I know guys who just neck size fired brass from there rifle cause they say it is now shaped to there chamber. Then I know some who full length size along with neck size after every firing. Any thoughts on pros and cons for either?
Full length sizing or not
- Thread starter scootball
- Start date
there are many guys on here more experienced than I. with that said I have always full length sized everything because, up until now, I have only loaded for semi auto. I am researching neck sizing only dies as well as shoulder bump dies for my bolt gun. it is supposed to greatly extend the life of the brass. I don't know if it really does anything for accuracy but somebody else can talk to that.
I full length size everything everytime. Boltgun and gasgun both get FL resized. I am not a benchrest shooter, so I don't go chasing benchrest size groups. My rifles will shoot between 0.3 to 0.6 MOA (depending on the rifle) so I don't think I am at a practical accuracy disadvantage. Reliability is important to me, and I feel that the FL sizing gives me an advantage there. Others may feel differently...
FL sizing is always recommended for semi-auto and when the cartridge may be used in multiple rifles of any kind. Oversimplified, a tight fit may cause feed problems in a semi-auto, as well as feed problems in a bolt action of a slightly different size.
Neck sizing reduces the stress placed on the brass and lengthens its life. It also capitalizes on the near-perfect fit of brass returned to the bolt action it was fired from.
Neck sizing reduces the stress placed on the brass and lengthens its life. It also capitalizes on the near-perfect fit of brass returned to the bolt action it was fired from.
Yeah I'm no know it all either but I think if you do not full length size for your bolt gun that does not mean you never do. I think after so many cycles of neck sizing or neck & shoulder bump sizing you should do a full length sizing every so often, like every fourth time or something? I've read that from folks a few times here. But I just load rifle for my .308 semi so what do I know for sure?
But I've got a bad itch for a slick bolt gun, .243 I'm thinking...
But I've got a bad itch for a slick bolt gun, .243 I'm thinking...
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The most accurate chamber gage you will ever own is your own rifles chamber and the brass that was fired in it. So when do you FL resize??
1) For gas guns every time I FL resize
2) When ever you own more than one rifle of the same caliber; every time I FL resize. I don't take chances of rounds not fitting both rifles. Also if your reloading for somebody else and you don't have the rifle in front of you, then you must FL resize.
3) For singelton bolt guns I only FL resize when the fired brass no longer fits, and then I FL resize only enough to get all the fired brass to chamber easily. On average brass that has been fired 4-5 times usually needs some measure FL resizing. I don't worry about 0.001 or .002 bumping, I just FL resize in increments until all the brass fits.
Yes, this is time consuming, you have to chamber and rechamber every piece of brass. But doing so will increase to your brass life, and may increase your accuracy.
Every rifle chamber is different from every other one. Loads vary in pressure. FL dies differ from another set in critical dimensions as compared to your chamber. There are no set rules, however, the only infallible standard is your rifles own chamber, it will always tell you when it's enough is enough.
1) For gas guns every time I FL resize
2) When ever you own more than one rifle of the same caliber; every time I FL resize. I don't take chances of rounds not fitting both rifles. Also if your reloading for somebody else and you don't have the rifle in front of you, then you must FL resize.
3) For singelton bolt guns I only FL resize when the fired brass no longer fits, and then I FL resize only enough to get all the fired brass to chamber easily. On average brass that has been fired 4-5 times usually needs some measure FL resizing. I don't worry about 0.001 or .002 bumping, I just FL resize in increments until all the brass fits.
Yes, this is time consuming, you have to chamber and rechamber every piece of brass. But doing so will increase to your brass life, and may increase your accuracy.
Every rifle chamber is different from every other one. Loads vary in pressure. FL dies differ from another set in critical dimensions as compared to your chamber. There are no set rules, however, the only infallible standard is your rifles own chamber, it will always tell you when it's enough is enough.
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When you realize that neck sizing dates back to the 50's BR scene, and that it has had its ass whooped by FL sizing in competition after competition, and people who neck size are adamant about their reasons for neck sizing, then you will realize that this argument is a vicious circle, that will never be settled and never end. I have done both on and off for many years, I find all the arguments to neck size, debunked by proper FL die setup and proper annealing. I have found neck sizing to be no more accurate than proper FL sizing, sometimes less accurate.
Use a full length bushing die. Best of both worlds. You can bump the shoulder back .001-002", which you should have a tool to measure this as you don't want to bump too much and stretch your brass which can lead to head case seperations, and be able to adjust your neck tension independent of the neck thickness variations between different brass by just using a different bushing. I like .002" of neck tension for non magnum rounds and .003" for magnum and semi autos.
I would really be interested in how you debunked an argument that will never be settled?? Nor will I argue that "proper" FL die setup and proper annealing is an inferior approach. But I will say that fewer than 10 in 100 reloaders have any concept of "proper" FL die setup, much less annealing. There are far more reloaders that have only the basic tools, and only a elementary understanding of headspace et al. There is no one size fits all solution. However, if you don't understand what your own rifles chamber is telling you ie: the brass fits or it does not, and then resize it until it just does, your doing yourself a disservice.
Well you and I certainly agree that few people know how to properly set up a FL die. I see your point Bob, I do.
I would suggest trying both to see what YOUR rifle likes. I was convinced that neck sizing was the way to go as far as accuracy, and I wanted neck sizing to be good for my rifle so I could save brass. I was surprised, though, that all else being equal, my rifle actually shoots full length sized better (custom bolt action). I'd rather have an edge on accuracy than extend the life of the brass, so now I only full length size for that rifle. I've also heard that some match rifles even do best with small base dies. It just depends.
