Neck tension question - .223

[TexasShooter59]

I've been reading up on neck tension lately, but I am a little confused about how to measure it. I realize it is measured as a dimension and not a force. Can you get the measurement you want by sizing a case (either FL or neck), measuring the neck, then seating a bullet and remeasuring? Is that all there is to it? (I'm not running bushing dies, just checking the tension produced by my Lee dies.)

Secondary question: at what location on the neck do you take the measurement?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Neck tension is usually quantified/repeated via before and after sizing/seating measurements, given a certain brand of brass and mouth thickness. I'm probably way off but that's my understanding.
This is all corroborated by taking a bathroom scale and jousting a dummy round into it and noting the pounds of force required before movement. If memory serves, 60 lbs for a .223 is plenty for about anything.

 

[plunge]

i just push the bullet on my bench and make sure it doesnt slide inside the case.

 

[USSR]

Can you get the measurement you want by sizing a case (either FL or neck), measuring the neck, then seating a bullet and remeasuring? Is that all there is to it?

Yep, that's pretty much it. I like .001" to .002" for boltguns, and .002" to .003" for autoloaders.

Don

 

[fguffey]

Texas Shooter, I am a fan of bullet hold, I can measure bullet hold, neck tension is a crush/interference fit, crush/interference is a difference between two measurements, and if the ability of the neck to hold a bullet is to be determined, as you say force must be determined. Reloaders love saying the terms ‘bump’ and ‘neck tension’, to me bump sounds like an accident, I have not found a way to train my dies to be specific as in only contacting the shoulder, when my dies contact the shoulder of the case the complete die is contacting the complete case, anyhow bullet hold is measured in pounds, and there is no conversion from bullet hold to neck tension.

F. Guffey

 

[gamestalker]

There really is no need to get technical about determining neck tension. If you can't move it when pressing it against the bench without having to use excessive force, your good to go.
On the other hand, as long as you aren't belling the mouths, which there should really be no need to be doing, your necks will be properly sized when running through the FL or neck die. Measuring could cause you some real frustration because of the inconsistencies of brass thickness.

 

[TexasShooter59]

Thanks for all the replies - that answers it for me!

 

[kingmt]

If the ID of the brass is the same as the OD of the bullet you will have a crush fit. The state of the brass will determine how much tention there is but isn't that important. If you measure just behind the mouth before seating a bullet then again after any amount of difference will tell you that you have a crush fit.

The thin brass neck won't benefit from much difference. It will just resize the neck.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I watch Oprah and my neck gets all tensed up.

 

[NCsmitty]

I watch Oprah and my neck gets all tensed up.

A nasty case of liberalitis. It may be terminal if you continue to watch.


NCsmitty