If I FL size do/can/should I??? NEW QUESTION ON POST #6

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Bart212

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Trim and neck size?

If I neck size do I trim too?

I'm seeing 3 different ways to manipulate the case back to size but somethings telling me I only have to do 2 steps. Or do I have to do all three? I bought the 8th ed hornady book but haven't figured this part out yet.
 
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Bart212 said:
Trim and neck size?

If I neck size do I trim too?

I'm seeing 3 different ways to manipulate the case back to size but somethings telling me I only have to do 2 steps. Or do I have to do all three? I bought the 8th ed hornady book but haven't figured this part out yet.
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Easy schmeezy answer Bart212,

No matter which die you choose to resize with...always check the case length once it has been resized (and primer removed). The cases need to be trimmed at that point IF they exceed the max case length. If they are getting close or exceed that length...Then you can trim them down to the recommended "Trim To" length in the manual.
 
I trim every time. I use a full body die, soot the case with a candle and adjust the die till it just kisses the shoulder on a fired case. Simple and works for me. Then if you crimp, you never have to adjust the die. Set em and forget em. If you crimp un trimmed cases, and they do grow unequally by the way, you'll have crimp tension all over the map. I also aneal on every 2nd load.. I try to anyways. Maybe I'll try neck turning one day and see how much that helps but at the moment I'm quite happy without that one extra step.
 
You will prolly have to trim less if you neck size, neck sizing may not work for ammo meant for levers, pumps or semis. I don't see any need to crimp unless using heavy slugs in a levergun or revolver.
 
Bottleneck cases strech from being fired and being sized. Neck sizing usually stretches less.

You can load and fire a case all the way up to the max length SAAMI spec in the manual. It should be trimmed if it is longer.

Most people trim all cases in a lot at the same time to keep things uniform. Usually back to the trim to length found in the manual (.010" shorter than max)
Some people trim everytime for even more uniformity, some just wait till a couple get long then trim them all. I use the second method most of the time.
 
Thanks it seems I'm going to be FL sizing and trimming. Just to note I'm investing in a full blown reloading kit Hornady LnL AP with a Dillon 1200B. I'll be reloading for 223 and 30-06 to start with and then adding a few more calibers down the road. So I'll most likely be trimming every time but we'll see how it goes.

Got a new question. If the neck/mouth of the case is bent in. Does the FL sizing die with a decaping pin straighten it out? Because Hornady's FL sizing dies don't come with an elliptical expander, only the neck dies do.

I'm buying Hornady new dimesion dies.
 
Yes a standard FL die will. When the case enters the die the expander ball on the depriming rod will fix it. Then the case is sized. As the case is removed the expander is pulled back through the case neck/mouth and expands it to the right size (possibly .306" for say a .308" bullet so the neck tension will hold the bullet in place when you seat it)
 
ben hunchak said:
neck sizing may not work for ammo meant for levers, pumps or semis.
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Worked well for my 30-30, M1A and Mini 14. I did have sticking issues with the M1A after 6-7 loads and a case separation, but that was me taking it to the edge.

For the OP, I have found no major issues with neck sizing. A full length size every 4 or so in a semi is probably a good idea. Also a paper clip check for head separation after 3 or so loads on a random sample of each batch.

Case trimming will depend on the rifle, with my 30-03 lever stretch was rare.
With my M1A/Mini 14 it will stretch much more, hence increased case trimming which I end up doing almost every time.
 
So much depends on so many things.
Straight wall cases don't grow with shooting, period.
A great difference in bottle neck calibres, re how much they grow. A 270 will lengthen much faster than will a 30-06. I don't even bother checking my 30-06(s) until, maybe 5 or 6 firings. Not every rifle will be like this, however.
A 243 will grow quite fast.
BUT, and a very big but. So much depends on the rifle. Quite a bit of headspace combined with full length resizing will make them grow like weeds after a rain.
With a rifle with a tight chamber and no excessive headspace, full length resizing won't noticeably shorten case life, over only neck sizing.
For years I shot a 270 like that, full length sizing and the brass seemed to last forever.
I have a 243, custom built by a good gunsmith with a Shilen barrel. Chamber and headspace are a precise fit. I full length size, and after four or five shootings, the cases have virtually no growth. I haven't shot it that much, but I can see very long life cases, with it. Another 243 I had required trimming after no more than about two firings.
So, to the OP, there are a lot of things you will just have to work out, observe and learn as you go.
 
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