Possible Norma Brass issue

[jsthntn247]

I've always used Lapua brass and never had any trouble but for a new .223 target rifle decided to get some Norma instead. I am having a heck of a time trying to get consistent neck tension as measured on a hydro bullet seating gauge. My prep process for this brass was to full length resize it when new, run up on k&m expander and turn necks from .012 to .011, which is the smallest side to side measurement I got on several pieces of brass measured with the mitiyoto tube micrometer. I turned all the necks to within .0002 of each other, cleaned them up, then ran them back through a Redding bushing neck die for .0015 tension. When seating bullets I noticed that my neck tension would differ from 0 to 30lbs on the hydro bullet seater. So, I shot the brass then repeated the turning process. This time I only ever so lightly skim cut them to take off an additional .0002. I loaded some up for a test and the seating force differences is still horrible. I noticed that when turning, about 30% of the necks would have a small thin concentric band all the way around the neck. This band was about 1/4 of the way up the neck and did not cut with either turning even though I was taking off .001 per side. Have yall ever seen something sililar and could this be the issue?

 

[dkhunt14]

It is hard to measure necks with a tube Micrometer. You should use a ball Mike and even better is the one that is changed by K&M. They ground the spindle at an angle so you can reach to the neck junction. If you getting one thousandths difference on turned cases something is wrong. I bet it is the measuring. Matt

 

[jonbearman]

When you were turning them were the necks tight on the turning spindle or were they really easy turning ? If they were loose they are probably out of round now.

 

[jlow]

Have never used Norma 223 but it sounds like the stuff came in with walls only 0.012” thick max?

When you said seating force “differ from 0 to 30 lb”, what was your average seating force?

 

[jsthntn247]

Dk, I was using the mic that k&m sells. I fl resized so that the necks were 1.5 thou smaller than the expander mandrel. Once expanded the fit perfectly on the turning mandrel. Kinda stumped at what's going on. I've turned 6mm-30 cal before and never had an issue like this.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A couple thoughts come to mind. First is annealing. Second, I don't like anything in my necks other than a bullet. You have ran an expander in your necks, try firing them and then just brush the neck with a nylon brush and see how they seat.

 

[jsthntn247]

A couple thoughts come to mind. First is annealing. Second, I don't like anything in my necks other than a bullet. You have ran an expander in your necks, try firing them and then just brush the neck with a nylon brush and see how they seat.

After the first firing, I turned the brass, annealed, sized with fl resizing bushing die, trimmed, lubed necks then seated bullets with Wilson dies on a hydro seater and it was allover the map just like it was the first seating.

 

[jsthntn247]

This is a picture of what half the necks look like .

 

[RStewart]

Brad,
I about to try out some Norma brass. I'll let you know my experience, although I don't use a force gauge.
Rick