Checking neck inside diameter and calculating neck tension just got easier! We’ll check out Forster’s new Neck Tension Gage Kit in this story.
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About Forster’s Neck Tension Gage (NTG)
While at SHOT Show 2022 we were able to preview the prototype kit. What he have in shop now, is the finished shipping product! Here’s a snip from the Forster product page.
From the Forster Product Page:
Use the Neck Tension Gage (NTG) as an inspection tool to quickly and accurately screen/sort a batch of brass before your bullet seating operation.
Each NTG provides reloaders with the information needed to create exacting neck tensions during the bullet seating operation.
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- Use after case neck sizing and before bullet seating to help determine optimal inside neck diameter for consistent release of a bullet from your reloaded rounds.
- Allows for inspection of the inside diameters of case necks to be sure a “donut” has not formed at the neck-shoulder junction.
This kit includes all five calibers available. Each Neck Tension Gage (NTG) Inspection Tool consists of four stepped diameters that increase in size until reaching the handle. Each diameter is etched on the metal tool.
Simply insert the stepped end of the tool into the neck of your sized case, sliding it in until one of the diameters achieves a slip fit in the case neck. Use the resulting value to fine-tune your case preparation.
The Forster Neck Tension Gage kit comes setup for the following calibers:
- 22 caliber
- 6mm
- 6.5mm
- 7mm
- 30 caliber
How to Use the Neck Tension Gage
You’ll want to get a consistent neck diameter on your case before using the Neck Tension Gage. So it’s a good idea to Mandrel Size.
Here, we’re using the LE Wilson Expanding Mandrel Die:
Once the neck is uniform, you can insert the gage into the neck until it stops!
Your inside neck diameter is between the last gauge pin the neck went over, and the one it stopped against.
Example: In the image above, the inside neck diameter is between 0.262″ and 0.263″.
Get the Gear
The Neck Tension Gage Kit is now available from Forster, see first link here:
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Thanks,
Gavin Gear