Necking Down Case

[DeerHunter82]

I'm not experienced with necking down cases. I was just looking for some input. Loading for the .308 Baer. You can use either .300 or .340 Wby cases. My dad left me a ton of 340, which appears is what he liked to use. Obviously the .340 has to be necked down to tension the bullets. What's the best way to do this? Incrementally neck size with bushings? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[DiffEQ]

If you neck down from 338, you'll likely have to neck turn. I know nothing of the 308 Baer.
There's a thread over on Long Range Hunting about turning 375 Ruger into 7mm Long Range Magnum.
Good luck.

 

[chromatica]

I have had success with the Lee collet die in necking down from 6.5 to 6mm.

 

[L.Sherm]

I neck down alot and make cases, I bought 3 double ended Bullberry dies along time ago for my needs. Going down 1 caliber is easy enough with just bushings ive done it alot some say you can't get all the way down to the neck shoulder junction but the die- bushing combo makes a difference.

 

[DeerHunter82]

If you neck down from 338, you'll likely have to neck turn. I know nothing of the 308 Baer.
There's a thread over on Long Range Hunting about turning 375 Ruger into 7mm Long Range Magnum.
Good luck.

Yeah I have the neck turning information. Just wanted to ask about necking down before I experimented and crushed cases. I’ve necked up many times. Never had the opportunity to go the other direction. I emailed Bruce Baer.

 

[JB10]

I have only necked down 223 to 20 cal. I do it with 2 different bushings to get my final that i want.

 

[DiffEQ]

I was intrigued so looked the cartridge up.
If you didn't see this thread at LRH, https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/308-baer-info.33754/

From my experience sizing down a bunch of brass:

• Be sure to anneal the cases first.
• I prefer to take the expander out for the initial sizing down.
• Use an extremely small amount of lube. Move the ram very S-L-O-W-L-Y.
  I have found, if you don't do that, you can introduce dimples, micro cracks and/or folds into the neck and shoulder that basically mean the case is ruined.
• Then I'll run the neck through a mandrel -- not an expander ball -- to expand the id to the desired size.
• Check the ID to see if there has been "spring back" on the brass
• Neck turn if needed.

I have found some brass just doesn't like to be necked down that much. Lake City 7.62 to make 7mm-08, or Lapua 300PRC down to 7mm. In both those instances, I had 20-50% scrap, depending on the batch.

 

[L.Sherm]

Just because you neck down doesn't mean you will have to neck turn it depends on the brass, example neck down LC223 to 20 cal for a prac if you have a .232 nk chamber you get about .004 clearance

 

[Kracken McGraw]

On necking down Lapua to 6x47, I use a body die first before going to the F/L sizer. I guess different sized bushings would do the same.

 

[DeerHunter82]

I appreciate all of the info and responses. Thank you.

 

[DeerHunter82]

I was intrigued so looked the cartridge up.
If you didn't see this thread at LRH, https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/308-baer-info.33754/

From my experience sizing down a bunch of brass:

• Be sure to anneal the cases first.
• I prefer to take the expander out for the initial sizing down.
• Use an extremely small amount of lube. Move the ram very S-L-O-W-L-Y.
  I have found, if you don't do that, you can introduce dimples, micro cracks and/or folds into the neck and shoulder that basically mean the case is ruined.
• Then I'll run the neck through a mandrel -- not an expander ball -- to expand the id to the desired size.
• Check the ID to see if there has been "spring back" on the brass
• Neck turn if needed.

I have found some brass just doesn't like to be necked down that much. Lake City 7.62 to make 7mm-08, or Lapua 300PRC down to 7mm. In both those instances, I had 20-50% scrap, depending on the batch.

That Long Range Hunting thread has a lot of info. Thank you, also, for the advice. I will say you cost me $29.99 though. I haven't spent much time on the Long Range Hunting forum and after looking through it, I decided it was worth the support. Haha.