How many times to turn necks?

KEITH MYERS

KEITH MYERS

New member
I have turned necks for a few guns. While reading the wealth of information here on the this site I have a question that I have yet to find an answer for. For example: when turning necks is it okay to make only one pass to acheive the desired dimensions OR is it better to take a little off first and then make a second final cut.
 
Once !!!

Many will disagree if not all. It really depends on the happiness of the individual. If I'm forced to turn cases (can't buy or beg), my goal is to get somewhere close and my loaded round measure less than the chamber. One pass will do that nicely.

Others have elaborate procedures and don't seem to find joy with more than a scintillionth of variation. I have no crow to pick with these folks.
 
Wilbur said:
Many will disagree if not all. It really depends on the happiness of the individual. If I'm forced to turn cases (can't buy or beg), my goal is to get somewhere close and my loaded round measure less than the chamber. One pass will do that nicely.

Others have elaborate procedures and don't seem to find joy with more than a scintillionth of variation. I have no crow to pick with these folks.
Click to expand...

If the Houston Warehouse experiment proved anything it was that just about all these picky things we do make a difference. Many of these picky things like consistent neck tension may only show up in a controlled environment.

Some of these seemingly picky things may only marginally reduce a group or agg. But they all do add up.

Read the match reports. How many aggs, grands, and multi-guns are won by 0.010" or less??
 
I tend to think more like Wilbur

Brass is so soft that maintaining absolutes with regard to the necks is tough and to try to do so takes a committment. I find that with shooting 30 cal rifles not only do the cases necks grow in length but they tend to grow in thickness as they are shot. I generally re-turn mine once each year. I substitute having mine down in the tenths with LOTS if neck tension. While I do think it important to be close with all of them, keeping the necks soft for consistent neck tension is very important. With the recent prices increases for brass, I think it becomes even more important to work on them more and to learn to anneal them properly. Heck, I might even drag my "Reloading Room" to the range now so I won't have to make so many pieces up!

All that said, a Hummer Barrel will forgive most anything fed it on the bench side of the range.
 
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Keith ...

KEITH MYERS said:
I have turned necks for a few guns. While reading the wealth of information here on the this site I have a question that I have yet to find an answer for. For example: when turning necks is it okay to make only one pass to acheive the desired dimensions OR is it better to take a little off first and then make a second final cut.
Click to expand...

Ken Markle, the previous owner of K&M Services, once told me in an experiment he took off 15 thousandths in one pass without any difficulty. He did recommend a second pass at the same setting to smooth things up.

I like to make two cuts, with two K&M Turners. The first tool takes the majority off, with a second smoothing pass at that setting. The second tool makes the final light cut with a second smoothing or cleanup pass. It takes time, but I have the time and enjoy it. I have a 6PPC with a .262 neck. When I'm done my case neck OD with a bullet seated measures .2605, + or - .0002". :)
 
I use two, but

Many inferior shooters like Wayne Campbell turn their brass in one pass. I guess if you don't expect any better results than Wayne gets, then one pass will serve. James
 
How do you guys remove the cutter once you reach the shoulder?

Do you keep the brass spinning the same direction, and cut a backwards pass on the way out, or do you stop, and slide the blade off the brass?
 
Go to the shoulder with a feed rate that is a bit excessive. Make what ever cut on the shoulder that is required. Without stopping, slowly back off the neck, cleaning up what was left behind on the way in. Let your turner wobble with the case. By cutting both ways, you keep the neck pinned to the mandrel, reducing thickness runout, and the need for a tight fit between case neck and turner mandrel.
 
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