Neck sizing with only a factory crimp die

[chise]

Does this work? I noticed that it only crimps the top of the neck. I don't want to full length size my brass anymore because it seems to always make the casings too long after shooting, and trimming takes a lot of time. I find it's also more accurate to shoot with fireformed brass as well.

Is it possible to not resize the case, seat the bullet, and then FCD the cartridge? My bullets don't have crimping grooves so I don't know how well this will work.

This is for my 38.5 grain H380 .303 180gr loads.

 

[(((Echo)))]

You cannot neck size with a factory crimp die. Do you mean to partial size with a full length sizing die?

(E)

 

[chise]

Here's what I'm thinking: Trim / deburr, deprime / prime, fill with powder, seat the bullet, then FCD the cartridge.

 

[Gatehouse]

You have ot at least neck size or partial size the case. You can't just plop a bullet into an unsized case, the bullet will fall in the case.

 

[(((Echo)))]

What Gatehouse said.
Also, if you try to lightly crimp, then seat the bullet and final crimp, you'll probably crush the case or strip off a lot of the bullet. The final crimp, with the exception of taper crimping, just does the end of the case. That's the main reason you have to have your cases all the same length for equal crimp. Neck sizing reduces the neck of case only, while full length sizing does the entire case. Some have reported success doing partial full length sizing, I've never tried.

(E)

 

[TwoTone]

Here's what I'm thinking: Trim / deburr, deprime / prime, fill with powder, seat the bullet, then FCD the cartridge.

You could make ammunition this way that would certainly fire. You might have to dent the case neck so it would hold a bullet until it gets crimped. Another option would be to lower the bullet into the case through the crimp die and hold there as it is crimped. The trick there would be to find a way to make the seating depth consistent.

While this would be a way to make ammunition if these were the only tools at hand I think said ammunition would show a large amount of runout and would likely not be very accurate. Certainly not an ideal method.

If you don't want to Full Length Resize just back the sizing die out 1 full turn from touching the shell holder and you will then be Partially Full Length Resizing, which is easier on the brass and fits the chamber nicely.