Neck turning versus reaming

[Tommie]

I've reamed necks but never tried outside turning. Besides the obvious cost difference in the two methods, what advantages and disadvantages do each offer?

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

You might want to post this in the reloading forum.

But, in short, outside neck turning (if done properly) produces a case with uniform neck wall thickness. Inside neck reaming won't do that. Unless you have a minimum spec chamber, or a tight-necked chamber, most likely outside neck turning is a waste of time.

Inside neck reaming can be used to get rid of a donut at the neck-shoulder junction, but most of us have other ways to deal with the donut (e.g., with the correct freebore for the bullet to keep the bullet base above the donut).

P.S. It isn't just the Indian. The arrow matters.

 

[shoot4fun]

I see no advantages to inside reaming.
As long as you can keep the bearing surface of the bullet above the neck/shoulder junction (where a donut might form) the donut will be no issue. Outside turning (proper) will help keep the donut from forming.
My most preferred method is neither unless the neck diameter of the chamber requires it.

 

[snert]

Anyone remember the old Lee Precision loader with the hand die and the crank that reamed the necks? I made some good 222 ammo on one for several years. But then I was not up on all the precision theory and did not shoot competition. However in its day it was a fine upgrade from factory ammo.

 

[nmkid]

Inside neck reaming can be used to get rid of a donut at the neck-shoulder junction

I gotta ask...How do you know if you have an inside donut?? Would it be visible?

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

I gotta ask...How do you know if you have an inside donut?? Would it be visible?

You can feel it when you seat a bullet deeper than the neck length.

 

[Sniper338]

I gotta ask...How do you know if you have an inside donut?? Would it be visible?

Sometimes you can see it too. Usually you feel it first when you go to seat a bullet. Makes seating real hard to the point you know somethings wrong.

 

[Sniper338]

I outside neck turn everything just to clean up 75% of the neck. Theres always high spots.

 

[mikecr]

It's difficult to ream only a donut, with any precision, and not mung up the rest of a neck. Outside turning and basic reloading management to mitigate, is easier.

Donuts are inherent to manufacture. They already exist in new cases you pull out of a box, which has brass tapering in thickness from webs all the way to mouths. FL sizing in general adds to donut area. Keep in mind that anytime you have to trim sized brass, you moved brass.
I don't know why people do it, but FL sizing of necks brings donut area into tension(not good).
So you can just not FL size necks, unless donuts are removed, and not seat bullet bearing into donut area, and/or outside turn new cases slightly into neck/shoulder junction.