Need Help with neck turning

[klebbsta]

Heya Fellas,

I am currently reloading for 204 Ruger. And admit I am new to Advanced reloading. I have just been preparing some new brass to be Fireformed. They are Norma brass. And Just had a couple of questions.

I have measured the neck wall thickness and they are showing .011" to a bit over .012". So I was planning to clean them up a little and set them all to be cut to 11thou.

Here is my question. When running the cases through my K&M Expander, I have noticed that when I place them on my Concentricity Gauge they show a few thousandths variance. Is this to be expected?

Also the neck tension created is I believe about 0.001" once put through the K&M expander. Is it ok then after I have neck turned them all, to then put them through my Wilson neck die that has a .222 bushing. Which will give me .004" of neck tension. I just want to know if it is "ok" to do - putting cases through neck dies just after I have put them through the K&M expander for turning... ?

Hope my question is clear, any help would be appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

Concentricity errors up to 0.003 are acceptable. And it is likely your chamber will make the case more concentric after it is fire formed.

0.004 ni neck tension is too much, in my opinion, for two reasons: a) the necks will expand and hold at no more then 0.003 anyways, b) we generally get by (tactical ammo) at 0.002 in neck tenson. Sounds like you need a 224 bushing, as I advise cutting as little material off the neck as possible.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

i run around .005 tension , when i used less then that i started to see allot more delays in my ammuntion.

so i dont agree with mitch ,.004 is not to much, IMO , its just right.So after you turn your cases down , then yes you can size them again to get the tension you want.

if your brass expands more then .005 , i would not turn your case necks at all. The additional case neck expansion is not going to help you.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

Neck "tension" more than 1 thou is just wasted seating effort, the brass will stretch passed its elastic limits at that much expansion and the bullet grip won't be a bit greater.

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Neck "tension" more than 1 thou is just wasted seating effort, the brass will stretch passed its elastic limits at that much expansion and the bullet grip won't be a bit greater.</div></div>+1_ beside that,the bullet will have to force himself in the neck ,performing (badly)as expander,without being a proper steel xpander...

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

I almost agree with fuzzball--with the qualification that this ammo is for 'tactical' purposes, where the ammo may have to be dragged and banged about as the shooter traverses unknown terrain to achieve the final firing position and the shooter remains unseen.

For ammo that comes out of the seater die, goes into a plastic box where it is gently driven to the range, and then shot out of a bolt gun; sure, 0.001 neck tension is just fine. That ammo does not have to put up with <above> abuse.

Also note, for the most part we use necks of 0.014-0.015 in thickness, whereas this ammo has necks starting out at 0.011 (after turning), so it will strech a lot earlier than cases with more std neck thicknesses.

 

[klebbsta]

Re: Need Help with neck turning

Thanks All for the above advice. There seems to be a bit of variance with how much tension is needed on the necks.

I have Richard Franklins DVD on Advanced Reloading and he says that when preparing cases to be Fireformed, to use up to .006" of neck tension, seat bullet just kissing the lands and try to load as much powder is acceptable & the amount that can ofcourse fit in the new unfired cases.

He recommends this as the way to Fireform. Which brings me to ask advice / tips of what methods you guys use for Fire-forming cases... ?

Once Again Cheers for your feedback!