---
title: "How to Reload Ammo with Neck Bushings"
description: "You'll need bushing dies in order to use neck bushings. Here's what else you'll need, and how to improve the accuracy of your handloads with these."
date: "2018-05-04"
modified: "2021-04-20"
authors:
  - name: "John B. Snow"
    job_title: "Shooting Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/john-b-snow/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/how-to-reload-ammo-with-neck-bushings/"
categories:
  - "Ammo"
  - "Guns"
  - "Rifle Ammo"
---

# How to Reload Ammo with Neck Bushings

![ammo neck bushing size](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/GMTXQVV6V4AIRTHMUGVGA6BLFM.jpg>)
*Clint Ford*

Turn your necks to a uniform thickness. Use a neck-wall-thickness gauge to determine the thinnest dimension in your batch of brass, and turn the necks to that size. If your brass has minimal neck-thickness variation (.002 inch or less), you can skip this step.

![calculating neck bushing size](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/FD7RZ5J7YGBS4VRI2SRT2Y6W2M.jpg>)
*Make sure to calculate the correct bushing size. Clint Ford*

To figure out the correct bushing size, double your neck-wall thickness and add it to the bullet diameter. Then subtract .001 inch to arrive at the bushing size (e.g., a .308 with .014 inch case walls would take a .335 inch bushing). Or you can measure the outside neck diameter of several loaded cases and subtract .001 neck from the average.

**Read Next: [How to Build a Compact Reloading Bench](</blogs/gun-shots/diy-how-build-compact-reloading-bench/>)**

![resize ammo neck bushing](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/SNFDGAOITZ4AWWJBNRGJNNHDM4.jpg>)
*Be sure to chamfer case mouths. Clint Ford*

You’ll need bushing dies—available from all major die-makers—in order to use neck bushings. Be sure to chamfer case mouths and lubricate case necks before sizing. Should your cases show signs of getting tight in the chamber, run the brass through a full-length resizing die, which will also resize the neck, or, better yet, a body die, which will resize the brass without altering the neck.

## Author
John B. Snow is Shooting Editor of *Outdoor Life*, where he oversees the publication’s firearms and shooting coverage. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. Originally from Seattle, he has lived all over the country, crisscrossing it by car and truck no fewer than 10 times as he’s moved from one location to the next. Since 2010 he has lived in Bozeman, Montana where he currently resides with his bird dog, Roo.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-snow-7317423/%20>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/john_b_snow/>)