Neck splits

[Mr.Ktm]

Hello, very new to reloading. I know the basics (and plan to keep it basic), but feel like I’m drinking out of a firehouse to be honest. Have some good buddy’s that are pretty into it so I do have some good resources.

I have a pile of Hornady brass that came from my years of shooting factory ammo. So everything is only once fired/factory loaded. I was recently doing some full length sizing and after about 7 or 8 pieces of brass the press was “chattering” while sizing. I did another piece or two before I started to scratch my head. I was using sizing die wax and remembered I hadn’t lubed the mouth of the brass. Then I moved to my die, it was loose so I took it out sprayed it out with brake clean and re-installed per rcbs recommendations. Smooth sailing from there. After I did the remaining 93ish pieces, I moved on to clean primer pockets. As I was inspecting the brass I found 2 pieces that had splits in the neck. I’m assuming it was an issue I had during the press chattering? I lubed cases, cleaned and tighten die all before attempting again. So I’m not 100% sure what caused this. Or something unrelated?

I’ve asked around a bit but haven’t gotten a real good answer as to what may have caused this issue. Hoping this is an easy fix and one of the many things I plan to learn during the reloading journey.

 

[Sadie]

Try the graphite powder imperial neck lube. Two cases, could have been the cases or maybe the lack of lube but I've never had that happen. Do you know how far you are pushing your case shoulders back. Some of the manufacturers die set up instructions are wrong. What cartridge are you loading for and where those cases fired in an autoloader? Sizing die wax and royal case and die lube are the 2 best I've used in almost 60 years of doing this. The only time I ever stuck a case in a sizing die I was trying our the spray lube.

 

[Sadie]

If you don't have them you need a bullet comparator and a shoulder comparator and a set of Redding competition shell holders for your cartridge will make your life so much easier.

 

[PlumberED]

Split necks on once-fired Hornady brass are usually not caused by a loose die, but the press chattering was likely caused by the expander ball dragging through dry necks. A little sizing lube or. dry neck lube (graphite, powdered mica, Imperial dry neck lube, etc.) on the inside of the necks can make sizing much smoother and reduce stress on the brass.

In my experience, split necks are most often the result of brass that is work-hardened or brass that had a manufacturing defect to begin with. While it’s uncommon on once-fired brass, it does happen occasionally.

When I started getting split necks in some Winchester .22-250 brass after 5-6 firings, annealing completely solved the problem and actually tightened up my groups as well.

If only 2 out of 100 pieces split, I’d discard them and keep an eye on the rest. If more necks start splitting after another firing or two, then I’d look at annealing or possibly excessive neck sizing.

Also, if you’re using a conventional sizing die with an expander ball, make sure the inside of the necks are lubricated. The chatter you felt is usually the expander dragging as it’s pulled back through the neck. That’s annoying and can increase runout, but by itself it typically doesn’t cause neck splits in otherwise good once-fired brass.