Size Before or After?

ColColt · March 17, 2014, 06:26 PM

I feel sure at some point someone has probably asked this before but I couldn't find it if they did. I'm soon to get a neck turning tool with all the goodies that come with it and have read conflicting advice about what to do first. Some say FL size the case and trim prior to using the turning tool while others indicate to turn the case first. Which is it? Only one method seems right to me and not a toss of the coin. Some say to FL size first but don't use a bushing die. Never having used a tool like this before I'd like to start off on the right foot. Can someone shed some light on this?

MtnCreek · March 18, 2014, 07:09 AM

Outside neck turning? You'll need to size the brass before turning the necks otherwise you'll not have a good fit to the pilot. Also, trim to your length and chamfer / deburr before turning.

If you're using a bushing die, you're probably going to need new bushing(s).

Bart B. · March 18, 2014, 10:43 AM

Once the neck's been turned, you'll need to full length size it again setting the case shoudler back a thousandth or so which makes the case neck better centered on the case shoulder. Otherwise, the neck/mouth axis may not be concentric with the case shoulder and body axis.

ColColt · March 18, 2014, 06:34 PM

It seems I've read not to use a bushing die prior to turning because the bushing won't size the last .050" or so of the neck. I have a Redding bushing die and a Lee Collet die. Would the Lee be best prior to turning and the bushing die afterwards? The Redding bushing die will bump the shoulder back .002" the way I have it set now.

Bart B. · March 19, 2014, 08:15 AM

Yes, any die that sizes the neck all the way to the shoulder is best to use before turning necks to a uniform thickness.

As long as 2/3 to 3/4 of the neck is cleaned up, that's typically enough for best accuracy. Otherwise the neck wall thickness may be too thin.

I've not seen any accuracy difference in long range tests between totally uniform neck walls versus those with a .001" spread.

March 17, 2014, 06:26 PM	#1
ColColt Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2010 Posts: 354	Size Before or After? I feel sure at some point someone has probably asked this before but I couldn't find it if they did. I'm soon to get a neck turning tool with all the goodies that come with it and have read conflicting advice about what to do first. Some say FL size the case and trim prior to using the turning tool while others indicate to turn the case first. Which is it? Only one method seems right to me and not a toss of the coin. Some say to FL size first but don't use a bushing die. Never having used a tool like this before I'd like to start off on the right foot. Can someone shed some light on this? __________________ Kids are for people that can't have dogs

March 18, 2014, 06:34 PM	#4
ColColt Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2010 Posts: 354	It seems I've read not to use a bushing die prior to turning because the bushing won't size the last .050" or so of the neck. I have a Redding bushing die and a Lee Collet die. Would the Lee be best prior to turning and the bushing die afterwards? The Redding bushing die will bump the shoulder back .002" the way I have it set now. __________________ Kids are for people that can't have dogs

March 18, 2014, 07:09 AM	#2
MtnCreek Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2010 Posts: 176	Outside neck turning? You'll need to size the brass before turning the necks otherwise you'll not have a good fit to the pilot. Also, trim to your length and chamfer / deburr before turning. If you're using a bushing die, you're probably going to need new bushing(s).

March 18, 2014, 10:43 AM	#3
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Once the neck's been turned, you'll need to full length size it again setting the case shoudler back a thousandth or so which makes the case neck better centered on the case shoulder. Otherwise, the neck/mouth axis may not be concentric with the case shoulder and body axis.

March 19, 2014, 08:15 AM	#5
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Yes, any die that sizes the neck all the way to the shoulder is best to use before turning necks to a uniform thickness. As long as 2/3 to 3/4 of the neck is cleaned up, that's typically enough for best accuracy. Otherwise the neck wall thickness may be too thin. I've not seen any accuracy difference in long range tests between totally uniform neck walls versus those with a .001" spread.