Neck splitting when necking up.

[cr500]

I have tried to neck up a few older Remington 221 cases in multiple stages, but have been getting split necks at 7mm to 308 size. Does every one hereanneal brass or is it just my brass? Any secrets to necking up without splitting necks?

[tp555]

Virgin 221 brass is very soft a bit too soft.Your problem is work hardened brass.
Try the annealing.

[justshoot]

..."Virgin 221 brass is very soft a bit too soft."
.
HUuuuh ? Virgin (new) brass is Soft and that is good ? New soft and pliable is good ? right ?

I think, He said he is using older brass and that might be the problem.
(Is He Saying ???) It has been shot a few times ?
If so that is most likely the culprit and Anneal like you are saying or just buy some new brass.

I don't Neck-Up. I have been getting excellent results by cutting my .223 brass off @ 1.40 on the Lathe and just Necking-Down to .30 with only just one quick stroke on the Die. Using a little lube inside and very lightly outside. then a little quick trim and chamfer.
I have 'Never' had a split neck once. but the day is still young and I am doing a 100 more up today. ...:wink: so we will see.
Plus, One stoke, to neck-down is less stress and work hardening to the new brass too.
No need to bump from .22 to 7mm to .30 when doing size up. but I got a small Lathe and it helps when cutting off the new brass.
I have done a few hundred brass this week and I got to say. "Cutting off the brass to size is a PITA !" . I wish they just sold brass that was already cut off and ready to size. Half the work would already be done ...:frown: . I could bust-out a lot more finished sized brass that way and much less effort.
.

[tp555]

I bought 1000 cases of new 221 brass.In forming the neck i had a few crush.I was doing it in one shot.I used 223 cases also. I found after about 5 reloads the case separates at the shoulder remaining in the chamber.It came out easily with a wire brush,but now I anneal after cutting down to 1.4".regards.

[cr500]

Well, I bought another 100 Remington cases and necked them all up in 2 passes, no problems. The other brass I tried hadnt been fired before, but was pretty old, sitting in my cupbourd for years.
This new lot all necked up. I am wondering if the shoulders will come off after 5 reloads as you have found?

[notenoughguns]

..."Virgin 221 brass is very soft a bit too soft."
.
HUuuuh ? Virgin (new) brass is Soft and that is good ? New soft and pliable is good ? right ?

I think, He said he is using older brass and that might be the problem.
(Is He Saying ???) It has been shot a few times ?
If so that is most likely the culprit and Anneal like you are saying or just buy some new brass.

I don't Neck-Up. I have been getting excellent results by cutting my .223 brass off @ 1.40 on the Lathe and just Necking-Down to .30 with only just one quick stroke on the Die. Using a little lube inside and very lightly outside. then a little quick trim and chamfer.
I have 'Never' had a split neck once. but the day is still young and I am doing a 100 more up today. ...:wink: so we will see.
Plus, One stoke, to neck-down is less stress and work hardening to the new brass too.
No need to bump from .22 to 7mm to .30 when doing size up. but I got a small Lathe and it helps when cutting off the new brass.
I have done a few hundred brass this week and I got to say. "Cutting off the brass to size is a PITA !" . I wish they just sold brass that was already cut off and ready to size. Half the work would already be done ...:frown: . I could bust-out a lot more finished sized brass that way and much less effort.
.
Buy a length trim die from midway , install in a old single ram press or a cheap Lee , put 223 brass in die , cut off with with hacksaw , trim with file , trim to length in trimmer ( trim die makes cases about .04 to long ) then run through fl sizing die as normal Takes about 30 sec a piece . no lube needed in trim die ,slick as sh!#