is better in this type a situation and use.
Cat shooter.. Don't you agree that is too tight for a Field rifle? Your answer kinda surprised me in this reguard.
If it where my rifle I would open up the neck a tad. And this is the main reason I own all my own reamer's.
Russ T
Cat shooter.. Don't you agree that is too tight for a Field rifle? Your answer kinda surprised me in this reguard.
If it where my rifle I would open up the neck a tad. And this is the main reason I own all my own reamer's.
Russ T
CatShooter
Tim Singleton said:
No turn neck chambers have 3 to 4 thou of clearance.
brass/neck spring back leaves the neck back to almost where it started. That is NOT a bad thing.
If the neck is to small, the bullet will be firmly held in place and serious pressure signs will be seen.
There is nothing wrong with his neck.
Erik Cortina
Team Lapua Brux Borden Captain
To the OP, are you F/L sizing your brass every time or neck sizing only?
CatShooter
Rtheurer said:
"CatShooter.. Don't you agree that is too tight for a Field rifle? Your answer kinda surprised me in this reguard."
NO!! What the hell is a "field rifle?, and why is it different. This is not a 30-30 model '94 that's been drug through the sagebrush, and has 6 months worth of dirt in the chamber.
If there is no problem with the neck, then why ream it out? That makes less than no sense - if it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT!!
Lookie... the more you stretch case brass, the sooner it fails. Neck expansion causes neck splits. The less you expand it, the longer it lasts before it splits.
There is a minimum amount of neck clearance needed to release the bullet - this actualy, about ONE THOUSANDTH of an inch. Currently, no turn necks are running 3 to 4 thou clearance.
EVERYTHING over that is just slop, and not needed. I mean, why does a "field rifle" need more space - because of all the mud on the neck cuz you dropped the ammo on the ground?
There is no need to rechamber the rifle, and no need to turn the necks - his problem is coming from the BASE, not the neck - you guys are looking at the wrong end of the problem.
CatShooter
Rtheurer said:
Two totally different things that are not related. Depending on pressue and loading technique, either one can happen first.
I don't know about anyone else here. I just don't see an issue with more neck clearance in a rifle that is going to be drug out in the rain snow mud and sleet, Am I saying the OP is going to be in danger... no I am not. I believe he will gain a small level of function and safe guard from any mishaps with no loss of accuracy. Also I believe his brass will go tits up because of loose primer pockets LONG before any neck splitting. Again I don't know about you but I have not seen any necks split in a long long time even with large neck clearance. The 2011 Fullbore 308 Reamer case in point. It is very very large in the neck.
Concur he is looking at the wrong end of the case for the problem he is having. Totally agree. Also Agree 3 and 4 thou is good for a no turn case. This is just a personal choice for me and me alone... 3 Thou is a Min. I would run on any rifle anymore. (nonBenchrest rifle that is)
Cat Shooter please don't take this as a jab. That is not my intent. I agree ( except for maybe the overworking the necks as I have not seen that as a issue personally in the last umpteen years) You always give good advice and Im sure a lot of folks appreciate it as I do. (Even though I have to prove most opinions and theory's to myself to believe them. )
Concur he is looking at the wrong end of the case for the problem he is having. Totally agree. Also Agree 3 and 4 thou is good for a no turn case. This is just a personal choice for me and me alone... 3 Thou is a Min. I would run on any rifle anymore. (nonBenchrest rifle that is)
Cat Shooter please don't take this as a jab. That is not my intent. I agree ( except for maybe the overworking the necks as I have not seen that as a issue personally in the last umpteen years) You always give good advice and Im sure a lot of folks appreciate it as I do. (Even though I have to prove most opinions and theory's to myself to believe them. )
CatShooter
Rtheurer said:
I don't see split necks (I anneal EVERYTHING
), but I pick up brass (I am a "brass rat"), that has split necks all the time.And a guy's problems with split necks in a 243 Win, after ~5 reloads wound up causing the head of customer service in a well know loading tool company (who had held the job for 25+ years) to get terminated.
They could not answer why he was having the splits (it was easy), and it cascaded into a bunch of lies, that lead to more lies, and we all know where that leads.
bigedp51
CatShooter
Saddam Hussein didn't anneal his neck, could this be the reason his neck snapped.
P.S. And how would you like to adopt a Muslim cat that suddenly lost his owner from over neck sizing.
Saddam Hussein didn't anneal his neck, could this be the reason his neck snapped.
P.S. And how would you like to adopt a Muslim cat that suddenly lost his owner from over neck sizing.
CatShooter
bigedp51 said:CatShooter
Saddam Hussein didn't anneal his neck, could this be the reason his neck snapped.
P.S. And how would you like to adopt a Muslim cat that suddenly lost his owner from over neck sizing.
You made me laugh out loud, you silly person
bigedp51
CatShooter said:You made me laugh out loud, you silly person
Just don't laugh too loud, someone might find out you are goofing off at work and posting in a reloading forum. :
I'm retired, sitting in my Lazy Boy recliner, watching "Law and Order" reruns and using the *Columbus method of typing on my lap top computer.
(* discover the key and land on it) ;D
Erik Cortina said:
Lapua brass has 3 firings on it now and has been FL resized both times with a Forster FL die.
bigedp51
jsthntn247 said:
Question, is this rifle a Savage with a new barrel?
bigedp51 said:
Trued Remington
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