Craig, inside neck reaming, while the case is confined inside a die, is the surest method of elininating "donuts". This is one of the "required" steps in making useful cases for the minimal capacity(45.5 Gr. water capacity) .30x284 cartridges used by a few HBR competitors. Some actually BORE the inside of the necks B4 finishing the neck wall thickness via outside turning - the necks are bored while the case is held captive in a die. George Myer has been shooting such a beast since before the 1997 NBRSA Hunter Nationals at Raton, NM. In this example, the main reason for boring/reaming the necks is to remove excess brass; once the shoulder of the .284 brass is moved back, the walls are often in excess of 0.020" thick! I believe T.K. Nollan bores the necks of his short .284 brass also. . .

The other faction guilty  ;)  of boring/reaming are the few devoted to the so called "fitted neck" - these folks try to produce a loaded-round neck diameter which provides about 0.0002" (or less) clearance when chambered. The theory is that the brass never requires sizing; fired cases are simply deprimed, reprimed, recharged and the bullet seated. The people with whom I have discussed the "fited neck" insist that either reaming or boring are NECESSARY - they state that without this step, case necks cannot be made to the required uniformity. Three "fitted neck" users whose names I can drop: Elzie Scott, Roland Potter and Greg Sweezey. The proponents also believe that a higher degree of precision is attainable via this method; I believe that's debatable.

Again, believers in both of the preceeding state that having a properly dimensioned reaming/boring DIE is critical to achieving the desired result. AND they avoid donuts like cops do squad cars (just checkin' on Todd here)!  ;)

In discussing "donuts" with people, they generally stated that, "reaming is the only way to get rid of them". I guess I'm lucky and have only rarely had to deal with them - further, so long as the bullet base (pressure-ring) does not enter the donut zone, I do not believe donuts affect precision. However, several TOP shooter will ARGUE that statement with me!

As for your situation - whatever you're doin', CHANGE your procedure immediately - it obviously doesn't work! ;) Are you wantin' t get uppity on us?  I was just awakened from peaceful slumber by the pathetic sobbing of BIG MIKE . . went down to the dungeon to check on him . . he was caught up in one of his "visions": dreaming [of] and SEEING the future . . . strangely, he asked me to inform YOU,  " Craig don't be needin' no new barrel for several years . . .  "not no new brass neither" . . and I thought HE was on my side . . . . .

Tell ya what, I'll trade BIG MIKE for Stoney! R.G.