collet neck sizing vs full-lenght sizing on 338 mag

[alec ouellet]

Hello!

I would like to know which is suitable for reloadind 338 mag. with a bolt action rifle and a hunting and target shooting purpose.

Collet neck sizing or full-lenght sizing.

Also could you tell me if I must crimp the bullet and if your answer is "yes", why???

THX

Alec

 

[RePete]

Collet for target but full length for hunting.

You need to crimp if the bullet is jumping forward, in the magazine, on recoil.

To check this, load the mag, fire until you have 1 round left in the mag, remove and compare the loaded measurement to the one in the mag. If it's longer - crimp.

 

[alec ouellet]

Why full lenght for hunting instead of collet??

 

[RePete]

Why full lenght for hunting instead of collet??

Because you don't want failure in the bush, where you can't easily perform the repair.

It's harder to chamber a round under stress.

 

[b72471]

338 Mag

You will need the full length resizing die and no crimp on the 338mag. For the money spent the Sierra reloading manual is well worth having, it's all explained in there.

 

[alec ouellet]

thank you very much for your answers.

Alec

 

['Boo]

I see no harm in using neck-sized ammo for hunting as long as each and every cartridge is run through the magazine and chambered at the range before you head out hunting.

Crimping depends on how light your rifle is and how good a grip the case neck has on the bullet. An easy test is to put 3 cartridges in the magazine and leave them there while you fire a half-dozen rounds top loaded over the original rounds. Afterwards take the 3 "test" rounds out and see if any of the bullets were pushed back into the case by slamming into the front of the magazine box during recoil. If they were then crimping is required.