K & M Neck Turners and Expanders

[Mr. Farknocker]

I've recently turned to neck turning as a means of resolving a problem I have with chambering reformed brass and have a few questions about the K & M Neck Turners and Expanders:

1. K&M offers carbide cutting pilots, non-carbide cutting pilots and steel pilots. I'm assuming this is the pilot that the is inserted into the neck of the case when the neck is turned. What's the difference between the three and when would you use one and not the other? Are the cutting pilots designed to remove the donut formed around the inside of the neck?

2. I'm neck turning cases for the 7.65x53mm Argentine Mauser. The standard round used is the .303 (.311). The slugged bore for this rifle, however, measures a generous .3175" so I'm using a 8mm (.324") cast bullet sized down to .319". I'd like to expand the neck of the round to .317" or so to minimize the crushing of the bullet when the bullet is seated. The literature I've seen so far indicates that you are supposed to neck size the brass before turning the neck. How do you do that for my application when K&M only offers standard size pilots (.30 or .311) and expanders ? Do you use the standard expanders and pilots, turn the neck and then use a neck expander to expand the neck to .317?

BTW, if you see anything screwy with what I'm trying to do with neck sizing, please don't hesitate to let me know.

 

[Blue68f100]

I did a lot of my brass when it was new, unfired. Then I had to run the expander through to get the right size for the pilot. Like with Brass if you go carbide you normally don't need to lube. Though they recommend it during the trimming process. All depends on how far you want to trim the necks. If you neck size you will remove less brass from the necks, shorter distance. If you FL size you have the option of turning the whole neck or just the section your going to size. I would use the expander that does the least amount of working of the necks. Now you do not need to take the necks thickness further down than <0.001-0.0005". The more you remove the more you will have to reduce during sizing. Depending on your application using a internal reamer may be abetter option. These are available in most any size at 0.0005" increments or less.

I would try to keep the wall thickness around 0.014" - 0.015" if at all possible. You will end up with a heaver neck for holding the bullet. Once you get down to 0.012? or less you start loosing neck tension .

 

[farmerboy78]

K&m has a die that expands the brass out so the pilots will fit a uniform inside neck diameter. Then, you turn the neck down to a uniform thickness. Its mainly used for tight benchrest chambers and when brass is reformed to another caliber. I use one for my 6.5-06 and 22 middlestead. Get the adapter to use a cordless drill, it will cut so much smoother and the brass will look much better.

 

[Offfhand]

The K&M neck turning tools are not the best, but good quality and value for the money. By all means buy the carbide pilots and, as suggested above, a power accessory is certainly worthwhile. Since the K&M tools are inexpensive I find it time saved to buy several in different calibers rather that be bothered with switching pilots and resetting a single tool. Attached are photos of a couple different power arrangements with the K&M...