When to test neck tension during load development

[Southern shooter 59]

I went through the posts on here but didn't find an answer to my question. I am developing a load for a new barrel. At what point is it best to test accuracy with varying neck tensions? After powder charge, before or after seating depth? Thanks for the answers.

 

[JFrank]

I can only speak for myself however I follow this order
1- powder
2- seating
3- primer
4- neck tension

 

[Webster]

I went through the posts on here but didn't find an answer to my question. I am developing a load for a new barrel. At what point is it best to test accuracy with varying neck tensions? After powder charge, before or after seating depth? Thanks for the answers.

If the rifle is not very accurate and you don't have exceptional shooting skills I wouldn't expect to be able to see improvements from primer and neck tension. You need a rifle and ability to consistently shoot groups not much bigger than .350" to see small improvements. From my experience with my 6BR varmint rifle, type of powder, wt. of charge and seating depth. Never got involved with neck tension or primers since the rifle always shoots under .350” if I do my part. I have shot a few groups in the 1s so I am happy without further tinkering. I only use wind flags if someone else puts them up. The wind will make a bigger change in group size than primers or tension. It takes a lot of skill to learn how to use wind flags.

 

[dmoran]

Myself:
After the charge and seating are pretty much dialed in.
In the best test conditions, calm with little to no wind (suggest sunup/sundown).
As @Webster alluded, the more accurate the rifle/setup/shooter, the more predominate of results.
Also IME: the further the distance, the more predominate the results.
Neck preparation is an associate, and in many ways, more so (IME).

 

[stacy]

YOU'LL BE SURPRICED JUST HOW NECK TENSION CAN MAKE OR BREAK GROUPS SIZES I HAVE DONE INTENSIVE GROUP SHOOTING WITH A 22BR CHANGING NOTHING BUT NECK TENSION AND I BEEN AMAZED AT THE RESULTS

 

[skiutah02]

For me,

1a. Crude powder charge (1a and 1b order is reversed with vlds for me)
1b. Crude seating
2. Fine powder
3. Fine seating
4. Primer
5. Neck tension
6. Tuner
7. Tipping and other miscellanea

2-7 I often test at matches or at distance.

Expert hint (cartridge dependant, if you are in the proper node for powder and seating depth, the other variables can have a huge impact or at least look like huge differences, I.e. in some cases I've further halved group sizes/vert with a change in 4-7.)

Drew

 

[MagnumManiac]

I find the sweet spot for each bullet used first with a mid to low charge of the powder in question.
I run xx distance from lands first, if there is room to do so, if not I load from max mag length (repeater rifles only) and load SHORTER by .010” for 5 increments and choose the tightest group. Then I fine tune powder/primer and lastly if the tension I used is changing start pressure, which is indicative of velocity swings, I then go tighter.
I don’t know why, but I always seem to start at .0015” in comp guns, .002” in varmint/hunting rifles and .003” for DG cartridges.
In my comp guns I more than often not go back to .0015” for best results, but not ALWAYS with every barrel. I have 1 300WM barrel that doesn’t shoot any looser than .0035”, .004” is about as good as it gets with that barrel.

Seating depth, charge weight/primer and then tension.
I test 3 primers with each powder weight, often there is a distinctive winner in tightening groups and sometimes it is with a standard primer in a magnum or a magnum primer in a standard case.

Cheers.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Neck tension becomes less important if you seat at or into the lands as seating the bullets at the lands provides the greatest tension. I had a reloading die question a few years ago and contacted Lee Precision about using their "neck sizing collet die" and they told me that using their neck die I will need to adjust my seating depth to get my bullets to touch the lands to provide the proper "delay" that greater neck tension provides, meaning that their neck collet die gives less tension.

 

[chop house]

they told me that using their neck die I will need to adjust my seating depth to get my bullets to touch the lands to provide the proper "delay" that greater neck tension provides

i suspicioned this, and found if i wasn't touching i had to make sure i annealed and/or used the 0.001" undersize mandrel.

there seemed to be a seating 'zone' just a few thou off of touch that caused wild es numbers...

 

[243winxb]

At what point is it best to test accuracy with varying neck tensions?

I guess last?

If seating bullets into the rifling, neck tension should not matter? The secondary pressure spike is avoided with a jam?

Jumping the bullet to the rifling, like in a factory chamber, the neck tension becomes more important?

Primer output may move the bullet before the powder starts producing any meaningful pressure. Military 5.56 testing of the #41 primer moved all bullets with 35 lbs bullet pull. Bullets jumped into the rifling.

The 100 lbs bullet pull moved some, not all. Different cartridges may not move the bullet at all, at primer firing? Burning of the powder moves most, my guess?

Doing your own testing, may be the only way to know? Different Components= Different results.

Waiting to hear more from the experts.

 

[GSS]

YOU'LL BE SURPRICED JUST HOW NECK TENSION CAN MAKE OR BREAK GROUPS SIZES I HAVE DONE INTENSIVE GROUP SHOOTING WITH A 22BR CHANGING NOTHING BUT NECK TENSION AND I BEEN AMAZED AT THE RESULTS

Can you tell us more about the testing you have done and what you have learned ?

 

[stacy]

Can you tell us more about the testing you have done and what you have learned ?

I'LL MAY DO MY OWN POST WHEN ALL IS DONE BUT I'LL SAY THIS I'VE BEEN SURPRISED HOW LITTLE TENSION CAN MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE

 

[eric n]

I'LL MAY DO MY OWN POST WHEN ALL IS DONE BUT I'LL SAY THIS I'VE BEEN SURPRISED HOW LITTLE TENSION CAN MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE

Sure seems like the fliers disappear when neck tension is right.

 

[stacy]

Sure seems like the fliers disappear when neck tension is right.

U GOT IT

 

[Southern shooter 59]

Thanks for the information. The consensus is test after powder, seating depth and primer are selected. That is, if you test with more than 1 primer.

 

[andersoj1]

Turning your necks (to uniform thickness) and useing a light taper crimp (Redding taper crimp die) after seating the bullet helps to create uniform neck tension, and I believe a more accurate load.

 

[JFrank]

Thanks for the information. The consensus is test after powder, seating depth and primer are selected. That is, if you test with more than 1 primer.

I've tested several primers using my base load with very interesting results. It wasn't an expensive nor time consuming test , (for myself) well worth the effort IMO

 

[David Christian]

@Southern shooter 59, I would enjoy seeing results from this test. Why not load up a batch of rounds varying your tension across a spectrum. Fire them at different dots while using a chrono. Post pics of your targets along with an excel sheet showing ES and average speed per target. There is nothing better than developing your own empirical data versus taking someone’s 3rd hand guess about the possible outcome...just saying.

 

[Southern shooter 59]

I agree David. I will attempt to remember to post my results. Somewhat of a challenge to develop a load here. I recently moved and finding a range that offers shooting past 100 yards that has room for new members and is relatively close has proven to be more difficult than I thought.