Sizing question

M

maka

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If I always shoot the same brass in the same gun do I have to full lenght size. Or can I just neck size. If neck sizing is an option how do I do it. I have a Lee .204 2 die set.

thanks
 
Neck size, until it get's difficult to close the bolt, then full size, after that, back to neck sizing.

ETA, Necksize by using a candle to smoke the neck of the case, and lower the die, until you are sizing the amount of neck you wish to size.
 
Neck size using your full sizer back out enough that it only sizes about 3/4 of the neck. You should be able to see the sized part of the neck without need of the candle. I would lube the first few cases, while setting up the die, just to make sure noithing goes wrong.
 
Ganderite said:
Neck size using your full sizer back out enough that it only sizes about 3/4 of the neck. You should be able to see the sized part of the neck without need of the candle. I would lube the first few cases, while setting up the die, just to make sure noithing goes wrong.
Click to expand...

X2. I've used a similar procedure to Ganderites and that seems to be just about as effective as the use of an actual neck sizing die. About the only stuff I always full length resize is ammo to be used for big game hunting.
 
I use RCBS neck sizing dies for 223, 243 and 22-250.

My experience shows me that for the 223 I can reload the cases approximately 40 times before needing to trim.
The 22-250 gives me approximately 30 reloads before trimming is required.

Naturally your mileage will vary depending on how hot your loads are.
 
I prefer to make up 3 die sets for myself including a full length sizing die and a neck die, some cals. I do away with the full length die. When loading for my leverguns or single shots, its full length sizing all the way.
 
shootist22-250 said:
I use RCBS neck sizing dies for 223, 243 and 22-250.

My experience shows me that for the 223 I can reload the cases approximately 40 times before needing to trim.
The 22-250 gives me approximately 30 reloads before trimming is required.

Naturally your mileage will vary depending on how hot your loads are.
Click to expand...

And your rifle's headspace if you FL resize...
 
He already has lots of good information, but I will add my bit.
I like to set the full length die so it just barely touches, or kisses, the shoulder, of a case already fired in that rifle. This is really the same as neck sizing, but it will keep the case from growing with shooting. Thus, it gets the same treatment every time, with no change of procedure.
 
I agree with H4831. I like to do the same procedure every time, not neck size and then switch to FL sizing every now and then. I like to knock the shoulder back about 0.001-0.002".
 
I was just pointing out that if you FL resize, you are pushing the case back down to factory SAAMI specs. If your rifle has a large chamber (lots of headspace), your brass will stretch more when fired than if it were fired in a rifle with a tight chamber, causing the brass to stretch more. When you FL resize that brass, you are squeezing it back down to factory spec and causing the brass to stretch as you do so, which results in the brass needing to be trimmed more often.
 
You are 100% correct.

But, I have found with only neck sizing there is no need to FL size at any time.
This may be different with larger calibers.

In one of my 22-250's which uses loads that are 0.5gn off max I find that there is no need to FL size even after 35 to 50 reloads on a piece of brass.
 
I prefer to always use a FL resizing die on all my handloads. This ensures that every round is exactly the same, and they'll always chamber. That's why even benchrest shooters use FL dies today. However, it's important to set your die height accurately. Here's a good article that shows how to measure the clearance (at the shoulder) that YOUR handloads have in YOUR particular chamber.
http://www.larrywillis.com/headspace_separation.html

- Innovative
 
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