Partial neck sizing

[Lucky Shooter]

We've had a few comments about partial neck sizing----supposedly for the rear part of the neck
to help with bullet alignment/concentricity----and the front part of the neck to grip the bullet and
provide neck clearance.

I've heard many times that the bullet gripping surface should have a minimum length equal to
the bullet shank dimeter----a "they say" for many years.

The 222 neck easily provides for this amount of bullet gripping surface but the entire neck length
of the 223 is less than .224".

I don't have any hard data on this but think this might have improved group size for the 222 and 22PPC, both with generous neck lengths.

Anyone have any experience in using these techniques ?

Thanks for any opinions.

A. Weldy

 

[jds holler]

I started doing it when I got my first bushing die. Now I want to do it for everything -- except for those short little sawed off necks like 223.

 

[Webster]

We've had a few comments about partial neck sizing----supposedly for the rear part of the neck
to help with bullet alignment/concentricity----and the front part of the neck to grip the bullet and
provide neck clearance.

I've heard many times that the bullet gripping surface should have a minimum length equal to
the bullet shank dimeter----a "they say" for many years.

The 222 neck easily provides for this amount of bullet gripping surface but the entire neck length
of the 223 is less than .224".

I don't have any hard data on this but think this might have improved group size for the 222 and 22PPC, both with generous neck lengths.

Anyone have any experience in using these techniques ?

Thanks for any opinions.

A. Weldy

I feel that half the bullet bearing surface is made up stuff. Someone puts something in a magazine or on internet and 1000s of people believe it and spread it. The bullet and cartridge don't have a brain, half way is a human concept. If the front half of the neck is straight the bullet is straight. Many top shooters say bullet runout isn't a big deal. With my 6BR and 55 gr. Nosler’s the bullet is only about 0.035" in the neck, they shoot fine. To many keyboard experts. There is always someone that says I see a difference with my rifle. Look at the videos by the top short-range shooters and try to do what they do. Ignore all the opinions on internet like this is what I do. A good barrel and a good bullet make a big difference. Every rifle has it's own capability, you cannot improve it beyond that. Erik Cortina says he shoots a few groups with a new barrel and if the groups are not under 0.500", he takes the barrel off and uses it to FF or sells it to a hunter. Guys on this website are obsessed with neck tension. The top shooters say 2-3 thou tension no exceptions. Some of the 6PPC shooters are turning necks to about 0.0083". No matter what diameter they size to there isn't much bullet grip.

Describe your rifle. What size groups are you getting. Both my rifles shoot just about any bullet under 0.400" groups. I can definitely see what bullets shoot the smaller groups.

I don't do anything special on case prep. I have a 6BR and a 6BRX with Kreiger barrels for GH hunting. Witth good bullets they both shoot round groups .350" to .400".
my procedure. The necks are turned to 0.0125".

1. Clean the primer pockets.
2. Anneal with a hand held propane torch.
3. Size with a .265 bushing.
4. Check for 0.002" shoulder bump.
5. Trim to length.
That's about it. I feel that what I have is about the best I can get out of my rifle. Time approaching to eliminate varmints.




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