I just had a rifle chambered with the 243 WSSM Match reamer. My loaded brass has a neck diameter of .284". The reamer's neck diameter was .282". So the gunsmith is going to ream the neck to .287". Is this enough clearance?
Gunsmithing Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
- Thread starter WDL
- Start date
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
If your gunsmith does open the neck to 287 and your brass is .284 that is more than enough.
If your gunsmith does open the neck to 287 and your brass is .284 that is more than enough.
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
.003" neck clearance is generally an appropriate amount for overall 6mm neck clearance. I am a little more than curious how your barrel smith is going to ream just the neck of your chamber an additional .005" larger and keep everything true and centered.
.003" neck clearance is generally an appropriate amount for overall 6mm neck clearance. I am a little more than curious how your barrel smith is going to ream just the neck of your chamber an additional .005" larger and keep everything true and centered.
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
WSSM brass has pretty thick necks on it, if he goes to +0.003 on the neck and you find that the fired cases are still a very close slip fit or an interference fit on the bullets then you're probably going to need to neck turn.
Mr. Whitley's concerns mirror my own at this point, but I have heard from several good authorities that it can be done if done very carefully.
I'm currently in possession of a custom built wildcat that came from a 6.5mm parent reamer, it was then neck reamed to 7mm and throat reamed to the proper dimensions.
It is a trued Remington that shoots in the 0.2's and 0.3's at 100yd. This rifle was done all in one setup though, it was not pulled out of the machine and then re-dialed into the tooling. Everything was cut all in one setup.
WSSM brass has pretty thick necks on it, if he goes to +0.003 on the neck and you find that the fired cases are still a very close slip fit or an interference fit on the bullets then you're probably going to need to neck turn.
Mr. Whitley's concerns mirror my own at this point, but I have heard from several good authorities that it can be done if done very carefully.
I'm currently in possession of a custom built wildcat that came from a 6.5mm parent reamer, it was then neck reamed to 7mm and throat reamed to the proper dimensions.
It is a trued Remington that shoots in the 0.2's and 0.3's at 100yd. This rifle was done all in one setup though, it was not pulled out of the machine and then re-dialed into the tooling. Everything was cut all in one setup.
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
If I were you, I'd leave the chamber & turn those necks down a couple thou. It really don't take that long & you're rifle will thank you, paid in accuracy...
As it goes, the neck thickness variation of Wssm brass is horrific. AnD we all know what inconsistent neck tension will do for group size & dispersion.
I made a video for another site showing how I do a full prep on Wssm brass to get the most out of my Dtech ARs.
Please forgive the amateurish 'how to', focus on how shitty the neck measurements are on the brass & you'll see my point...
Wssm brass prep video linky
If I were you, I'd leave the chamber & turn those necks down a couple thou. It really don't take that long & you're rifle will thank you, paid in accuracy...
As it goes, the neck thickness variation of Wssm brass is horrific. AnD we all know what inconsistent neck tension will do for group size & dispersion.
I made a video for another site showing how I do a full prep on Wssm brass to get the most out of my Dtech ARs.
Please forgive the amateurish 'how to', focus on how shitty the neck measurements are on the brass & you'll see my point...
Wssm brass prep video linky
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
+1 on knockemdown's comments. You have a lot of neck thickness that you can turn down, .284-.243 = .041 of brass or .0205 thick walls, that's pretty thick. Turn them down to .018 and your loaded round will be .279 and you will be good to go with .003 total clearance without worrying that the gunsmith wasn't successful in centering the reamer.
+1 on knockemdown's comments. You have a lot of neck thickness that you can turn down, .284-.243 = .041 of brass or .0205 thick walls, that's pretty thick. Turn them down to .018 and your loaded round will be .279 and you will be good to go with .003 total clearance without worrying that the gunsmith wasn't successful in centering the reamer.
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
+1 for knockemdown!
Thats the easier way to deal with this issue. No sense going in and spending all that money to ream out the neck. Even when the barrel/chambered barrel stay in the tooling, changing the cutting tooling can lead you to be off. If the rifle is true leave it there. WSSM brass has plenty of thickness to it to turn those necks.
<span style="color: #3333FF">Edit:
Outstanding video BTW!</span>
+1 for knockemdown!
Thats the easier way to deal with this issue. No sense going in and spending all that money to ream out the neck. Even when the barrel/chambered barrel stay in the tooling, changing the cutting tooling can lead you to be off. If the rifle is true leave it there. WSSM brass has plenty of thickness to it to turn those necks.
<span style="color: #3333FF">Edit:
Outstanding video BTW!</span>
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
Well, I hope I didn't make a mistake.
My gunsmith (Custom Blue) reamed the neck earlier today. He felt confident he could get things centered and I trust him.
Well, I hope I didn't make a mistake.
My gunsmith (Custom Blue) reamed the neck earlier today. He felt confident he could get things centered and I trust him.
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CamoWildcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I hope I didn't make a mistake.
My gunsmith (Custom Blue) reamed the neck earlier today. He felt confident he could get things centered and I trust him. </div></div>
At this point it sounds like it's time to shoot it and have fun working with what you have. Good luck and enjoy!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CamoWildcat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I hope I didn't make a mistake.
My gunsmith (Custom Blue) reamed the neck earlier today. He felt confident he could get things centered and I trust him. </div></div>
At this point it sounds like it's time to shoot it and have fun working with what you have. Good luck and enjoy!
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
Thanks sandwarrior.
Camo, I'm sure you'll be fine. Have fun with your Wizzer!
Thanks sandwarrior.
Camo, I'm sure you'll be fine. Have fun with your Wizzer!
Re: Is .003" enough for neck expansion?
Even though I've got brass issues - when I resized my 223 wssm brass to 243 wssm, I got the dreaded donut at the neck/shoulder junction - the gun shot a 1/4 MOA group with 105 A-Max's clocking 3250 at the muzzle.
So it would appear Custom Blue knows how to ream out a neck and keep everything centered. BTW, there was no charge for the reaming. He stands by his work and makes it right.
Even though I've got brass issues - when I resized my 223 wssm brass to 243 wssm, I got the dreaded donut at the neck/shoulder junction - the gun shot a 1/4 MOA group with 105 A-Max's clocking 3250 at the muzzle.
So it would appear Custom Blue knows how to ream out a neck and keep everything centered. BTW, there was no charge for the reaming. He stands by his work and makes it right.
