Hornady Neck Size Die vs Lee Collet For Multiple Cartridges

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Lahti

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Hello,

Looking to neck size only for 6.5 Japanese and 6.5 Swedish, 7.62x54R and .303 British, 7.5x55 and 30-40 Krag, currently FL size these.

How do the Hornady neck size dies perform compared to the Lee collet ones? In terms of brass life, ease of chambering, and accuracy if there is a noticable drop (+/- .5 MOA isn't a big deal for what I do).
Less post size brass prep would also be a plus if relevant. If there is a good reason to get the cartridge specific lee ones for all those, I will do so but would like a more universal option if the Hornady one works.
Just curious if theres anything I might be missing like if the Hornady die sized brass would need FL sizing every so often to move the shoulder where the Lee ones won't?

Lastly, my understanding is FL sizing is the only option for semi-automatic rifles, if I'm wrong I'd love to extend brass life in something like a Garand or AG-42b if there is a special type of die I'm missing.

I take a lot of novices out to shoot at 100-200 yards with milsurp rifles, just looking to try and cut costs on the brass a little, not get match grade groups.

Thanks, Lahti
 
For the chambers you've mentioned I would not bother with neck sizing. Use the full length die and adjust it to a partial sizing that fits chamber.
Semi Autos must be full length resized, the last thing you want is a partially resized shell stuck in a semi.
Take care and enjoy.
 
For neck sizing only , I much prefer the Lee over the Hornady, I have both and never use the Hornady.
I use the Lee in 4 different cartridge configurations, 6.5X55 and 303 Brit included.
I wouldn't go near a semi auto with neck sized ammo though .
Cat
 
I like the Lee, you don't need any lube on or in the neck as it's sized around a mandrell. You also can get a mandrell of any size real cheap so you can get the tension you need for your bullet Size.
 
Given that Lee doesn't make a collet die for 6.5 Japanese and Hornady doesn't make a .311, sounds like the right call might be to get a 6.5 Hornady neck die and a .303 British Lee collet to give both styles a try.
Using the Hornady, I just adjust down slowly until the entire neck until the shoulder is resized? And lubricate the neck for the Hornady dies?

Also, when neck sizing for say a Swedish Mauser, will neck sizing alone be all I need to do going forward? I've heard people say sometimes FL sizing is needed to ensure they'll still chamber but this makes little sense to me.

For partial sizing with FL dies, is that just as simple as backing it out from its FL size setting a few turns then tightening in and trying to chamber the sized brass, and keep going until it actually chambers? I may try this with some other cartridges where I can't find Hornady or Lee options for like 8 lebel and practice with 30-40 Krag.

Appreciate the confirmation on Semi-auto sizing, just thought I'd see if there was some clever trick I was missing... Love the Garand, hate having Starline brass fail after 4-5 light loadings.

Thanks,
Lahti
 
Whatever neck sizing die you choose, sooner or later you need to FL size the case. Partially resizing is a good method, you establish the correct amount of sizing by trial and error, by screwing the die out incrementally 1/8 turn until you get chamber interference, then go back 1/8 turn.
The advantages to collet dies over partial resizing are simplicity (no lube) and less runout. However, if you are reloading for several rifles of the same caliber, you can partial resize to the tightest chamber and share brass amongst your rifles. With a neck sizing die, one must segregate brass for each rifle.
 
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If I had oy one die to shoose from it would be a FL die, and set so the shoulder just gets bumped enough for easy bolt closure - EVERY TIME.
That will prolong your case life and help in the accuracy .
Cat
 
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iron cat said:
If I had oy one die to shoose from it would be a FL die, and set bit so the shoulder just gets bumped enough for easy bolt closure - EVERY TIME.
That willl prolong your case life and help in the accuracy .
Cat
Click to expand...

That is about the same conclusion that I have arrived at. I am not a target shooter competition guy - although I have shot at lots of targets from a bench, off sand bags, and from other positions - most "real" shots were at game, and I have been known to miss - so I want that next shot coming up and ready very slickly - why I prefer to full length resize - at minimum to get the case body a bit of room in that chamber - and then to hold that shoulder back when the case walls get squished in. I had read some can get similar good alignment to chamber by "partial" re-sizing - leave an 1/8" of neck unsized - but that can allow the shoulder to be pushed forward, I think. Slick, easy chambering is pretty much everything that counts for me - and having bullet holes close to each other on a target. I can only recall witnessing one 5 shot group shot at 100 yards that was a single hole with 5 lumps - was my rifle and my hand loads, but a "visitor" was doing the shooting - I never repeated that, in several years of trying. A Savage 112V in 22-250.
 
Lahti said:
Given that Lee doesn't make a collet die for 6.5 Japanese and Hornady doesn't make a .311, sounds like the right call might be to get a 6.5 Hornady neck die and a .303 British Lee collet to give both styles a try.
Using the Hornady, I just adjust down slowly until the entire neck until the shoulder is resized? And lubricate the neck for the Hornady dies?

Also, when neck sizing for say a Swedish Mauser, will neck sizing alone be all I need to do going forward? I've heard people say sometimes FL sizing is needed to ensure they'll still chamber but this makes little sense to me.

For partial sizing with FL dies, is that just as simple as backing it out from its FL size setting a few turns then tightening in and trying to chamber the sized brass, and keep going until it actually chambers? I may try this with some other cartridges where I can't find Hornady or Lee options for like 8 lebel and practice with 30-40 Krag.

Appreciate the confirmation on Semi-auto sizing, just thought I'd see if there was some clever trick I was missing... Love the Garand, hate having Starline brass fail after 4-5 light loadings.

Thanks,
Lahti
Click to expand...

Lee makes custom dies as well. Was just looking at the idea of getting a 7mm wsm collet die made.
 
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