Neck Turning for .223AI Question

[Bill Norris]

Is it best to fire form the new brass before turning necks or turn while new @.223 before blow out ?

 

[JSH]

Your chamber is a no turn neck I take it?
I wouldn’t trim until after fire forming, they won’t move square.

 

[mikecr]

I would turn only if actually needed, and with NEW brass condition, while it is easily expanded to fit turning mandrel. It's also easier to mitigate donut formation through early turning into neck-shoulder junction(before fire-forming).

 

[Oso]

All of the above and... Don't trim until you reload and shoot the case at least twice. Some will argue that the case isn't fully fire formed until after the 3rd firing.

 

[Bill Norris]

Thanks guys for the info. i'm using new Lapua brass in a no turn chamber and from looking at the neck thickness it appears to be pretty good. Think I will hold off on turning.

 

[Ackman]

Lapua brass is very uniform and at 1.750" it's already short in comparison to most chamber lengths. It doesn't need trimming and never will. And with a no-turn neck you don't want to be doing that either. Don't mess with it, just load and shoot and enjoy the cartridge.

 

[Longtrain]

Lapua brass is very uniform and at 1.750" it's already short in comparison to most chamber lengths. It doesn't need trimming and never will. And with a no-turn neck you don't want to be doing that either. Don't mess with it, just load and shoot and enjoy the cartridge.

+1 I turned necks for my 308 FTR, that ended that routine (not to criticize those who do, just not me any longer), my Dasher and 223AI are both no-turn blue box Lapua chambers, the key here IMO are the words “no-turn”. Selling my neck turning stuff was akin to selling a boat, happy day.
...and I’ll never weight a primer either

 

[Bill Norris]

Since firing some rounds I have realized there is no real reason to turn the .223 AI necks. The length is staying put as well so guess I will just load shoot and be happy. Thanks for all the good info.