NECK SIZING QUESTION

J

je4bowhuntin

Active member
I am fixing to order the stuff to start noeck sizing for my savage 243 win. All of my stuff is rcbs and i have been full length sizing. I am wondering if should order the lee collet neck sizer or the rcbs neck sizer? wich one is better? will the lee work with my rock chucker and rcbs shell holder.

wich dry lube should i order and what neck sizing die? you choose.

thanks, jamie
 
The Lee collet die would get my nod!

I use mine in .22-350 much and my press at that time is/was a RCBS Jr. and RCBS shell holders!

For neck lube I used mica.

Three 44s
 
You can order a neck sizing die from RCBS. All 7/8 dies will work in your Rockchucker. No lube is needed for neck sizing except a small amount in the necks to ease expander drag. I use a moly powder in mine. I have never tried the Lee Collett dies but have used the bushing dies by Redding. This is a step up and requires more deligence in attention to detail. Bushing dies are made in .001 increments. Neck turning is reccommended for this operation but not necessary. A good tubing mic is a plus with buishing dies.

Short of the collet dies I would reccommend the RCBS neck sizer.
 
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The big advantage of the Lee is it requires no lube. It uses a collet to squeeze the neck into a mandrel. All other neck sizing dies size the neck down then pull a sizing button thru to bring the neck back to the right size, that's why you need a little lube on the inside and outside of the neck with all but the Lee.

Both will work, but I like the Collet system a little better.

The Lee has the same threads as all the threaded dies on the market. I use one in 204 Ruger, 243, and 308 with great results. Be sure and read the directions if you get the Lee there is a learning curve to getting good results with this die.
 
I am not a fan of neck sizing. I did it for many years and for some chambers it is better but, in my experience, not in most. You just need to try it both ways in your chambers to see what works best.

Jack
 
+1 for the Lee. If you want to neck size with a standard system just adjust the die off of the shoulder.

I personally use a Lee collet for nearly all my brass until it needs the should bumped back. They are very easy on the brass. For the cost I would try the Lee first, just DO NOT cycle it thru the die with out brass in it or without reading the directions if you want it to be hassle free.
 
Used the Lee die and like it. However I think using a regular neck sizer performs a more uniform job in providing a constant tension on bullet grip. After sizing a bunch a cases with the Lee be sure to take a flat based bullet and see if you can force it into the case with your fingers.
I think you might find some can be slide in. Try it.
If the bullet grip is not sufficient, the recoil may cause bullets in the magazine to move slightly forward in the case. Chronyed 40 rounds rounds of ammo, same bullet, same weighed powder.
20 were neck sized, remaining 20 collet sized. Found the collet sized rounds had slower mv than the neck sized. The neck sized rounds with higher muzzle velocity also had improved standard deviation. This is not saying collet sizing is no good. It is very good if you are consistant in the amount of pressure applied. Lee states a minimum of 25 pounds of pressure is required to properly size the neck.
But the issue arises when you are resizing lots of cases. In my case it might me 250 each 30-06 or 243. Anyone can get tired putting that amount of pressure again and again so you will lax up and NOT apply full pressure.
If you do intend to collet size it may be a good idea to start with new brass. If you have been using brass neck sized or full length, the brass may be getting hard and springing back rather than maintaining the diameter of the mandrel.


Frankie B.
 
I like the Lee collet die, but it does present some problems as your brass work hardens. You may need to anneal the necks after 3 or 4 reloads, in order to have enough tension on your bullets. Some brass is harder than others and need this process earlier. I found in the brass I had available in the .22-250, Rem brass was softer than Win. brass. The Win brass had to be annealed sooner if I was to use the Lee collet die.
 
If you are just experimenting with neck sizing why not just turn your full lenghth sizer back to just do the neck,or put a washer under the die to keep it from full length sizing it ?I have to agree with Jack that neck sizing is not all it can be but find a load that is accurate and try your different sizing methods to see .If you are neck sizing to save on bass its not going to mean diddly between the two methods (fl,n)
 
i am already getting consistent 1/2" 3shot groups out of my savage mod 16 sporter barrel with full length resizing so should i even worry about neck sizing?
 
That depends on whether you want to get smaller groups. In every gun I have had, neck sizing delivered smaller groups. In guns with chambers on the large side of tolerances, the differences could be dramatic. In a 788 Rem., 222, the difference between full length sizing and neck sizing was a little over 1/2", (1 1/4" vs. 5/8" for 5 shot groups at 100 yards.) For most other guns I have owned the differences were closer to 1/4", or a bit less. Is reducing your groups by 1/4", or less, worth having your gun properly pillar bedded, cases fulled prepped, etc? You decide.

1/2" is pretty good, except possibly for shooting prairie dogs at long range. In a light barreled, non match caliber rifle, I wouldn't expect too much better, even when neck sized, prepped brass is used.
 
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If you are just experimenting with neck sizing why not just turn your full lenghth sizer back to just do the neck,or put a washer under the die to keep it from full length sizing it ?I (fl,n)



+1! Works for me, and I didn't have to buy all new dies. I have found that neck sizing does extend my brass life. Every fourth or sixth reload it is necessary to bump the shoulder back. Accuracy is every bit as good as when I FL resized, maybe a tiny bit better.
 
Have not had issues with case neck hardening using the collet die with new brass. Some of my brass both -06 and 243
have been reload 12+ times. There's no payback annealing case necks due to the time element involved. Brass is very cheap and if you're like me, we'd rather spend a day at the range rather than week annealing cases. So if I get 12 - 15 reloads I'm home free.


Frankie B.
 
One of the tricks to neck sizing with the Lee collet dies is good pressure on the handle and rotating the case several times when your sizing or you will get inconsistent neck pressure. That's why I say there is a learning curve using these dies.

Annealing every five firings will also help with consistent neck tension. Just set your cases up in a cake pan with about 3/8 inch of water in the bottom. Heat the necks red and tip over with a screwdriver.

The big draw to neck sizing is it makes your cases last longer. Sometimes up to 20 times longer depending on how hot you load. I've got some 243 cases with 25 plus firings on them. It can also contribute to accuracy.

Keep in mind that this is for bolt guns. Folks shooting semi-auto's need to full length size to keep those guns feeding properly.
 


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