Neck sizing question

1

1shot

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S. Ontario
Good evening folks,

After many years of reloading I finally aquired a Lee Collet die for .223 rem.
What a fantastic tool this is- simple, well made and it proved itself at the 200 yard mark very nicely..

Here's the question: Is it necessary to full-length size every now and then to push the case shoulder back? Or can I continually neck size all of my brass?
(Only used in one bolt action rifle.)

Thoughts and ideas please.
1Shot
 
Here's the question: Is it necessary to full-length size every now and then to push the case shoulder back? Or can I continually neck size all of my brass?
Click to expand...

Normally, I need to push the shoulder back after several loadings, as it eventually gets harder to chamber the rounds if you don't.
 
I neck size everything. Sooner or later, however, the neck sized cases become just big enough that they no longer chamber without friction. At that point I full length resize and we are back to neck sizing.

How long you can get away with necking them seems to me to depend on case manufacturer, load levels, and I have come to think that case shape is a factor. So I just wait until I feel one of them as they chamber, and then full length size the whole lot.
 
1shot said:
Here's the question: Is it necessary to full-length size every now and then to push the case shoulder back? Or can I continually neck size all of my brass?


t
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking this question, I also just started neck sizing and wouldn't have had a clue what was happening when the cases would no longer chamber, now I know what to expect. Thanks again, 1shot
 
I don't know why you guys don't set your sizing die so it just touches the shoulder. Just touches the shoulder enough to keep it from gradually lengthening and that's it.
Just keep loading the cases until they wear out, without further die adjustment.
 
I tried a lee neck sizer die for 30-06, it came in a batch of stuff i picked up a few years ago. The necks were not sized enough to hold the bullets, and you can`t screw the top adjuster in any further. Went back to my old faithful RCBS dies.
 
savage express said:
Is that "bumping" with a FL die followed by a NK die. Or just FL die alone?
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just the FL die, you could use a neck sizing die after if your useing a collet die and have a specific neck tention you disire... for EXAMPLE if a FL die put 2thou tention on the bullet but your loading for 3tou tention u could FL to bump the shoulder the neck to get the desired tention
 
ultimate_monkey said:
just the FL die, you could use a neck sizing die after if your useing a collet die and have a specific neck tention you disire... for EXAMPLE if a FL die put 2thou tention on the bullet but your loading for 3tou tention u could FL to bump the shoulder the neck to get the desired tention
Click to expand...

So the ole "nothing is free"...
Would there be more case stretch requiring more trimming?
 
ben hunchak said:
Continue to neck size until you can't close the action on the round.
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This is the way to go.


rral22 said:
How long you can get away with necking them seems to me to depend on case manufacturer, load levels, and I have come to think that case shape is a factor. So I just wait until I feel one of them as they chamber, and then full length size the whole lot.
Click to expand...

I have 6.5x55 brass that must be on its 6th or 7th load and still hasn't needed bumping. My .338 Win Mag brass seems to need bumping about every 4th firing. I have heard people say the various WSM cartridges need bumping pretty regularly too, but I don't own any to know firsthand.


dead meat said:
I tried a lee neck sizer die for 30-06, it came in a batch of stuff i picked up a few years ago. The necks were not sized enough to hold the bullets, and you can`t screw the top adjuster in any further. Went back to my old faithful RCBS dies.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the die body wasn't adjusted all the way down or there was something wrong with the internal components, I have never had an issue with a Lee collet die not properly sizing the brass. It is easy to collapse the shoulder if you are not careful with the adjustment, though.


Mark
 
I'm using a full lenght die, I set it so it just kisses the shoulder and aneal every few loads. I wouldn't call it bumping the shoulder except on the odd casing that has grown too long to chamber anyhow. Set it and forget it.
 
Is there anything wrong with my method? I welcome any advice. I'm not competing but I do shoot quite a bit, I'd like my brass to last a while, and I'm happy with 1/2"-1" moa. Sure I'd like better but I just don't have time or patience to go beyond my process...
Kiss the shoulder, trim, check for head seperation for every loading session, aneal every
2-3 reloads, and I cull any cases that are too light or heavy than the majority by a few grains.
 
I find that if I minimize the working of the brass by using a neck bushing die, I don't have to bother annealing the brass. As well, using Lapua brass also seems to help in this regard.
 
fuzzynuts54 said:
Is there anything wrong with my method? I welcome any advice. I'm not competing but I do shoot quite a bit, I'd like my brass to last a while, and I'm happy with 1/2"-1" moa. Sure I'd like better but I just don't have time or patience to go beyond my process...
Kiss the shoulder, trim, check for head seperation for every loading session, aneal every
2-3 reloads, and I cull any cases that are too light or heavy than the majority by a few grains.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong, whatsoever, with the way you are doing it.
You are more precise than I am. I never check the case length after every shot. As we've said on here before, some cartridge calibres grow with shooting much more than do others. I don't know what calibre you are using.
Also, how much the case stretches is dependant, to a great extent, on the individual rifle. Tight chamber, minimum headspace = minimum cartridge growth. Once you know how fast the cases are lengthening, you can adjust the trim rate, like to maybe trim after 3 or 4 or more, shots.
You probably also anneal more often than most reloaders do. But, what the heck, no harm done in doing it often.
 
grouch said:
I did what 4831 said for years - it works o.k. BUT it does stretch cases a little, the neck tension can't be adjusted, and the case necks work harden and crack sooner.
Grouch
Click to expand...

Full length bushing dies will allow you to play with neck tension and eliminate the expander ball while partially sizeing. Who says you can't have it all?
 
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