Setting neck tension - bushing dies or mandrel?

[Alex Wheeler]

I would say the majority of shooters are just using a bushing. That doesnt mean a mandrel is not as good or better. But a bushing alone is still responsible for most of the current long range records in Br (if not all?) so it wont hold you back until your are at that level imo. Personally I dont mandrel. The main reason is that you have to lube it somehow. If you mandrel dry you will scratch or gall the inside of your necks even with carbide. My testing of different lubes has led me to prefer to not lube necks. The other reason is that depending on the cartridge I run from.001" nt up to .005" nt. So I would need a range of mandrels that big to test. And no one offers them in carbide.

 

[fatelvis]

So.... what mandrel ? If your bullet is 0.260, same size mandrel ?

I think you mean a .264” bullet? I would use between .a 261”-.263” mandrel. If you anneal, there will be less spring back, so you would tend to use a smaller mandrel on that scale.

 

[Mikemontminy]

Whichever way shoots best is what I do. I try hard not to let what I read on the internet to affect my group measuring abilities.

 

[hoz53]

I would say the majority of shooters are just using a bushing. That doesnt mean a mandrel is not as good or better. But a bushing alone is still responsible for most of the current long range records in Br (if not all?) so it wont hold you back until your are at that level imo. Personally I dont mandrel. The main reason is that you have to lube it somehow. If you mandrel dry you will scratch or gall the inside of your necks even with carbide. My testing of different lubes has led me to prefer to not lube necks. The other reason is that depending on the cartridge I run from.001" nt up to .005" nt. So I would need a range of mandrels that big to test. And no one offers them in carbide.

are all those shooters neck turning to?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

are all those shooters neck turning to?

All the ones I am familiar with are. Outside of Br I shoot a lot of no turns with bushings only and can still get them tuned up well. Theres a couple lubes that some of my buddies are having good luck with that I have not tested. I am going to revisit expanders again at some point. Im waiting on the carbide expanders in .001-.005 range to hit the market first

 

[hoz53]

All the ones I am familiar with are. Outside of Br I shoot a lot of no turns with bushings only and can still get them tuned up well. Theres a couple lubes that some of my buddies are having good luck with that I have not tested. I am going to revisit expanders again at some point. Im waiting on the carbide expanders in .001-.005 range to hit the market first

thanks Alex