Neck Sizing only?

[Tho_Sun]

Hey guys,

I hear some people only neck size their rounds. What are the pros and cons of this? I understand if you only neck size, you have to use the same rifle you fired them from.

[anyracoon]

Just for bolt action rifles. Less wear & tear on brass.

[rksimple]

Yep. Only bolt actions. Eliminates sizing of the shoulder for more case life, better "fit" in the chamber for perhaps better accuracy, and if you use a bushing die, it will eliminate oversizing of the neck as well.

Downside is you have to use it in the same rifle and after a few firings, it can get very hard to close the bolt. Even after one or two firings, the bolt can get tight making it difficult to run quickly.

[sargenv]

If the cartridge goes in too tightly, at that point I'd likely full length resize it to get it back into spec and then use the neck sizing die again until the bolt becomes hard to close.

[Army GI]

For me, the biggest advantage is not having to full length resize the case. Pretty much what everyone above me said. But there are also those that swear by the gains in accuracy you achieve by using this practice. Supposedly, this is so because the bullet is more concentric to the bore when the casing is press fit into the chamber. But I don't shoot accurately enough to verify this myself.

[Snapping Twig]

Even with neck sizing, you still must trim to OAL as needed.

[Jicko]

FL sizing elongate the brass more than just neck sizing. So, more likely, you would need to trim the brass. And I hate trimming my brass, cuz I don't have a Giruaud....

So, I tried to just do neck sizing as much as it is possible (brass from the same BOLT gun, length within spec, brass don't feel tight in chamber etc.... all those that has been said above).

When it is not possible, while the brass is still from the same gun, I will try to just "body size" (body and shoulder, not the neck...) since my micrometer bush neck sizer is still gonna be more accurate and less stress on the brass than a regular FL sizer.

If it is unknown brass from range pickups, or it is brass from a different gun, or it is brass from a semi-auto..... I will always FL size.... just to be safe....

[Tho_Sun]

great info~

couple more~

When you say bushing dies help eliminate oversizing, does that mean it helps with O.A.L. for no trimming?

If so what die would you recommend? I'm using a Mosin 54r. I plan on loading light since my barrel is only 12 with 4 muzzle weld. Also is it possible to load a sub sonic round for that caliber?

If not, what is a inexpensive but accurate hand trimmer? I rather not use power tools.

Thanks head of time~

[rksimple]

The lee hand trimmer is decent and cheap. Redding, lyman, forster, etc all make some decent trimmers for more money.

If you're going to load light, you may only need to trim once. I used to use around 10 gr of unique with a 150gr cast in an old '06. I never had to trim that brass.

The bushing die helps by not squeezing the neck down tighter than need be. Standard dies will squeeze the neck down tighter and then the expander ball expands it back out. Leads to work hardening faster.

[bohoki]

it is "only" to be used when you are going to use the cases you reload in the same rifle

so they are not to be used with scrounged range brass or to be used in other rifles

its not as a tremendous limitation as it sounds
its fine for say if you have a 7mm magnum and keep all your brass

but say if you have multiple 308s it is a bad idea
of course you could be just fine

[ocabj]

Subsonic load for an M39? I've never tried, but you could probably do it safely with a cast load and pistol powder. I used 14.0gr 2400 with a 170gr cast bullet to push it 1400fps in the M39 (VKT barrel). Maybe 10-11gr will get it under 1100 fps.

Though, I can't imagine why you would want to make a subsonic load for a Mosin Nagant.

[Tho_Sun]

Most of the time I just shoot around 100 yards, I figure I could save some cash being a starving student and all. I would love to experiment with pistol powders, but as I'm no professional, I'll have to pass. My rifle is a real boom stick, the subsonic rounds would be easyer to shoot around people as I don't want to get any dirty looks for having a boom stick and I try to be respectful at ranges. Thanks for all the advice and info everyone. It will come in handy.

[ocabj]

I think what you fail to see is that a subsonic load is still going to be loud. The sound of the rapidly burning powder in that bore is going to make noise. 'Subsonic' simply means that the bullet doesn't break the speed of sound, which means there won't be a sonic 'boom' or crack. An M39 shooting a regular power handload is not going to be anymore obnoxious than any other centerfire hunting rifle on the firing line. If anything, the M39 with a regular handload will probably be less obnoxious than most of the larger caliber guns on the line, since lots of people at ranges are shooting 30cal (.308, .30-06) and long action cartridges like 6.5mm/7mm and .270 in barrels shorter than the M39.

[Tho_Sun]

I my barrel is 12 inches with a 4 inch muzzle break~ Pretty loud. I understand subsonic won't make the sound go away, but for a 12 inch, it'll be a lot nicer to the guy next to me~ The negative sonic boom is just a bonus, the reduction in powder was what I was aiming for~ I'm poor~

[ocabj]

You have a M39 with a 12" barrel and 4" muzzle brake? Why did you butcher that rifle?

As far as making that gun less obnoxious to shoot, don't bother. No matter what you shoot out of it, it's going to annoy anyone shooting next to you.

If reduction of powder is a concern, then shoot pistol powder with a cast load, just like I described.