Hunting with neck sized cartridges

Brambles

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Who here hunts with Reloaded ammo that was only neck sized, have you ever had a problem with chambering these in the field?

Do you feel that a case that is properly full length sized will really provide better chambering in the field compared to a Neck sized only. Is the theory to provide better chambering from the mag when the bullet might not be running exactly in line with the bore to start.

Just wondering what your experiances are?
 
FL sized brass will feed better than most neck sized brass. At the range this isnt an issue, but it is a potential problem in the field. I partial size my brass to get the best of both worlds
 
I partial size, and run all loaded cartridges through the rifle as a final check.

FL sizing doens't have to mean you mash the shellholder into the die, rigth it right...But it is more reliable than neck sizing for feeding and chambering.

Partial sizing works fine, no problems there. I don't even use my neck sizer dies anymore for many cartriges.
 
I neck size only for my 30-06 Husky and have never had a problem, however I tried neck sizing for my sons Ruger 30-06 and the loads wouldn't chamber. Even loads that are full length sized chamber with more difficulty than I would like.
 
I always check my rounds to make sure they chamber and I usually set up my FL die so the cartridge is only sized enough to chamber slightly snug. The reason I ask is I bought the Redding Deluxe Die set and it comes with a Neck sizer die in the set, just wondering if its going to be useful or just a paperweight!!
 
Anything I reload is checked in the chamber of what I am shooting, so that way I know for sure when I leave the house I won't have a screw up in the field.

Bearcat
 
I partial size as well and run every round through the rifle at the range before it goes into the hunting pile, any round that doesnt feed and or chamber easily gets culled.
 
I neck-size my .303 British. I've never had a problem in the four Lee-Enfields I've used (three No.4, one No.5 all in good to very good condition.)
 
I hunt with neck sized brass.

After a bit of load dev at the range, you'll pretty much get a feel for the rifle and what it likes to be fed. If it needs more sizing, you'll know it.




.
 
I neck size only. However, I always run the fired brass through the rifle and if there are any that are snug I set them aside until I get enough run through the full length resizer and then only resize until they go in with ease.
 
Being hunting for many years with same group of 7 we hunty deer the old way pushing them and often don't get shots like in a tree stand or watching a green field in evenings where only one shot is usually required, we all use new brass runned through die check & trim inside primer hole debured cleaned and dryed and loaded.
never have problems, some had problems with neck sized only over the years and 2 have had a chance of a life time missed because of using just neck sized brass only.
Hell you may only fire 2 or 3 shots in a year or more hunting
 
Supercub's got it right. I personally use Lee Collet dies to neck size, and have never had a problem.

My Model 70 will even chamber neck sized brass from a Remington I used to have.
 
I full length resize and I crimp, which seems to put me in the minority these days. My ammo generally shoots a bit better than MOA, and while confidence building, this is far more accuracy than I can manage from field positions other than prone. More importantly, my ammo functions every time, even if a round has been left in the bottom of the magazine for several weeks and has had a few dozen rounds fired over it. Every time the rifle fires, the nose of the bullet is driven into the front of the magazine with enough force to push it deep into the case, except for the crimp. What happens then is there is some slight shoulder expansion, but not enough to prevent easy chambering. Had the round been only neck sized, I doubt it would chamber. Should I have to chamber the last round from the magazine, chances are I need it bad.

Beyond the reliability in my own rifle, it seems that from time to time there are some folks who need to bum ammo. If I neck sized my ammo it wouldn't do them much good, then I would have to turn them away or scramble to load them some stuff that will work in their rifle. Often a family hunting trip includes several rifles chambered alike, so there is another good reason to full length resize, and seat the bullets to a standard length. The crimp properly applied to a bullet with a cannular will uniform the pull weight and benefit accuracy.

I'll take a presumptuous leap here, and suggest that, with the exception of .303 Brit shooter, many handloaders who neck size only, also seat their boat-tail spitzers out far enough to either engage the rifling or sit just off the rifling. IMHO, this is going to sooner or later lead to the bullet getting stuck in the throat and dumping the powder into the action. Chances are just as good that this will happen when you are in a hurry.

As stated by other posters however, regardless of the type of sizing used, any ammo going afield should be checked for functioning in the rifle first.
 
Full size from day one, never had a problem and never had to check to see if they fit. Try giving your friend who also shoots the same calibre a few bullets when he runs out or looses them on a hunt if they are not full sized?
 
I do full length sizing with guns I take hunting. Also I have some custom dies with bushings that do the body the shoulder and the neck that will fit th chamber well and are good to use for hunting too.
 
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