Neck Tension for hunting precision

[bazzturd]

I'm moving away from using a bushing die with an expander ball. Currently, I use a Forster full-length bushing sizing die, but I plan to remove the expander entirely. I already decap on a separate press, and I'm looking at purchasing a 21st Century mandrel die body along with a few mandrels.

My question is regarding neck tension and what most experienced reloaders consider the practical range for precision and hunting applications.

For my hunting load, I was considering using a mandrel that's 0.002" under bullet diameter. The cartridge is a 6.5 Creedmoor (go easy on me) shooting the 127-grain LRX. I use Lapua brass, which tends to have slightly thicker neck walls.

For those of you running a bushing-and-mandrel setup, how much neck tension do you prefer for hunting ammunition? Do any of you go as light as 0.001", or is 0.002"–0.003" generally considered a better balance between precision and bullet retention?

For match ammunition, I was planning to try 0.001" neck tension. I'd be interested to hear what others have found works best and whether you've noticed any meaningful differences in consistency or accuracy across that range.

 

[T_Widdy]

.261 mandrel for everything, it doesn’t matter and you don’t want the bullet falling out or getting pushed in

 

[justin davis]

Just depends I guess. I my 6.5 prc .004” NT shot better (tighter groups) than .001 or .002

 

[Quandary]

I run a mandrel that is .002 under bullet width for every caliber I load regardless of use.