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Posted: 3/22/2012 1:52:53 PM EDT
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Hello all,
I have been reloading for many years but have come upon a new issue for me. I purchased a Savage .243 and have been working up some loads. The brass I am using is head stamped FC 308, which I ran through a set of 7mm-08 dies then through the .243 dies. My test loads are shooting amazingly accurately, but the chronographed speed is slightly higher than listed in the manuals, which is a first for me. I recently read a thread about neck turning so I checked my brass out. A bullet will not fall into a once fired casing. I have had one blown primer in about 100 rounds fired, but no other significant pressure signs. I am guessing that I need to start neck turning these to ensure the pressure is not spiking in my chamber but know next to nothing about this. I watched some Youtube videos but need an idea of what tools to get and the best places to get them, or if I am just being overly careful (as if there is such a thing in reloading). I also am concerned about shortening my barrel life more than necessary. I would appreciate any input that you all can provide. |
| It was my understanding that due to the extra thickness of the neck, the pressure in the case can spike before the bullet is released from the neck. I measured the thickness of the necks as they are now and have come up with .018". They seem to be very consistent and have even thicknesses around the necks. Is this too thick? Just being careful. |
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Also check the inside of the neck at the intersection with the shoulder for a "donut", a ring of brass swaged up by the necking process. That ring will need to be reamed out of the case.
How many new Winchester cases can be bought for the cost of a neck turner, reamer, and proper gaging to measure the neck thickness and runout? |
SAAMI Maximum neck diameter of a loaded round is .276" when measured with a micrometer.Maximum wall thickness would be around .0165" Edit/Add- If you know the exact diameter of the chambers neck, your loaded rounds can be larger in diameter than SAAMI. The donut that may form at the neck/shoulder junction is only a problem if you seat the shank of the bullet into it. But best to remove the donut. I neck turn with a Lyman attachment to the Universal Trimmer after FL sizing. The expander moves some of the donut to the outside. But reaming is best. Just buy new 243 win brass and be safe with less work. Spend your money on bushing dies that FL size. 
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Quoted:
Quoted:
How many new Winchester cases can be bought for the cost of a neck turner, reamer, and proper gaging to measure the neck thickness and runout? Why reload when you can buy ammo off the shelf? You can?
I guess I can't comment on making cases that are commercially available and easy to find, I've made a pile of 40-65 cases from Winchester .45-70 cases. But I was motivated by prospects of slightly greater internal volume compared to buying cases from Starline. |
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Quoted:
How many new Winchester cases can be bought for the cost of a neck turner, reamer, and proper gaging to measure the neck thickness and runout? Just buy new brass with a 243 headstamp. You'll be WAY better off in the long run. Any time neck turning is your answer, you are doing something wrong (unless you're wildcatting). |
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We fire form 220 russian into 6mmPPC using Bullseye and floral foam. The green water absorbant foam
is used to seal the powder in the case. after firing a very reduced charge w/"regular" rifle powder we turn the necks to assure uniformity. It's harder to explain than it is to do actually. But it makes all the cases concentric and uniform. With neck sizing only those cases last a rediculous amout of reloading. We shoot the same cases all year and could actually go longer but it's a "right of passage" in January of a new year to prep 100 or so cases. Although we chamber new barrels with the same reamer each barrel gets unique brass. With 3 guns (light Varmint/Heavy Varmit/and a rail gun) and multiple barrels good records are a must, |
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