Is neck sizing always necessary? (fireformed brass)

klink1983

klink1983

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I have some 308 win (hornady match) brass that was full length sized, reloaded, and shot through my rifle. I've double checked the measurements and the length remains unchanged and the neck is still at about 303-3045ish.... At the moment I have a borrowed collet die and because of the limitations of my bench (former door, hollow, press needs to be reinforced) I can't use the collet die properly.

Could there be any chance at all that I could get away without sizing or should I just take my time, reinforce my bench and carry on?
 
Push a new bullet into the fired case, it will likely go in very easily. You need some tension to hold the bullet firmly in the case mouth. Get a 4x4 piece of 3/4" ply wood and reinforce the door.
 
Once the rope is properly tied around your neck and the wood trap door opens beneath your feet you don't need to be neck sized again. :p

Or you can apply torque to your press at just below the breaking point of the wood. (I think this was an episode in The Red Green Show) :rolleyes:



or all humor aside fix your reloading bench and do it right. ;)
 
My press and my case trimmer are mounted on lengths of 2x4 that I secure in my 6" swivel vise. At first I didn't want to permanently mount the press to my bench, which is small, but it's worked fine for me for years so I don't see why to change it.

Loaded thousands of rounds with it. 38s, 357s, 44-40, 45 ACP, 223, 762x39, 6.5x55, 308 and 303 british, never had a problem. The 2x4 does flex a bit but it still holds. You can angle it, and swivel it, it's very adaptable.

If you don't have a vise, glue and screw some plywood to that door like the others say.
 
Take the decapping pin out of your FL sizing die and run the cases through it, sizing about 3/4 of the neck. No case lube will be needed since you won't be touching the case body. If this does not make the neck tight, the sizer is pooched.
 
klink1983 said:
I have some 308 win (hornady match) brass that was full length sized, reloaded, and shot through my rifle. I've double checked the measurements and the length remains unchanged and the neck is still at about 303-3045ish.... At the moment I have a borrowed collet die and because of the limitations of my bench (former door, hollow, press needs to be reinforced) I can't use the collet die properly.

Could there be any chance at all that I could get away without sizing or should I just take my time, reinforce my bench and carry on?
Click to expand...

If you're correct in the fired cartridge neck diameter you quoted, I wonder what unfired cases measure with seated bullets. Its normal for fired 308 brass to measure .313/.314". Fired cases need neck re-sized enough to keep at least a .002" grip on bullets.
 
Chinbullco said:
If you're correct in the fired cartridge neck diameter you quoted, I wonder what unfired cases measure with seated bullets. Its normal for fired 308 brass to measure .313/.314". Fired cases need neck re-sized enough to keep at least a .002" grip on bullets.
Click to expand...

I found that some of my Hornady match brass still could hold a bullet. As for the collet die, I'm pretty sure I'm still doing something wrong because it still didn't feel like the brass was getting pushed up enough for the collet to shape the neck. :(

I still have a few hundred pieces of stuff that needs full sizing so I'm good at least for a while.
 
klink1983 said:
I found that some of my Hornady match brass still could hold a bullet. As for the collet die, I'm pretty sure I'm still doing something wrong because it still didn't feel like the brass was getting pushed up enough for the collet to shape the neck. :(

I still have a few hundred pieces of stuff that needs full sizing so I'm good at least for a while.
Click to expand...
The Lee collet die requires a substantial push to close the collet. The sleeve will contact shell holder and that contact is what closes the collet. I would keep adjusting die down in small increments until desire results are achieved.
 
"...former door..." It's still a door and isn't what you need. You might find a solid door in a used building materials shop.
You do need to size the necks. Otherwise the bullets will be loose and will tend to get pushed into the case. That'd be bad in a magazine.
 
you need to size the necks if you have never done it before you might need a conventional neck size die for consistant results its pretty much foolprof unlike the collet die
 
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