Full or Neck

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I thought about putting this thread in the reload forums but,
I want to direct it specifically to precision/long range rifles.
Which I'm sure most us in this discipline reload for.
If the Mods feel it should be moved, thats fine.

I also wanted to make it a poll, but I didn't know how to do that. .
Anyway, here is my question;
Who neck sizes their brass and who Full length sizes ? Why ?

I full length size at the moment but on the weekend I decided I
may want to neck size only instead. I will always be using the same rifle
so the chamber dimentions will stay constant.
I have a Swiss Arms SHR 970 match in 308 and the chamber is very tightly
toleranced. I say this because when I use my headspace mic, a fired
round measures 1 or 2 thou smaller than a unfired virgin case. I found that odd but doesn't seem to be a problem thats why I'm considering neck
only sizing. If full length has an edge over neck, than I will try to size
my cases a bit smaller yet to be 'just' under the chamber size.
Thx. all.
 
I full-length my 6BR's because I have more than one reamer. All others are neck sized only with a FL sizing if the shoulders ever require bumping (which is very infrequent.)
 
I pretty well neck size all my bolt gun loads . No reason to overwork the brass . Also allows the belted mag rounds to headspace on the shoulder and not on the belt

I neck size until it gets harder to chamber and use a Redding "body die" . If you run a case into a body die and a neck die its like full length resizing . This way it allows you to not touch the neck when you resize the entire case ( the body die just bumps the shoulder and sizes down the body )

Why not just use a full length die....because if you use a full length die you size the entire length of the neck to shoulder. Lots of people dont neck size the entire neck , they come short of the shoulder ( you can see how far the neck is sized ) . With a body die, you dont mess with you neck

Redding offers die kits that have seater, neck die and body die . You can also get seater, FL and NS die in a kit if you prefer
 
Good question! I've tried both neck sizing and full length sizing. I've settled on full length because of a few reasons of which better accuracy is not one of them. A properly set up full length die will not over work your brass. Most of my loads are near max so neck sizing is not an option. Galled locking lug surfaces ain't too purty!
I've found if the chamber is reamed properly, tight headspace and a trued action were more important for accuracy than whether you neck sized or full length sized.
Just my 2 cents worth!
I'm sure others who have far more experience than I will have a different opinion.
 
I do both depending on the cartridge, rifle and application.

If in a working rifle, I will FL size or body bump enough to ensure ease of chambering - little to no bolt resistance on closing. This is not the time for a stiff bolt or sticky functioning. just make sure that your brass has as little runout as possible.

For my target rifles, I will neck size using the Lee collet die as often as possible. Will use the Redding body die whenever necessary to ensure consistent chambering. I want to feel the bolt close up on my target brass to ensure everything is running zero tolerance. Not a hard close but you know there is a shell in the chamber.

I have been playing with body bumping just a snick all my F class rifle brass after every firing. Then neck sizing using the collet die. yields a nice constant feel when chambering. No big deal for accuracy but when shooting prone, not having the hammer a stiff bolt is nice.

Jerry
 
Neck Size

From my point of view, for a target rifle you want the brass as close to max chamber tolerance as possible, so I neck size using a Lee collet die for my .223, and .308. I have fired these cases up to 8 times without any problem with chambering, as yet I have not needed to bump the shoulders.
For my 6.5-270 WSM the pressure is too high for this approach and usually by the second firing neck sizing alone is not a option, I have had excellent results using the forster bushing bump dies, where I can bump the shoulder and size the neck in one operation.

WIth my 30-30 (work rifle) I FL all the time, the same is true for my M305, in both of these there is no place for sticky chambering.
 
Thx. for all the replies guys.
But because of them I have now encured another question;
Some of you say with 'higher pressures' or 'max loads', neck
sizing is not an option, why is that ?
Doesn't work the way it's suppose to ?
I'm not understanding how a hot load differs from one that isn't,
they both can only expand to the walls of your chamber. .
Whats the disconect here
 
If the brass is for the same bolt rifle, I neck size only.

If I FL, I use a taller shellholder that reduces the amount of sizing. I have a set of 4 in 2 thou increments. I find that the one that reduces the sizing by 4 thou usually works.
 
"...If the brass is for the same bolt rifle..." Exactly. You can neck size only if the brass will be used in the same bolt action rifle. Creates feeding issues in a semi-auto. Set you sizer die up to neck size and go nuts. Takes a bit of trial and error though.
 
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