When to Neck Turn - 17 Hornet new cases? Once shot?

[TheCZKid]

Here's my dilemma... I've been working up the best load for my 17 Hornet, and found a very accurate load. The combo is 17 Hornady brass with uniformed primer pockets, with 20 V-max bullets, once shot brass, necks turned to .0110" thickness, CCI-400 primer, 12.6 grains of CFE-BLK, BTOL 1.455".

I finally found some more 17 Hornet brass, purchased 350 for a small fortune. I want to load these un-shot cases for spring sage rat shooting.
My best load is currently was tested with once fired cases, sized and neck turned.

I have loaded a comparison test with exact same load with the once fired / turned cases, and unfired cases, to see if the accuracy is same, or if I need to maybe slightly reduce the load for the unfired cases. I haven't had the time off when the wind is low and temps are okay, so I don't know yet...

I'm new to turning necks, figured the BEST time to turn was After they were fire-formed to my chamber, as the neck length might be different.

When do you guys turn necks? New cases, only after firing them once or twice?

Also, if you trim the necks for overall case length, what do you use? I have a Lee Quick Trim. My rifle is a CZ, and wonder if other CZ guys trim to a length you know works with this chamber?

 

[SmokinJoe]

FWIW, you will probably get more help with the 17 Hornet on saubier.com. Note that some folks have had a little trouble joining up because the site isn't as actively managed as it once was.

 

[jepp2]

I'm new to turning necks, figured the BEST time to turn was After they were fire-formed to my chamber, as the neck length might be different.

My comment is about larger cartridges.

I always measure the case head to datum on new cartridge brass before firing. I compare that with what I know for my rifle - case head to datum I size to, and case head to datum for bolt contact. You should be able to measure the same to see if the shoulder is going to move forward on your new brass by comparing it with your fired brass. Right?

And after you have fired it, you have to size it before neck turning so you can get the neck to the correct diameter by expanding for turning.

I prefer to neck turn after brass has been fired so the case head to datum is in the fully formed condition. Might not be there after a single firing.

 

[trader steve]

Would inside neck reaming be the same thing? Steve

 

[TheCZKid]

Would inside neck reaming be the same thing? Steve

I was looking into inside neck reaming, since I never tried that, found a video which you might find interesting

Seems like we reloaders can always add another step, more equipment or procedure to consider. Going down the rabbit hole...

 

[NZ_Fclass]

My short answer is no. I have reloaded my cases around 5 times and I'm still getting good accuracy ( well I was before Covid lockdowns...) I use CFE-BLK at 3550fps with 20g Hornady's in a Savage and it still groups under the 1/2 in at 100 metres. I will be annealing cases before the summer to get some rabbits etc.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I'm new to turning necks, figured the BEST time to turn was After they were fire-formed to my chamber, as the neck length might be different.

When do you guys turn necks? New cases, only after firing them once or twice?

Also, if you trim the necks for overall case length, what do you use? I have a Lee Quick Trim.

For neck turning, the important thing is to have a consistent measurement from the case mouth to the shoulder so that the neck turning cutter takes the same amount off the shoulder at the neck-shoulder junction for all the cases. I will first fire form my cases and then FL size them followed by trimming the case to the desired length. If the case measurement from base to shoulder datum is consistent, then when the cases are trimmed, the distance from the mouth to the shoulder should be consistent, like when you would use your Lee Quick Trim. I use a 3-way trimmer that indexes off the shoulders, which makes neck turning pretty consistent even though the case length may not be.