Resizing

[kevins750]

I have been reading quite a bit regarding full length size vs neck sizing for accuracy.

Do you find neck sized groups to be smaller than full length sized?

Do some/all of your rifles show quite a bit of difference?

I have read that Sierra full length sizes for testing.

[tigerpan]

It's personal opinion. For me the Full size = neck size for accuracy. But I fell the neck size brass last longer than full size

[Divernhunter]

It can help in different degrees depending on the rifle.
Neck sizing does seem to make the brass last longer usually.
Some of my rifles do not show much/any improvement. Some shoot one hole groups either way.
If for hunting I would just FL resize or better yet use new brass. Plinking/target loads neck size to not work the brass so much. All range pick-up brass is FL sized. Any brass that will be used in more than one rifle gets FL resized.

[kevins750]

It has been awhile but I think some of the best groups I shot in my factory barreled .243 came from new Winchester brass I was "fire forming".

I do realize the less brass forming I do will give me greater brass life, was just curious about the accuracy difference's, if any.

[kcstott]

I agree with the above comments. I'll only add that when I got into long range shooting competition a few years back I knew neck sizing was going to be a possibility. well after three years I can say my ammo doesn't need to be neck sized as i can shoot a 1 hole group at 100 yards and my long range scores keep going up. vertical dispersion is very low like .2 MOA

As for a comparison I can't say but i do know that most of our high master shooters will not use un-fireformed brass for competition and that means they are neck sizing too.

['ol shooter]

So, what type of neck sizing dies does everyone like to use?

[NorCalFocus]

Neck sizing your brass doesn't make it last much longer, if at all, then properly FL sized brass. You have the issue of donuts forming on the necks of your neck only sized brass. Usually the first thing to go on any piece of brass is the primer pocket.

FL size bumping your shoulders back .001"-.003" each time. That is small enough to keep from over working the brass. No donuts forming, and brass sized to the same spec every time.

[FLIGHT762]

So, what type of neck sizing dies does everyone like to use?

If you're going to N/O size, use the Lee Collet N/O die.

[Dave626]

+1 on Lee Collet. It gives the least neck runout

[eric n]

There is no difference in accuracy.
An added benefit of full length sizing is you will never have a hard bolt close.
A good die to chamber match or custom dies and a sensible load will make your brass last a long time depending on caliber.
Test it

[eric n]

IMG_0409.jpgHere's a 10 shot group forming dasher brass with nothing but a hard jam. I can assure you it was a sloppy chamber fit. Top left, the 1st shot to the left was after cleaning the barrel, the other 9 chased eachother.
I can't get the picture rotated but that's my anecdotal proof.

[longrange1]

Neck sizing your brass doesn't make it last much longer, if at all, then properly FL sized brass. You have the issue of donuts forming on the necks of your neck only sized brass. Usually the first thing to go on any piece of brass is the primer pocket.

FL size bumping your shoulders back .001"-.003" each time. That is small enough to keep from over working the brass. No donuts forming, and brass sized to the same spec every time.

[bsumoba]

As for a comparison I can't say but i do know that most of our high master shooters will not use un-fireformed brass for competition and that means they are neck sizing too.

I can tell you nearly everyone in high masters on this list for F-Open all F/L size.

Since I shoot a 284 Shehane, I fireform with COW method in a garbage can. I have perfected this method and save a lot bullets doing it this way. After 1 firing, I may shoot it another with a full match load to get the shoulders a bit more sharp, but for all intents and purposes, it is ready to go after the fireforming shot.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10101093512449154&set=pcb.1624576824248654&type=3&theater

So, what type of neck sizing dies does everyone like to use?

I don't neck size. Believe it or not, I use a custom Whidden F/L sizing die (not a bushing die), with a button on it to expand my neck. I will tell you it is not a "standard" F/L die as it has some special dimensions that I requested. I can go about why I do this, but I will tell you it is from a lot of testing and I won't bore you guys with this

Neck sizing your brass doesn't make it last much longer, if at all, then properly FL sized brass. You have the issue of donuts forming on the necks of your neck only sized brass. Usually the first thing to go on any piece of brass is the primer pocket.

FL size bumping your shoulders back .001"-.003" each time. That is small enough to keep from over working the brass. No donuts forming, and brass sized to the same spec every time.

I get donuts eventually when F/L sizing, regardless of whether it is a bushing or F/L sizing die AND regardless of whether I turn necks or even inside ream. After a couple firings, the donut will ALWAYS come back. Don't take my word for it. My test is on a fired cas is to drop a bullet into the neck. If it goes all the way through unimpeded, it has no donut. The moment the bullet bearing surface hangs up, you got donuts. Donut forming it seems in unavoidable. The way many of us get away with it is to have a long enough freebore to load a bullet above the donut region.

There is no difference in accuracy.
An added benefit of full length sizing is you will never have a hard bolt close.
A good die to chamber match or custom dies and a sensible load will make your brass last a long time depending on caliber.
Test it

My question to the neck sizing guys is after a few firings when they have to F/L size because their case won't go into the chamber, how can that mean that the brass is more consistent from the first firing to say the third firing? It seems to me the case is getting bigger after every firing... I can guarantee you that each of my cases when it goes into a chamber are identical and that is because I F/L size with a dies that sizes it that same way each time.

[fguffey]

Do some/all of your rifles show quite a bit of difference?

Difference? I have a N1917 30/06 chamber that is .011" longer from the shoulder of the chamber to the bolt face than a go-gage length chamber, I know, reloaders have an infatuation with head space so I will explain; If I fire a minimum length full length sized round in that chamber the length of the case will increase between the shoulder of the case and case head .011".

When sizing the case: after the case is fired and formed to the chamber I avoid shortening the case from the shoulder of the case to the cases head by adjusting the die .009" off the shell holder with a feeler gage.

The problem: Reloaders insist the case has head space, my cases do not have head space so I am exempt. If I choose to off set the length of the chamber with the length of the case from the shoulder of the case to the case head I use 280 Remington cases. The 280 Remington case is .051" longer from the shoulder to the case head than a 30/06 case; meaning if I raise the die off of the shell holder .014" when forming 280 R cases I get the magic .002" clearance.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

I have read that Sierra full length sizes for testing.

And they also claimed the case can fit the chamber like rat scat in a fiddle case, I am the only one that believe that is the silliest piece of information that is disseminated on reloading forums, Sierra claims they full length size, I insist they should measure before and again after firing, they should know the clearance. Depending on the type of action, the clearance has an effect on what happens to the case when fired.

Again: I have a rifle with .011" clearance meaning my chamber is .002" longer than a field reject length gage, The lucky part for the rifle, it is my rifle and I am the only one that understands what happens to the case when the trigger is pulled.

And then one day I chambered a round in a rifle and pulled the trigger, there was .127" clearance between the shoulder of the case and shoulder of the chamber; HEAD SPACE? When I ejected the case it only had a hint of a neck and! the case got longer from the shoulder it the case head and it must have been a miracle, the shoulder on my case did not move.

F. Guffey