Neck Turners for Low-Volume Work

15 January 2003, 15:51

Russell E. Taylor

For work of 50 rounds or less, what neck turners would you recommend? I want something that deals with the dreaded doughnut, too. I think K&M has one tool to do everything I want, but I thought I'd ask those of you who have gone before me.

I want to be able to turn necks up to .338 in caliber. Larger would be fine, also.

For your recommendations, what do you like and dislike? (Nothing is perfect -- to include, I'm sure, neck turners.)

Thanks.

Russ

15 January 2003, 17:03

Paul Brasky

Russ, I use a Forster case trimmer with the appropriate reamer to remove the "dreaded doughnut" and one of their trimmer-mounted neck turners to uniform the necks. 50 cases would be about all one would want to do with this set-up. Hope this helps, ...Maven

16 January 2003, 03:45

Borealis Bob

Russ, Paul..

Just been reloading straight-wall cartridges to date so am not familiar with neck-turning, etc.
What is the "dreaded donut?" I'll be starting to load for a 35 Whelen shortly so any info I can gather would help.

Thanks

Bob

16 January 2003, 05:57

Russell E. Taylor

Bob:

You'll never have this problem with straightwall cases, that's for sure.

The "dreaded doughnut" comes about from neck turning cases but not removing the thicker metal at the shoulder which "has to go somewhere" when the case is sized. This is probably a bad explanation but, if you call Sinclair, they will gladly explain it to you better than I can. I just know it's a problem and it needs to be dealt with eventually.

This comes from Redding's website:

quote:
The "Donut"

The second consideration is the formation of a "donut". This is a ring of thicker brass inside the neck of the newly formed case. The donut appears when the neck-shoulder junction of the newly formed case ends up closer to the base than the parent cartridge. This donut must be removed or dangerous pressures will result due to the lack of clearance for the case neck to release the bullet. Again, we recommend a minimum clearance of 0.003".

Neck Thinning

There are two common methods used to reduce the neck wall thickness of cases and remove donuts from their necks. The simplest is neck reaming. Reaming can be performed on a case trimmer or in a special reaming die. The die method is preferred, as the reamer tends to follow the off-center hole in the case neck when reaming on a trimmer.

The preferred method of thinning case necks is to use an outside neck turning tool to remove brass from the outside of the case neck. If the neck turning operation is performed one or two calibers larger than the final desired caliber and a size button is pulled through the neck, it will also remove the donut from the case neck. Neck turning produces a more uniform and concentric case neck than the previously mentioned method of reducing neck wall thickness, reaming.

As an aside, when Hornady came out with their neck turner a year or so ago, I called and asked them if it had some kind of reamer or something, to remove the doughnut that builds up after time. They had no idea what I was talking about. Now, I ask you, how could you, as a company, research, design, and build a neck turner... without even "knowing about" the doughnut that results over time, which needs to be dealt with? Oh well. That, in itself, answered my question -- so I didn't buy one.

Russ

[ 01-15-2003, 21:01: Message edited by: Russell E. Taylor ]

16 January 2003, 06:12

Russell E. Taylor

Bob:

Here's a good article on the dreaded doughnuts.

Russ

[ 01-15-2003, 21:24: Message edited by: Russell E. Taylor ]

16 January 2003, 12:05

smallfry

good artical Russ

17 January 2003, 02:03

Borealis Bob

Russ..
Thanks for taking the time to provide the info.
Very helpful.

Bob

17 January 2003, 13:22

Russell E. Taylor

You're welcome, Bob.

Russ

18 January 2003, 16:01

Russell E. Taylor

BTT for more recommendations.

18 January 2003, 17:02

R-WEST

I use Forster's hand-held model. Works okay for me. Kinda rough on the fingers, though (I threw away the cheapo plastic case holder that came with it, and just turn the cases with my fingers).

R-WEST

[ 01-18-2003, 08:05: Message edited by: R-WEST ]

21 January 2003, 09:27

Harley

Russ, I have used the Sinclear base model and I use an expanding mandrel before I turn. I turn to .332 on a .333 neck with .0015 walls. I have prep'ed about 150 shells and turned most more than once. Ihave been very happy with all the Sinclair products. Not necessarily low cost but great performance.

I must ask what rifle and scope is in your sign off line???? [Eek!]

Shoot straight.

21 January 2003, 12:23

Russell E. Taylor

quote:
Originally posted by Harley:

I must ask what rifle and scope is in your sign off line????

That's actually Michael Gross' character from the "Tremors" movies, soon to be a series on the Sci-Fi channel. The gun is a Barrett M82A1 chambered for the .50 BMG. I can't tell what the scope is from the picture, but I'd guess something from U.S. Optics or Springfield.

Russ

21 January 2003, 12:47

onefunzr2

Like Paul, I too use the outside neck turner attachment for my Forster case trimmer. My largest pilot is for my 338-06 AI although I'm sure it will work for larger calibers.

This is the first that I've heard of the dreaded donut also. Does it only happen on fire-formed cases?

21 January 2003, 13:24

Coach Hunt

Howdy,

I use the Forster hand held neck turning tool, but others are just as good. I think the Sinclair and the K&M are top of the line quality.

My rather limited experience has shown me two quite important points. First, make certain that the necks are properly sized to your anvil!!!! Second, use enough of a quality lubricant on the anvil!!!

Now, as to the dreaded doughnut, I use a bench lamp that has a magnifying glass in it, and when I approach the shoulder area, I've been able to get pretty darn close using it.

Hope that helps.

Coach