Full length case resizing vs neck resizing?

Sorry guys, busy day. The rifles are both x-bolt Browning. Application is hunting and target for both. Thank you for all of the input. Since my die sets do FL sizing I will start there and experiment from there!

Quick answer I use the Lee 4 die set to neck size for my x-bolt 308 and they work great.

Just make sure that after resizing the cases load into your rifle before adding powder and bullets.
 
But for someone who wants to buy just one sizing die, FL is a better choice cause you have to bump eventually anyways, Y/N??

-J.
From what I've gathered , if you FL resize all the time you are sizing the case back to Saami specs and shouldn't have to bump the shoulder. And your giving up some accuracy because the case won't fit your chamber as firm as fire formed neck sized brass. Also you can neck size and bump the shoulder with a FL die. I may be wrong as I've only been researching all of this for a couple of days.
 
Ya - I'm a bit confused too.

I don't think you have to bump to SAAMI specs all the time. What I did with my last round of 6.5 was measured a couple fired cases, and using my comparator set the die to set the shoulder back .003".

When I first started I questioned this too. You do lose the fire formed fit with FL dies, but then you can save 100$ on a neck die.

-J.
 
Ya - I'm a bit confused too.

I don't think you have to bump to SAAMI specs all the time. What I did with my last round of 6.5 was measured a couple fired cases, and using my comparator set the die to set the shoulder back .003".

When I first started I questioned this too. You do lose the fire formed fit with FL dies, but then you can save 100$ on a neck die.

-J.

You can get the complete Lee Ultimate Rifle Four-Die Set for $70
 
If you really want to get critical you need to know your chamber/headspace.

If you have a tight chamber, FLD might be the answer.

If you have a really tight chamber SBD might be the answer.

If you have an oversized chamber NSD might be the way to go.

There is no difinative answer as each gun and each gun owners situation might be different.

Hence, what Jerry said is spot on.
 
I hate my iPhone's auto correct, sometimes I have to retype a word three times because the phone decides a correctly spelled word should be something else messing up the grammar so bad even 'Looky couldn't figure it out. Lol
 
If you really want to get critical you need to know your chamber/headspace.

If you have a tight chamber, FLD might be the answer.

If you have a really tight chamber SBD might be the answer.

If you have an oversized chamber NSD might be the way to go.

There is no difinative answer as each gun and each gun owners situation might be different.

Hence, what Jerry said is spot on.

YEAH!!!!!... Someone gets it.. Finally. There is no way for someone to randomly "know" the answer without ALOT more info about the specific rifle, need and loading style.

I am sure we are all familiar with what ASS..U...ME can mean?

Once you have that info, the next step is to MEASURE what needs to be done vs the application and goals.

THEN you worry about which tool you want or need.. it may be 1 die, it may be a few.. It may need one style or another.

Factory chambers in factory rifles are the most demanding for this as the tolerances can be all over the map and still be within SAAMI spec.

So can dies from ALL manfs.. a FL die from one manf does not have to be the same size as the FL die from another. They even vary from run to run

Confusing.. you better believe it.. Why a 1 size fits all answer is inherently wrong and potentially dangerous.

It is like trying on shoes... Size 9 is NOT an exact measurement and every brand has their own version and that can vary from shoe to shoe with the same size and brand.

Neither is a male size 9 Foot...

So start with what the end use goals are going to be... Dangerous game/working applications will need different compromises to a range clean competition rig... Then we can look at the fired case and the dies to make it fit back in that chamber for "best" performance.

And what is BEST can vary.....

Jerry
 
Good answer , is it possible to have one gun for two applications and load accurate rnds for both applications? Let's say target shooting out to 500 yards and hunting . Do we need two different sets of dies for that or can it be done with one. Or do we need a diff gun for every style of shooting? Couldn't I make an accurate load for my Tikka3 Varminter ,SS,HB using Barnes TTSX tips and use that for hunting and target shooting? OP is doing the same thing only a different CAL and gun. And if so what's the best FL or NS, or at least what has the potential to be the best? And least complicated?I'd like to do it all with FL dies. FL size , then NS, then bump the shoulder. Anyhow I plan on getting a couple of new measuring tools and go from there. One more thing , I'd be happy with 3/4 MOA.... For now:)
 
I didn't see any arrogance either. What I saw was someone who you thought disagreed with something you said.

Proper sizing is far more important in the generic hunting rifle THEN a close tolerance competition rig.

The whole point of proper sizing is to control the fired case dimensions wrt to chamber. Factory chambers are all over the map, as are factory dies.. The average reloader has to understand this variation and because using the wrong combo of die vs chamber leads to BIG headaches wrt case head separation and poor accuracy.

We seem to keep going round in circle and the argument hasn't changed in the numerous posts you have put up all these pics and info. The right technique is whatever steps are needed to make the brass chamber properly into that firearm... no more no less.

Jerry

To all of you

I was singled out by Mystic Precision and no one else and it seems Mystic Precision doesn't like my reloading illustrations and pointing out that a sizing die is adjustable up and down for a custom fit to the chamber.

Yesterday morning I recieved the PM below thanking me for all my posts and illustrations, and I have gotten many thanks in PMs from the members here.

Thank you

I just wanted to thank you for your posts in the reloading forum.
I have learned a great deal from you over the years and you always supply proof to back what you say.
The visual learners in the crowd are thankful!

Much obliged!


I didn't come here to have my postings criticized by someone with a oversized ego and Mystic Precision decided to find fault with just my postings.

Mystic Precision, all you need to do is answer the questions asked and state your opinions and that's all. And "NO ONE" elected you the forum critic and grade the answers given here and that is what is insulting.

In over 47 years of reloading I have never had a case head separation, I have neck sizing dies, full length dies, body dies, Lee Collet dies, bench rest seating dies etc. I have oversized milsurp chambers and standard SAAMI chambers and after all the posts I have made here over the years at this forum YOU decide you do not like my posting. I didn't come here to please you Mystic Precision, I came here to answer questions and help my fellow reloaders.

And the sad part is we still have people in this posting that didn't grasp what was explained to them. Meaning a full length die is adjustable up and down for a custom fit to your chamber.

And sad in the fact that "someone" thinks he knows more than Kevin Thomas who worked in the Sierra testing lab and now shoots for "Team Lapua USA".

KTLapua-b_zps8d1abc2c.jpg


Setting up a Full Length Sizing Die
http://www.sinclairintl.com/GunTech/Setting-up-a-Full-Length-Sizing-Die-/detail.htm?lid=16134
 
I think there's a gross miscommunication here due to written vs. spoken word.....

....or someone has a bone to pick with Jerry....

....or something.....

I think Jerry shoots in the same circles as Kevin, but I could be wrong....

-J.
 
YEAH!!!!!... Someone gets it.. Finally. There is no way for someone to randomly "know" the answer without ALOT more info about the specific rifle, need and loading style.

Jerry

No one knows the answer because the people answering the question here do not have the OPs rifle in their hands or have measured his cases. And any new reloader has to go through a learning curve and understand the basics.

I stated my preference for full length resizing and YOU stated it could be this or it could be that. Congratulations you covered all the bases and didn't commit to anything and are now patting yourself on the back.

The average reloader buys one set of dies for his rifle and has no control over its plus or minus manufacturing tolerances. This same average reloader also has no control over his chamber size and follows the instructions that comes with the die set.

Right now the OP doesn't know if he has a fat chamber and a skinny die or a skinny chamber and a fat die. And the average reloader without proper measuring tools will never know what the problem is. And the OP is probably more confused now than before he asked his question.

KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid

Step number one.
Explain the proper method of adjusting a full length die for the minimum shoulder setback/shoulder bump and see how it works out for the OP.

308fail-1_zps30d387ab.jpg


308fail2-1_zps3ca31f6b.jpg


Step number two
If the OP doesn't get good case life with full length resizing then buy a neck sizing die.

Full Length Resizing vs Neck Resizing
http://www.larrywillis.com/resizing.html
 
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I find yours and others very helpful also. The problem for me is that sometimes the very knowledgeable and experienced reloaders get a bit to technical . For me any how. I've got some good info from Lutnit, who took the time to PM me ,with a very good explanation of the different procedures and more importantly how to apply them. Jerry gives good info also,but I'd like to get more than the technical side, tell us how you set your dies for each step etc. I can find most of this info all over the net , on other reloading forums. But I'm a part of this one and feel more comfortable to be actually interacting in the conversation. And yes , everyone should just state their opinions and back it up with why . Then us new reloaders can figure out which way we want to go. I think I've got a better handle on it now but maybe everyone else reading this don't . So please don't anyone stop answering our dumbass questions because your opinions differ. Thanks for all the help... And OP sorry if I hijacked your thread but as were in similar situations, I thought the more info we could squeeze out of these very knowledgable people the better.
 
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