full length or neck sizing

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foxhunter17

Member
what are the advantages of just neck sizing brass verses full length resizing? im going to start reloading for my .17 rem and was just wondering if a neck sizing die would be the way to go.
 
Neck sizing with Lee's collet neck die will extend brass life by a factor of 10. This is because the less you work the brass sizing it the longer it lasts. Some of my 243's had over 20 loadings on them. You are going to at some time need a full length die to bump the shoulder back to normal specs. Lee sells their delux die sets with three dies, a fl sizer a collet neck sizer and a bullet seater die.
 
I agree with Bob, Neck sizing can increase case life. That being said, I've a lot of Lapua 308 brass that has around a dozen firings on it. I set my FL die to bump the shoulder back .002" so that might have something to do with it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Whether you FL or NK size, there is absolutely no reason to bump the shoulder back more than that. IMHO
 
Whaterver dies you get you can set them up for either full lengh sizing or to neck size
As long as they are f/l sizing dies to start with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
The advantage to the Lee neck sizing die is that no case lube is needed....nice to run it through and load it right up.
 
Quote:
Whaterver dies you get you can set them up for either full lengh sizing or to neck size
As long as they are f/l sizing dies to start with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



How do you neck size with a full length sizing die?

t/c223encore.
 
Quote:
Quote:
Whaterver dies you get you can set them up for either full lengh sizing or to neck size
As long as they are f/l sizing dies to start with /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



How do you neck size with a full length sizing die?

t/c223encore.



Easiest way I found is to use a Magic Marker and color the neck. Then keep screwing the die down on the casing untill all the Magic Marker ink has disappeared. You don't have to size the full neck but I always do. You can size half way down the neck if you so choose.

Best wishes, Bill

Forgot to add, if you have locking die rings you can tighten the ring and the next time you size you can just screw the die back into the press and not have to go through all the operations again.
 
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Whenever I wont to full length size a fired case I use the Redding ( Competition Shellholder Set ) By using one of the five shellholders the headspace can be matched to the case and chamber. Most all of my reloads for the varmint rifles are neck sized. go to http://www.redding-reloading.com to get a catalog. Look for Tech Talk (Create a Custom Die) with a simple shellholder change.
 
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Ditto on kayo2. I also use the Wilson case gage to adjust my sizing operation to my chamber. Either method will be satisfactory for standard production chambers.
 
easy way to neck size a case with a full length sizing die.

Rais ram with shell holder on it all the way up.

Screw f/l sizing die all the way down until it touches the top of the shell holder.

Back the die off of the shell holder approx 2 turns. Turn lock ring so the die won't move.

Lube a case, paint neck with marker, put in sizer and run all the way up.

When you take out the shell you'll see how much of the neck you sized.

I try to aim for approx 3/4 of the length of the neck for sizing.

Adjust die appropriatly to get results.
 
Redding makes a precision ground spacer(think big washer) that goes between your fl sizer die and your press. Set up your fl die to fl size and leave it, to partial size just add the spacer. To decap and partial size just lower the decapping rod a little. I use a universal decapping die (RCBS like $10ish) so I can decap then clean brass. This keeps crud out of my sizer dies. Anyway the spacer is $3 to $5 from mid way. According to an old article in Handloader if you attempt use FL dies to size just the neck you really size more than that, so it should be called partial sizing. This keeps the body of the case supported/aligned and yields better results than many neck sizers that don't support the case.
 
I had a Lee collet, and I would rather buy RCBS. I would have to size every case twice to even get slight neck tension.
 
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