Need Help With Hornady Neck Turner

[markr6754]

I finally got my Hornady Neck Trimmer to use for my .300 AAC Blackout reloading. Not because I’m accuracy focused...but because I have some salvaged 5.56 cases. After processing and loading they won’t fit in my PSA barrel, as the brass is too thick at the neck.

Here’s where it gets challenging...the cases won’t fit on the 30 cal mandrel for the neck trimmer.

I’ve cut, formed and sized, trimmed, chamfered, and deburred these cases, only to find the neck openings are too small to fit onto the mandrel....so I can’t even get them close to the cutter, let alone do any cutting. They fit just fine on the 30 cal pilot for the Hornady Cam Lock Case Trimmer, though they had to be chamfered to slip on, but that’s as far as I can go.

The case necks readily take a bullet, even a 220gr Lapua Scenar L BTHP, but then the rounds won’t fit a case gauge, either. Is there another preparation step I’ve missed?

 

[JeffG]

I have the same trimmer. unless you can find a way to size the inside of the neck, you might be stuck. For your operation, I think you want to inside neck ream to reduce neck thickness. You can try backing the die off so only the expander ball goes into the case, without sizing the neck; go gentle.
Neck reaming usually is in conjuction with a trimmer, sometimes you have to buy a whole new trimmer to run it. Forster, Wilson are the most popular. Here is an example: https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00070nr1308/inside-neck-reamer-(point308-diameter)

 

[lightman]

I've never used the Hornady tool but I do turn case necks for several rifles. I use a die from Sinclair with an expansion mandrel that expands the neck to the correct size to fit the turning mandrel.

 

[Walkalong]

I've never used the Hornady tool but I do turn case necks for several rifles. I use a die from Sinclair with an expansion mandrel that expands the neck to the correct size to fit the turning mandrel.

Bingo.

They have expander mandrels and neck turning mandrels, get one to match up well with the mandrel on the neck turner form Hornady.

 

[SummitTech]

The sinclair setup is great! Also if not in your toolbox a ball micrometer is very helpful

 

[Allen One1]

On the Hornady case trimmer it is important to load the case properly. Slip the case into the shell holder, do not tighten, slide the cutter into the case mouth then tighten the locking lever. This will assure correct alignment of the shell casing. If you tighten the shell holder first it can be very hard to insert the cutter.

 

[markr6754]

Appreciate the responses. It appears to be another tidbit of tribal knowledge that the neck turning folks fail to mention. When all these folks talk about “How to convert .223 Rem/5.56 Nato brass to .300 AAC Blackout” they reallly should mention opening the case neck first.

This is what I elected to go with as a solution.

https://kmshooting.com/neck-turning-tools/neck-turners/expand-mandrels/expand-mandrels.html

I’m starting to realize how much genuine .300 Blackout brass I could have bought with the money I’ve spent on tools to adapt “free brass”, but just a tad too late.

 

[markr6754]

On the Hornady case trimmer it is important to load the case properly. Slip the case into the shell holder, do not tighten, slide the cutter into the case mouth then tighten the locking lever. This will assure correct alignment of the shell casing. If you tighten the shell holder first it can be very hard to insert the cutter.

Sorry that I misled you...I have no issue with the Hornady Cam Lock Case Trimmer. It’s the Hornady Neck TURNER that’s giving me fits. I said neck trimmer in the post and title, which was an error.

Thanks for the tips on case trimming. I’ve also found that if I do a quick chamfer on the mouth the tight cases fit much easier. I also put a drop of lubricant on the pilot every 15-20 cases. Seems to help.

 

[edwardware]

It might be a bit late. . . but if you're just a bit careful chosing headstamps, you won't need to turn necks. That's a lot of work if you're not chasing the last half-MOA.

http://www.massreloading.com/300BLK.html

 

[markr6754]

It might be a bit late. . . but if you're just a bit careful chosing headstamps, you won't need to turn necks. That's a lot of work if you're not chasing the last half-MOA.

http://www.massreloading.com/300BLK.html

A helpful response is never “too” late. I’m an information sponge as regards .300 AAC Blackout. It is a fun cartridge, and the first one to induce me to invest in rifle shooting. I’m a handgun fan, primarily 1911s. Nonetheless, the idea that I could build my own AR, and then another if I didn’t like the first...that is knowledge my wife wished I’d never acquired.

Regarding MOA....I’m not even a 15 MOA shooter. One could say I truly suck at long range shooting, and should never touch a rifle again. But who cares what “one” says? I’m having fun...and I’m spending my kids’ inheritance in a fun and exciting way.

 

[Walkalong]

This is what I elected to go with as a solution.

https://kmshooting.com/neck-turning-tools/neck-turners/expand-mandrels/expand-mandrels.html

K&M makes good stuff.

 

[Blue68f100]

They have more sizes than on that general page. They have them where you can spec what size you want and they custom make them for your particular use. K&M has good stuff. All my neck turning setup is buy them. You can also use the carbide cutting pilots to remove the internal donut if have one, accours when the body /shoulder thickness is heavier than the original neck
. https://kmshooting.com/neck-turning-tools/neck-turners/carbide-cutting-pilots.html

 

[markr6754]

They have more sizes than on that general page. They have them where you can spec what size you want and they custom make them for your particular use. K&M has good stuff. All my neck turning setup is buy them. You can also use the carbide cutting pilots to remove the internal donut if have one, accours when the body /shoulder thickness is heavier than the original neck
. https://kmshooting.com/neck-turning-tools/neck-turners/carbide-cutting-pilots.html

Thanks for that response...I read about the donut and had no idea what they were talking about. Glad you answered that...I’ll have to check for some YouTube vids to see if anyone recorded using the K&M tools and removed donuts. Don’t know if my brass has donuts or not.