Spec a neck

[Cuando]

I've ordered a Savage prefit Shilen and their reamer for .223AI specifies a tight neck at .252. I am sending off some dummy rounds to have them throat it for the 75/88 ELD's. They will open the neck up to whatever I spec, but I'm not 100% where I need to be. Measuring fired brass from several other chambers and I'm seeing anywhere from .253 to .256".

I do not want to turn necks. Would a .253 neck be about right or is that a bit on the small side?

 

[BP1]

What brass?I think lapua brass is .252 on a no neck turn chamber.

 

[Cuando]

I'll mostly run Rem and Winchester.

 

[JohnHenry]

The loaded(unturned) neck diameter of Lapua 223 match brass is .250. Go with a .252 neck chamber for the option to use the higher quality Lapua brass(unturned) if you choose. I don't shoot Winchester or Remington 223 brass but they have a thinner neck wall and if I remember correctly will have a loaded neck diameter of .247-.248.

PS: Lapua match brass may seem expensive, but not if one considers the life cycle cost. In a bolt action rifle, I typically get 20-25 reloads with Lapua 223 brass.

 

[hogpatrol]

I've ordered a Savage prefit Shilen and their reamer for .223AI specifies a tight neck at .252. I am sending off some dummy rounds to have them throat it for the 75/88 ELD's. They will open the neck up to whatever I spec, but I'm not 100% where I need to be. Measuring fired brass from several other chambers and I'm seeing anywhere from .253 to .256".

I do not want to turn necks. Would a .253 neck be about right or is that a bit on the small side?

With the brass you are going to use, what is your loaded round neck diameter?

 

[243winxb]

223 - Win, LC , BHM, other brands of loaded rounds neck diameter is .246" or less. (no Lapua) A .252" neck should work well?

But SAAMI 223 REM loaded rounds neck diameter specifications maximum is .253" It would be rare to find any factory ammo at maximum. SAAMI likes .002" clearance. Chamber neck .255" to .257"

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/223rem/

 

[hogpatrol]

Here's some representative loaded round neck diameters of factory ammo, range brass. (Standard operation for newbies is to clear a jam and let the ammo lay on the ground.) So far no one's left any Lapua but IIRC, their necks are thicker.
The range is from .243 to .249.

LC "14 .246
PPU .248
Norma .249
Federal .247
No Name steel .243 STRIKE THIS, not .223
S&B .245
Remington .246
Winchester .248
PSD .246
PMC .246