Neck Tension 308

[Philt1]

Hello All , iN NEED OF ADVICE , when im seating my bullets for my 308 win . i notice that the pressure that it takes to seat the bullet varies from round to round ( hence diff. neck tension ) . Now i have sized and dry brushed the mouths real good as to remove and burnt powder and Dabree.

My sizing die is a Redding comp. series

1. Should i turn the necks for more of a uniform neck tension ?
2. Invest in a diff. die ?



Thx

 

[jagged77]

Re: Neck Tension 308

How many times have you fired your brass? My first guess is that it has work hardened causing the inconsistant neck tension - this is a common problem.

The solution is to anneal your cases which will soften the case mouth area. Annealing also lengthens the life of your cases by preventing splitting.

This is quite a good instructional vid:

Click Here

 

[Philt1]

Re: Neck Tension 308

The brass is Hornaday that i purchased new , I only have 6 loads on this brass and i have annealed it 1 time as i anneal all my brass every 3 loads , now i did notice that on the sizing die that the ball has some play meaning that the primer pin is tight but the ball has play , it slides up and down a little bit , is this normal ? i bought these dies used off of ebay-redding comp. set is has a seater , FL , NK , dies , should the sizer have any play like that >?
Could the sizer be cocking a little bit fluctuating my neck tension

 

[turbo54]

Re: Neck Tension 308

I'll bet you have inconsistent "lead-ins" on your case mouths.

Do you have a VLD case mouth chamfering tool? Do you use it?

 

[Philt1]

Re: Neck Tension 308

Hmmm, No i dont have a vld champering tool , Im running berger hybrids but this the problem remains in my A-MAX rounds also

 

[turbo54]

Re: Neck Tension 308

The term "VLD" tool is generic, it is not ONLY for use when you use Berger VLD bullets.

The tool is essentially a contersink, but rather than cut a 45º lead-in on the case mouth, it cuts a ~60º lead in angle, which is much shallower, and helps the bullets seat nice and easy with no scratches or hangups.

Get one of these tools.

 

[Philt1]

Re: Neck Tension 308

I see , i will sure try it , i still would like to know if my FL sizing die should have a floating ball above the primer punch or should it be solid when screwed tight .

Redding comp FL die




Thx

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Neck Tension 308

"i still would like to know if my FL sizing die should have <span style="text-decoration: underline">a floating ball above the primer punch or should it be solid when screwed tight</span>"

It really won't matter, no decap stem is rigid enough to hold anything centered in an otherwise unsupported case neck anyway.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Neck Tension 308

I'll add that the expander ball works on the ram downstroke, thus the stem is in tension. Has no choice but to act along the axis defined by the centerpoint of the case neck, and the stem threads in the die...an axis, we all hope, that extends down the centerline of the case.

 

[Stallard]

Re: Neck Tension 308

After re-sizing, turn all the case necks to make them all the same thickness(concentric). After turning Re-size them again and they should be good to go. Although 6 firings from a Hornady case might be asking a lot.