MANDREL DECISIONS

[Mike Matteson]

In this regard, turning necks is as critical as knowing how far to go, too much, and you reduce consistent hoop strength. Too little, and nothing changes.
My own program is to know all dimensions before I even start designing a reamer, dies or mandrels. I design reamers around the brass, not the other way. I demand .003" neck clearance, have done less, it is a poke to expect all brass to expand the same…
I can get perfectly fine ammo without mandrel use by polishing expanders, honing die necks and turning brass, but, when it comes to my true precision rifles, sizing takes precedence over all other aspects, the reasons why are consistency from brass that is barely moved more than .003" on the neck, and no more than .0015" on the body and shoulder.
Then everything else falls into place.
BR guys are leaving necks as thin as .0085", this is great for their chambers, but, for me, and them, the bullet HAS to be jammed to work correctly.
So, make a choice, do it one way or another way, but, make sure what you do is consistent.

Cheers.

That the reason I cut my cases to length as the next step in working the brass over. So I mandrel the necks, then cut to length, then cut for thickness. Bushing dies there after. I think you have little more time and grade than me. I might be older, but that doesn't mean anything either. I kind of feel we are kind of on the same track. Also I think that the release of the bullet is more uniform, because to the neck being uniform.

 

[Turpentine21]

I will turn Lapua necks to .014 if the chamber gives me enough room to do so. This with my 6.5-06 downsizing Lapua from 30-06 to 6.5 gives me .004 for expansion. I'd like to try some Peterson 270 brass as with 270 brass I usually don't have to turn. But you do have to trim more with 270 brass. But trimming is much easier than turning. My next chamber may be a 6.5-270 to take advantage of the longer neck but 6.5.06AI is likely what I'll wind up with. I use Starline SRP brass in 6mm creed. It comes with neck walls at .014. It gets a bushing and mandrel. As this is an AR, I try to keep things very simple. For 308 I usually use LC Match. If you don't anneal it, turning can be tough. I'll end up just under .015. I turn just enough to remove the high spots. I like to run a mandrel thru in each case before turning to hopefully push imperfections to the outside.
Simply trimming and and then sizing Winchester brass in 308 with an RCBS X die is one of my most simple processes and accuracy is excellent. Go figure !

 

[ARlife4me]

I will turn Lapua necks to .014 if the chamber gives me enough room to do so. This with my 6.5-06 downsizing Lapua from 30-06 to 6.5 gives me .004 for expansion. I'd like to try some Peterson 270 brass as with 270 brass I usually don't have to turn. But you do have to trim more with 270 brass. But trimming is much easier than turning. My next chamber may be a 6.5-270 to take advantage of the longer neck but 6.5.06AI is likely what I'll wind up with. I use Starline SRP brass in 6mm creed. It comes with neck walls at .014. It gets a bushing and mandrel. As this is an AR, I try to keep things very simple. For 308 I usually use LC Match. If you don't anneal it, turning can be tough. I'll end up just under .0015. I turn just enough to remove the high spots. I like to run a mandrel thru in each case before turning to hopefully push imperfections to the outside.
Simply trimming and and then sizing Winchester brass in 308 with an RCBS X die is one of my most simple processes and accuracy is excellent. Go figure !

I have yet to ever turn down neck od in ar's, but do have 2 6.5gren that might need to be as the chamber is tight somewhere. Haven't checked fired brass to see where

 

[Turpentine21]

I have yet to ever turn down neck od in ar's, but do have 2 6.5gren that might need to be as the chamber is tight somewhere. Haven't checked fired brass to see where

I don't turn for my ARs. Other than a little bit of old LC Standard for the 308 and then just enough to clean up the outside. I've found Winchester brass to be the easy button with that rifle and requires no extra attention. It's just not really worth it for ARs. But using that 50-60 year old brass can be special..The two guns I mainly turn for are both bolt guns.

 

[Turpentine21]

I'm doubting so-so but hopefully by Tuesday I'll be in better shape after having a neck procedure on c3 thru c6 to take care of the 25 years of chronic pain. Temp wise it's been blazing pf mostly 100°+. I forgot about bushings and not using mandrels as that might be a better way to go?

By the way, How are you feeling? Did you get to do any shooting this week to test anything? If so how did it feel? I am concerned a little about you shooting though. I'm not sure how long it's been since your surgery. After I got put back together my doctor didn't even want me shooting a 22LR for 4 months while my turtle shell brace was on. It can be hard to wait!

 

[ARlife4me]

By the way, How are you feeling? Did you get to do any shooting this week to test anything? If so how did it feel? I am concerned a little about you shooting though. I'm not sure how long it's been since your surgery. After I got put back together my doctor didn't even want me shooting a 22LR for 4 months while my turtle shell brace was on. It can be hard to wait!

I had a Monday and Tuesday procedure via RFA that took between 30-60 minutes per day. I got some range time 2 weeks ago (pistols only)

45-70 w/Barnes via BFR magnum research.

So far pain has been less, but still in the recovery stage that's about 2-4 weeks worth.

Thanks for asking

 

[ARlife4me]

I had a Monday and Tuesday procedure via RFA that took between 30-60 minutes per day. I got some range time 2 weeks ago (pistols only)
View attachment 76979345-70 w/Barnes via BFR magnum research.

So far pain has been less, but still in the recovery stage that's about 2-4 weeks worth.

Thanks for asking

Left and right side of c3, c4, c5 and c6 were done

 

[misser]

my take on mandrels its done to size correct, but if the brass is not of the same hardness or even the same thickness its going to hold onto the brass differently . annealing has to be in the equation . i know most guys dont know ,dont have a clue how much force it is taking to push a bullet into the brass .

 

[MarkInPA]

my take on mandrels its done to size correct, but if the brass is not of the same hardness or even the same thickness its going to hold onto the brass differently . annealing has to be in the equation . i know most guys dont know ,dont have a clue how much force it is taking to push a bullet into the brass .

Not with my press I don't. All I can do is try and judge by feel.

 

[misser]

Not with my press I don't. All I can do is try and judge by feel.

you now get to spend more money LOL