Full Length or Neck Size

[Painless300]

Guys I need some help, I am have a 300 Win Mag built, Stiller, Bartlein #3, Timney, Rem Spring Btm Metal and McMillian Sporter Edge. It will be used 90% hunting, but I really will enjoy stretching it out. I already reload for a Surgeon Bench gun where I only Full Length Size every 3rd firing but I am afraid to neck size for this hunting rifle, last thing I want is no follow up shot because of a stuck case.

Am I thinking right??

I like Redding Dies but which one would you recommend? (Hunting Dies?)

 

[Asperly Aimless]

Fl size.

Best die: Whatever is on sale. More issues com from the guy pulling the handle than with the actual equipment. If you get a truly defective die, then the manufacturers replace them.

 

[JB02]

IMO, you should always FL size your brass by bumping the shoulder back ~ 0.002".

Any dies will do. RCBS, Hornady, Redding, etc. What you need is a headspace gauge you can stick on a micrometer.

 

[Painless300]

I have the headspace gauge, thanks, that was another question I had was how far to bump the shoulder back, didn't know if that would effect reliability. .002 is what I use on my bench gun.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

FL and go back .002ish from fired brass. Done.

 

[Painless300]

Thanks guys

 

[427Cobra]

Yes only FL size, those who NS only are idiots IMHO, sorry to say it but it's true, the best shooters in the World all FL size everytime, including David Tubb and Mike Stinnet(100 yard recond holder), the days of NS only are far past, get yourself a headspace gauge(I use the Hornady and recommend it) and bump your shoulders .001-.0015 for bolt actions and .003 for semi autos, the loaded rounds will chamber each and every time, and because sizing is done at the very least decent brass will last a long time, where as those who NS only come to the point where the cases need to be FL sized, that WILL change the accuracy of said loaded rounds.

 

[RRW]

If you are only bumping the shoulders back .002 is that still considered a FL size meaning you can shoot it in any SAAMI spec chamber in that caliber. I was under the impression a FL sized case can be fired in any rifle for that caliber, for example when guys get once fired brass from another rifle to shoot in their own , they FL size initially for it to properly chamber in their rifle.

 

[dcnyli]

i was under the impression that after you FL size a new case and fire it, it basically fire forms to your specific chamber and I would be able to trim&neck size 2-3 times before FL sizing again, thus working the brass less…..

**please forgive my neophyte post if it's ignorant, I am still learning**

 

[SWThomas]

Good gouge. I was wondering them same thing.

 

[mdmp5]

i was under the impression that after you FL size a new case and fire it, it basically fire forms to your specific chamber and I would be able to trim&neck size 2-3 times before FL sizing again, thus working the brass less…..

**please forgive my neophyte post if it's ignorant, I am still learning**

You are not working the brass less by neck sizing and then fl sizing every few firings. When done properly, fl sizing every time with minimal shoulder bump doesn't work the brass much at all. If you wait to fl size the brass after multiple firings, the brass is worked more in one step. Remember, you are also sizing the body, which grows with each firing.

 

[dcnyli]

Right, but once it grows to fit your specific chamber it will seal better when firing correct? And unless your FL die is custom to your chamber that seal would be less after sizing no? Better seal=better accuracy ?

 

[Painless300]

You can index off the shoulder when FL sizing which means you are still sizing your brass for a tight fit to your rifles chamber which may not fit another rifle. Just because your full length sizing doesn't mean your within SAAMI specs. I just didn't realize that so many competition shooters were FL sizing every time.

 

[softcock]

I would not worry at all . Just Necksize only as usual for hunting . Your build sounds quality anyway & you sound chamber cut. head spaced off the Shoulders .
Also / Plenty of natural tapper in the .300 WM Case Body . Only time really need to body bump or full-size (if necessary) maybe is with the straighter wall cases. I used to body bump with a wilson die on my 6BR with neck size but, I 'Never Need' , on my 300wm .

I usually just Run the Brass in my .300 wm to the death with an Annealing after about 4 firings But I dont run the ragged edge with the Vel. or pressure . My winmag is a hammer .
Most times I don't even full size after the Annealing and just Necksize only and keep on shooting it . Never Have Any Brass sticking problems or tight Handles closing or extracting . So if it already proves accurate then go with it for hunting .
.

 

[Painless300]

How far do you bump the neck back?

 

[softcock]

I run the sizer bushing over the Neck about 90% of the Neck length . The 300wm got a short Neck for a Mag. Cal Case in it's design .
Unlike , 308win. where I only neck less than 75% & get plenty of hold & neck tension.
-

 

[shoot4fun]

On 300WM the belt, in regards to head spacing, becomes a concern after a few firings. I FL size with a Redding S Type die every time and, about every third firing, I run them thru the Larry Willis Innovative Technology die to bring the area just ahead of the belt into SAAMI spec(since the FL die will not do that). May be overkill but it provides me with reliable and accurate ammo for match or hunting.