Neck Tension

[majohnson]

While seating bullets I notice it takes more effort to seat o few of the bullets. My guns are chamber with no turn necks. I did the math to make sure I purchase the correct neck bushing. When I measure the necks id I find a variation although small. I noticed Wilson sells neck reamers. My question is it worth to use a reamer on the inside of necks to correct the inconsistency in neck thickness?

 

[michaeljp65]

While seating bullets I notice it takes more effort to seat o few of the bullets. My guns are chamber with no turn necks. I did the math to make sure I purchase the correct neck bushing. When I measure the necks id I find a variation although small. I noticed Wilson sells neck reamers. My question is it worth to use a reamer on the inside of necks to correct the inconsistency in neck thickness?

Are you using new brass or used? if used how many firings? I had the same problem and members here said i need to anneal my cases. Mine were 3 to 4 times fired cases.

 

[LHSmith]

Do you have accuracy issues? What are you using to measure neck ID? Neck wall thickness would be easier and more meaningful. I would lube the necks with graphite.

 

[DennisH]

I skim the outside of the necks just to make sure they are consistent. I found after doing this, and annealing after every 3rd shot, my tension was more consistent. Were talking thousandths, it doesn't take much to experience inconsistencies.

I experienced the same issue as you have, and with this method I was happy.

I hope it works for others.

Dennis

 

[majohnson]

The cases were anneled and are just now coming up on their 3rd firing. For measuring I have just been using a digital caliper although it a commercial unit from Mitutoyo. But I also have a set of machinest gauge pins. With a sized case ideally I should be able to just fit a .260 pin and a .261 should require a pressure to insert it.

Even if the outsideof the neck is turned it doesn't necessarily assure that the inside of the case mouth is consistent thickness. Once these rounds are fired they will go off to be anneled again.

 

[Shynloco]

Do you have accuracy issues? .... Neck wall thickness would be easier and more meaningful. I would lube the necks with graphite.

Having been down that road myself and since you've recently annealed, try what LH suggests FIRST...lube with graphite. Keep in mind, most competitors anneal their casings after every firing, even with top quality brass (which isn't immune from hardening).

Alex

 

[fguffey]

While seating bullets I notice it takes more effort to seat o few of the bullets

There is nothing that smoothing out the difference in the pounds required to seat a bullet than an improved seating system that aligns the bullet with the neck of the case.


I would use neck tension; problem, I can not find a tension gage. I have tension gages but all are calibrated in pounds or deflections in thousandths.


F. Guffey

 

[mikecr]

You should measure actual neck thickness, and form a plan from there.

 

[gotcha]

+1 ^^^^^ Your concern is not unusual when using a bushing to form un-turned necks. Better to use a smaller bushing then poke a mandrel through the neck to uniform I.D. or use a collet die to push the neck against a mandrel to push neck wall irregularities to the outside of the neck...... The LEE collets do a great job of aligning the neck to the seater stem. Just another approach.

 

[Mozella]

............ snip........... they will go off to be anneled again.

Go off to be annealed? Blasphemy! Why not build a "Skip Design" DIY annealing machine and anneal yourself. It's as good as the best commercial units and way better than some. They've been built for less than fifty bucks by handy guys with parts laying around their shop. Most cost around a hundred bucks and the gold plated versions, like mine, with case counters and some fancy components cost about a hundred and a half if you purchase everything except common hand tools. You need access to a small drill press.

Google DIY ANNEALING MACHINE. Look for the AR-15 link.

 

[Raptor]

Mozella, you are so right!! I built a couple of them and gave one to my son in law. I have done several thousand rounds of brass on mine. I had an adaptor made for mine so I could hook it up to my propane tank. I would suggest ordering a couple of extra motors to keep on hand. I am on my 2nd motor. Chinese crap....