Inside Neck Reaming

This is the inside neck reaming system I use - made by L.E. Wilson.

      I installed several T-Nuts in the top of my workbench.   Those T-Nuts provide steel threads for positioning a wide variety of shotgun presses and different reloading tools.   This method helps maintain an orderly reloading bench . . . . well, most of the time.

      I use the L.E. Wilson Neck "Trimmer", because it also does a great job of "inside" neck reaming.   I prefer to turn the "outside" of the case necks from any rifle with a "true" benchrest chamber.   However, for non-BR calibers, inside neck reaming removes the donut from inside (rear) of the case necks; and it does a great job of uniforming neck tension.   I almost never crimp rifle cases, because it can deform the bullet.   I prefer to use "tight" bullet tension - especially for AR rifles.   The AR-15 and AR-10 rifles chamber rounds with so much force, the inertia can pull bullets loose if the same round gets rechambered a few times.   Try it sometime . . . . but, be prepared to clean up a messy powder spill.

      I also use pin gauges to verify bullet tension.   For .224 caliber bullets, I use a .220" pin gauge and .220" reamer; and for .308 caliber, I use a .305" pin gauge and .305" reamer.   The pin gauges help determine how much to resize the outside of the case neck, and the same size reamer makes a smooth and consistent inside surface of your case neck.   If you can start the pin gauge into your case neck, the same size reamer will ensure the pin gauge will slip "all the way" through the case neck.   Be sure to use a VLD chamfer reamer on the case mouths, especially when using tight neck tension.   This minimizes downward pressure when seating bullets.   It avoids shaving bullets, and it also reduces case run-out.   Insert the correct pin gauge before adding powder.   Then, if the inside diameter of your case neck is correct, you can withdraw the pin gauge . . . . and hear a fairly loud "Pop".   That shows the inside of your case neck is perfectly smooth, and the neck ID is exactly known - according to the size of your pin gauge.

      I made the orange mounting plate from 1/2" aluminum plate.   The 2.5" round, white nylon "Hockey Puck" is used as a stationary anvil to keep from always reaching for a mallet to tap cases in and out of the Wilson case holders.   Please note, I DO NOT MANUFACTURE (OR SELL) THE ORANGE PLATE shown above.   Everything else here is available from L.E. Wilson or their network of dealers.