Neck turning question

[nbmonte]

I’m starting with neck turning, but I’ve still got a couple questions.

I’ve read as much info as I could find on it, and I picked up a 21s Century neck lathe and a set of expander mandrels. I thought I would be able to set my neck tension (with a .306 expander mandrel for example) and then skim the neck. When I tried that, the sized brass is too tight on the turning mandrel.

Is what I thought I’d be able to do possible? Or will I need to fl resize, size with the turning kit expander mandrel, turn the neck, fl resize, and then set my neck tension with the expander die?

Thanks

 

[Maple57]

I have about 6 carbide mandrels for each caliber about 0.0003" apart.

Welcome to the club.

I actually run two neck turning tools. One for rough, and one for finish.

The finish tool has 0.001" larger mandrel than the rougher.

Once you turn the neck for the first time, the stress causes the brass to expand, then it fits the next size larger mandrel for the light finishing cut.

In time you will get acquainted with the subtleties of how the brass reacts and refine your approach. How much spring back you get during sizing and how turning stress affects the ID.

Nothing you will do initially will matter much, until you fire the brass in your gun for the first time. Then the brass will mean something.

 

[TrxR]

I’m starting with neck turning, but I’ve still got a couple questions.

I’ve read as much info as I could find on it, and I picked up a 21s Century neck lathe and a set of expander mandrels. I thought I would be able to set my neck tension (with a .306 expander mandrel for example) and then skim the neck. When I tried that, the sized brass is too tight on the turning mandrel.

Is what I thought I’d be able to do possible? Or will I need to fl resize, size with the turning kit expander mandrel, turn the neck, fl resize, and then set my neck tension with the expander die?

Thanks

You got to use the mandrel designed to go with the turning mandrel. So resize use the correct mandrel , turn the necks then resize again the use .306 mandrel you want to use.