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Neck tension

Richard Coody said:
That is what works for me. Many others use different techniques and get comparable results. Many of the 6ppc shooters use pretty heavy neck tension and they certainly outshoot me. I have even heard shooters say crimping reduces their group size. Probably because it gives them more consistent neck tension.

In his books on reloading, Mr. Lee professed that crimping with his "Factory Crimp Die" increased accuracy due to more consistent neck tension. Most of the reloaders/shooters that I have encountered here on the 'net seem to think that crimping is heresy.
 
Yes, the wrong neck tension can cause vertical stringing, maybe just a vertical spitter, and possibly just one of those on the occasional group. No different than the wrong seating or powder. The best advice is to go outside and let the rifle pick the bushing it wants and not worry about a certain "seating force".

Tom
 
Totally ignoring neck tension, I've gotten all my various bolt gun loads under half moa.

Next up: 224 Valkyrie

YMMV. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
 
I find Richard Coody's second paragraph too be Correct! I use a K&M force gage too prove my seating pressure...the ones that are a little off are sigthers ..way off foulers.

Have you noticed any significant differences in the POI for the foulers and sighters?​
 
rwj, my foulers go on the back berm..hard too tell..sighters yes..vert.. last six are record rounds..then ten record rounds on target.
 
Not sure how to rig up a pull force gauge but my neck diameter grows about .007 when I seat bullet?
That's about .004" to⁹ .005" more than what I think most people get.

What cartridge are you referring to?

Does your die use an expander ball?

What's a loaded round's neck and the sizing die's neck diameters?
 
80% in what range? (ES), and where do the other 20% fall?

With the hydroseater 8 keep them in the 30's. Over or under sighters.
I don't use my croney except after load development to get average velocity for my kestrel.
D8fference is slight shooting in the 1's and.2's

sorted%20target1_zpsfcten33l.jpg
 
That's about .004" to⁹ .005" more than what I think most people get.

What cartridge are you referring to?

Does your die use an expander ball?

What's a loaded round's neck and the sizing die's neck diameters?
.280 ai, this is what I'm getting through my neck sizer. I shot a 1-1/8" group at 200 yards last night with it . es 7. sd4.1 Will less tension make these more consistent? I will get back to you on the diameters today
 
I don't know what less tension would do. Those numbers are excellent in my opinion. You may not get any improvement.

You'll need to shoot at least 20 rounds to have 90% confidence the results are meaningful.
 
I don't know what less tension would do. Those numbers are excellent in my opinion. You may not get any improvement.

You'll need to shoot at least 20 rounds to have 90% confidence the results are meaningful.
okay I will shoot 20 more
 
I use a hydro seating press. Have removed the original pressure gauge with a 0-15 psi digital. I’m shooting a Dasher so not a lot of force needed to seat a bullet. I sort my record rounds based on the seating pressure for every match. Record 10 rounds do not vary more than 1 Lb. It works for me.
 
I use a hydro seating press. Have removed the original pressure gauge with a 0-15 psi digital. I’m shooting a Dasher so not a lot of force needed to seat a bullet. I sort my record rounds based on the seating pressure for every match. Record 10 rounds do not vary more than 1 Lb. It works for me.

WIB3, that's interesting, can you give us more details about the digital gauge
 
I purchased mine thru MSC but many industrial supply company’s sell a wide verity. They also come in a wide price range. I believe I paid around $200.
 
The key is to seat very slow and apply increasing pressure on the handle until you feel the seating stem hit the top of the die. Use a fine tip marker and write the results on the case. Lay them all out and pick the 10 that are the closest.
 
Neck tension .
I'm using 3 different brands of brass , all on the thick side . I wet tumble so my brass is spotless , when I seat using dry neck lube seating was smoother but not the same feel on seating . I have a cleaning brush locked up in my drill press wrapped in 0000 steel wool , a few up and down passes to polish the case inside and using the dry lube all the cases seat with the same exact feel . Will test this weekend to see if it makes a difference.
 
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