Dismissing neck turning while emphasizing mandrels is a huge mistake! Mandrels accurately shape the inside of the neck but if your neck wall thickness is inconsistent so will your neck tension be inconsistent!! If you want consistent neck tension using mandrels, you must have consistent neck wall thickness!! LOL...... Eric Cortina does it so I shall........ LOL!! Have you seen his equipment?? He uses an IDOD which is a mini lathe designed specifically to turn cartridge necks inside and out!! Do you know why he doesn't clean his brass?? He replaces it often and carbon inside the neck actually acts as a lubricant reducing seating force. You need a small fortune to do as Eric Cortina!!
You raise a good point, and I’m not dismissing neck turning, but like you said a small fortune is needed to literally load like Mr. EC and I haven’t made the leap into neck turning, still on the fence wether I want to or not. But I feel the mandrel still adds better control and consistency to sizing brass, and at $45 I think it’s a great value
Mandrel is a good start but you will not get full effect without consistent neck wall thickness. I currently use the RCBS unit because it is a cheap intro into neck turning and it works very well. I am planning to upgrade to the PMA Tools unit in the future. Can't afford the IDOD! I'm sure you know that a standard die has a button/mandrel that the neck is pulled through that works just a well as an actual mandrel, especially in the premium dies. The actual key to consistent neck tension IS the neck wall thickness! Cheers!! @@GHOSTGARAGE7
Dismissing neck turning while emphasizing mandrels is a huge mistake! Mandrels accurately shape the inside of the neck but if your neck wall thickness is inconsistent so will your neck tension be inconsistent!! If you want consistent neck tension using mandrels, you must have consistent neck wall thickness!! LOL...... Eric Cortina does it so I shall........ LOL!! Have you seen his equipment?? He uses an IDOD which is a mini lathe designed specifically to turn cartridge necks inside and out!! Do you know why he doesn't clean his brass?? He replaces it often and carbon inside the neck actually acts as a lubricant reducing seating force. You need a small fortune to do as Eric Cortina!!
You raise a good point, and I’m not dismissing neck turning, but like you said a small fortune is needed to literally load like Mr. EC and I haven’t made the leap into neck turning, still on the fence wether I want to or not. But I feel the mandrel still adds better control and consistency to sizing brass, and at $45 I think it’s a great value
Mandrel is a good start but you will not get full effect without consistent neck wall thickness. I currently use the RCBS unit because it is a cheap intro into neck turning and it works very well. I am planning to upgrade to the PMA Tools unit in the future. Can't afford the IDOD! I'm sure you know that a standard die has a button/mandrel that the neck is pulled through that works just a well as an actual mandrel, especially in the premium dies. The actual key to consistent neck tension IS the neck wall thickness! Cheers!! @@GHOSTGARAGE7
I’m definitely gonna have to look at getting a neck turning setup sounds like, appreciate the comments!