A question on full sizing vs neck sizing

D-BOMB

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
59   0   0
Location
Calgary, Ab
Hey all,

I recently entered the world of reloading with a "Lee classic" kit, (the one that only neck sizes). I have been loading .303br and have been having excelant resu
Due to not full sizing my brass I have just been keeping it sorted and labeled to which enfield it was fired in, however I have a mountain of 30/06 brass that was all fired in my M1 but as I understand neck sized only brass is a no go in semi auto's? Is it just a matter of cycling issues or can something catastrophic occur as a rusult of using neck sized only brass?

Thanks in advance!
 
The danger is an out-of-battery discharge and catastrophic disassembly of the gun.
Full length sizing is recommended for most reloaders.
 
Hmmm, yeah, so, word on the street is that full resizing is the way tO reliable functioning of your autoloader.

Neck sizing, in combination with soft primers (Federal, for example), is a sure path to interesting things.
 
Just revisiting this thread;

Ok so, the oversized brass (if neck sized only) might bind on the way to full lockup (that is, of the bolt). What might then happen with the unsprung firing pin of a Garand type bolt might be able to tap and ignite the primer... of an unfully supported round of .30-06. Maybe unsupported by 1/8" from a fully locked up action, it could lead to a casewall blowout.

That would be a better answer to your question. The round might not seat properly before ignition =firing out of battery.

The reference to Federal primers is regards their softness; (had a slam fire meself using these (Norico M14s, similar kind of bolt)), which makes the OOBSF more likely.
 
Last edited:
The answers about the out of battery firings are correct. Your gun might cycle, but it might not with neck sized ammo.

If you have the .30-06 loader kit, you might find another gun nut with a regular press to full length size your brass and return it to you so you can load it the rest of the way yourself before you get into a press and dies of your own.
 
Your next step in economical reloading is to order the Lee 50th anniversary kit and a set of dies.
I've seen the kit advertised for $129.00 at Cabellas.

I'm sure Henry (Budget Shooters Supply) who is a site sponsor can get it for you.
Ive been reloading my rifle rounds using this kit for nearly 2 years with excellent results.

You can spend quite a bit more money on the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme kit if you're not on a budget but the Lee kit can't be beat for the price.
 
The LEE Anniversary kit is a great value. WSS usually has it go on sale for $99 twice a year or so. Or if you want to stick with portable you could go with the LEE hand press and a full length sizing die.
 
re sizing for semi-auto rifle

here my 2cents.....
I reload and fire over 500 rounds without a single malfunction on a browning BAR 30.06 using a small base full length RCBS die... every time you reload measure and trim your brass if necessary.
 
Back
Top Bottom