Factory 308 brass; resize before loading?

[Kevin S]

Hey there folks! Quick question;

I just received some shiny new Hornady 'Match Grade' 308 brass. What do y'all recommend in terms of case prep? FL-size, neck-size, or just chamfer?

I've only ever prepped once-fired and cruddy Winchester factory brass. Dunno if these 'better grade' should be treated the same.

All help is always VERY much appreciated!!!

[milw50717]

At a minimum you should neck-size to ensure proper bullet seating.

It is generally best to full-length resize all new brass just in case they are out of spec. However you can case gage and chamber them and if all looks good just neck-size.

[Kevin S]

Thanks for the advice! The perfectionist in me wants to FL each piece to ensure consistency, but the miser in me wants to save on brass stress.

I think I'll treat these like all others to be sure.

Thanks again!

[Sub95]

What are you going to use it for? paper match hunting?

[Kevin S]

Hunting mostly; but my thought is that in anything I do; I want to make sure my ammunition isn't the culprit.

So consistency and proper load work up is important.

I want to make sure all fault is on the doofus behind the trigger and not the equipment

[Divernhunter]

Depends on how anal you want to get.
1) I have just primed and loaded them.--For hunting or non-comp target shooting. I have gotten one hole groups sometimes.
2) I have run them into a FL sizer for the sizer ball to enter the neck and true up the necks but not FL size. Same results as #1 but less bullet shaving.
3) I have also chamfered the neck inside and out after #2 and got the same results except even less bullet shaving
4) For my Africa trip I got real anal and in addition to the above I ran them in the tumbler with new corn cob media until very shiney, deburred the flash holes, uniformed the primer pockets, weighted the brass and seperated into groups within 1 grain for each group. Hand primed all brass with newly purchased primers. Then hand weighted each powder charge. Loaded with bullets which were weighted into groups and carefully seated. They shot well also. Accurate enough out to 480 yards in a 338win mag or 257Roberts for all one shot kills. This was with regular Rem and Win brass.

Some quick questions: What cartridge are you loading? To hunt what? What bullet/powder/primers are you using? What rifle/scope combo are you going to shoot this out of? What is your hunting/reloading expierence level? How much practice do you do/have with the rifle/scope? The answer to some of these is more important than the brass prep. If you would like some help or to go shoot at the range (no cost) and are near me I would be glad to help.

[SMarquez]

I do and also de-burr the flash holes.

[G-forceJunkie]

Headspace should be fine, but you may want to run an expander ball down the necks to straighten them out and make sure they are the right size. I know Winchester always comes with tight necks.

[HPBrowningMK3]

Resize. Always.

[EL_NinO619]

Honady match should be on par and ready to load. That's how it was when I got some. I say drop a few in a case gauge, if they check out try and reload a few and check that its not shaving the bullets and neck tension is proper.

[Beelzy]

Resize. Always.

+1......always.