Neck sizing vs FL sizing

[SDGator]

I'm just getting started on reloading and I'm reading back through a bunch of threads on the 6.5 creed reloading forum, and it seems like at least circa 5-10 years ago neck sizing with a shoulder bump of .001 to .002 was the recommended practice.

Searching around elsewhere, in the last 2- 3 years there seem to be some folks going back to full length sizing.

What are you all doing currently? And where should a beginner start?

 

[SDGator]

Also, I've seen the Bump vs FL sizing sticky, but it seems to be corrupted or something, at least for me.

 

[Steel head]

Almost all of the time if you’re bumping the shoulder your also full length sizing.
So both methods you describe are in fact full length sizing.
If your just getting started I’d recommend full length sizing, neck sizing is pretty easy but it’s easy to have issues pop up if you don’t have a good base knowledge.

 

[Alabusa]

F/l sizing while bumping the shoulders .002 is just more consistent than neck sizing and doesn't over work the brass.

I was neck sozing with f/l size every few firings. I tried f/l sizing with shoulder bump and actually saw a small improvement in my groups. Now I always f/l bump size.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

I always FL Resize and then resize the neck with a bushing die to get the exact neck tension. Be meticulous until you learn which things work and which do not help you.

VooDoo

 

[MtnCreek]

As @Steel head was saying, full length and bumping the shoulder is the same thing. What's referred to as bumping the shoulder is full length sizing with a properly setup die.

 

[Rick 10X]

If you run a full length die and bump the shoulder then yes that is a full length sizing but I use a die that only bumps the shoulder and doesn’t touch the base. This is what I call a shoulder bump. Used with a neck collet it is very effective for accuracy but less effective for rapid reloads as it can require additional force to chamber the round as the base diameter swells. I would recommend a full length resize with higher pressure loads and looser chambers to avoid any cambering issue.

 

[mildot326]

I'm just getting my feet wet in reloading as well with 300WM, that said, if you're starting with new brass, are you F/L resizing from then on each time you reload? & how does that affect the life span of the brass? , is there time where you need to perform the "shoulder bump"? Thanks

 

[straightshooter1]

I neck size my brass first with a Lee Collet Die then bump the shoulders .002 with a Forster Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die without the bushing for sizing so it only bumps the shoulders.

I'll FL size without an expander ball my virgin brass as well as after the first firing using an expander mandrel to set the neck tension I want.

 

[TheBoctor]

I'm just getting my feet wet in reloading as well with 300WM, that said, if you're starting with new brass, are you F/L resizing from then on each time you reload? & how does that affect the life span of the brass? , is there time where you need to perform the "shoulder bump"? Thanks

The body of the brass doesn’t get worked that hard during the FL sizing process. And most are bumping the shoulder back every shot, some are only neck sizing every shot and bumping or the shoulder or FL sizing every 3 shots or so. If you anneal every 3rd or 4th shot, you really won’t see any reduction in brass life.

 

[Jordanwickham]

If you are just starting out I would advise FL sizing. With FL sizing you want to bump .001-.002 ( for bolt guns. .004 for gas) each time. Very important to get the tools required to know your headspace (bump). Too little adjustment (generally what your die instructions lead you to do) on your die actually reduces your headspace, too much adjustment and you will have an excessive headspace leading to head separations. As stated before neck sizing and not really knowing what's going on will get you jammed up right around firing 4 on brass.
As far as virgin brass it will never be smaller than virgin but you do need to do something with the mouth whether it be running the expander button through if that's all you have or preferably an expander mandrel since there may be little dings and the neck tension on virgin brass is absurd (~.259 on .264 brass).

Hopefully the headspace part makes sense. Say you fire your virgin brass and it expands to 1.557, if you just throw your die in and set it up like most instructions tell you to when you size that piece of brass it will most likely elongate to 1.559 or so. You want to be back at 1.555 or 1.556. Too much die adjustment will take it to say 1.553 and after a few to several firings of this and the base or your brass will separate from the rest of the body which is a very bad day.
These measurements being taken with a headspace comparator.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Just FL size. Except for those that really just want to save time, there is no reason to neck size only.

The accuracy and brass life myths have been debunked time and time again.

 

[Jordanwickham]

Just FL size. Except for those that really just want to save time, there is no reason to neck size only.

The accuracy and brass life myths have been debunked time and time again.

^

 

[Devlin]

 

[Steel head]

Just FL size. Except for those that really just want to save time, there is no reason to neck size only.

The accuracy and brass life myths have been debunked time and time again.

Both methods work but you need to know the limitations.

If I neck size till cases start getting tight I do see an extreme spread increase trend.
Same can happen if your FL sizing but not annealing enough.

I see absolutely no difference in accuracy.

I now only neck size once then FL on the next cycle on my 7mm at the most, at the distances I’m shooting it It doesn’t pay out being lazy.

 

[Jordanwickham]

Both methods work but you need to know the limitations.

If I neck size till cases start getting tight I do see an extreme spread increase trend.
Same can happen if your FL sizing but not annealing enough.

I see absolutely no difference in accuracy.

I now only neck size once then FL on the next cycle on my 7mm at the most, at the distances I’m shooting it It doesn’t pay out being lazy.

Are you doing a bare shoulder bump on your neck size? Or just neck sizing? I ask because it seems between NS one firing and FL the next doesn't that make a slight inconsistency? Do you just know that there will be a change and compensate for that?

 

[Steel head]

Are you doing a bare shoulder bump on your neck size? Or just neck sizing? I ask because it seems between NS one firing and FL the next doesn't that make a slight inconsistency? Do you just know that there will be a change and compensate for that?

Just neck sizing.
I don’t have any changes with just one neck sizing In that rifle but I definitely do see ES climb if I try to mimic my 260 regimen which is neck sizing 3 times then a FL sizing.
I’m ok with a SD of 10 with my 260 now but I want better than that for the 7mm’s purpose.

One thing to keep in mind, if your up there in pressures neck sizing successfully becomes difficult.

it’s taken me years to learn what I can and cannot get away with.

If you want easy consistency I’d recommend just FL sizing every time and push shoulder back a thou or two.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Are you doing a bare shoulder bump on your neck size? Or just neck sizing? I ask because it seems between NS one firing and FL the next doesn't that make a slight inconsistency? Do you just know that there will be a change and compensate for that?

No more than virgin vs fired inconsistency. Won’t add up to matter enough when shooting steel. Other disciplines it may very well.

As long as it’s recreational shooting, meh, doesn’t matter. When it’s competition or hunting and feeding will kill you, it matters.

 

[Steel head]

No more than virgin vs fired inconsistency. Won’t add up to matter enough when shooting steel. Other disciplines it may very well.

As long as it’s recreational shooting, meh, doesn’t matter. When it’s competition or hunting and feeding will kill you, it matters.

I agree.
I would 100% FL size for both hunting or competition.

Also if your pressure is jacked up neck sizing will Jsck your ES up.
Various levels of case tightness in chamber respond just like various levels of neck tension.
If you feel resistance when chambering on a case it will affect speeds

With 1 cycle of neck sizing I get no tight cases but I run reasonable pressures in that rifle

 

[Jordanwickham]

I agree.
I would 100% FL size for both hunting or competition.

Also if your pressure is jacked up neck sizing will Jsck your ES up.
Various levels of case tightness in chamber respond just like various levels of neck tension.
If you feel resistance when chambering on a case it will affect speeds

With 1 cycle of neck sizing I get no tight cases but I run reasonable pressures in that rifle

I suppose any inconsistency would also hinge on how custom the chambering is. I've found that neck sizing on my factory 7mm chamber ( which is a pretty sloppy chamber) leads to issues within a few firings. With a custom chamber your neck sized and FL sized could be fairly consistent +/- a couple thou.