neck sizing

[PA243]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of neck szing. I have read about it in the reloading manual but it doesnt go into alot of detail about it. Thanks
Derek

 

[rick smith]

Doesn't work the brass as much, no lube necessary, brass fits the chamber better, less trimming.Rick.

 

[DrMike]

PA243,

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you aboard.

Doesn't work the brass as much, no lube necessary, brass fits the chamber better, less trimming.

Rick's answer was succinct and correct. Many people find that neck sizing permits building more accurate ammunition.

 

[JD338]

PA243

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you here.
Rick Smith has said it all.

One thing I would like to clarify is neck sizing vs partial full length resizing.
True neck sizing uses a die that only resizes the neck and does not touch the body of the case. When you only neck size, at some point you will need to bump the shoulder back and you will need a full length resizing die to do this.

Many hand loaders refer to neck sizing when using a full length resizing die and in reality, what you are actually doing is a partial full length resizing. As the case is inserted into the die you are resizing the entire case. The farther the case goes into the die, the more resizing is done until the case is fully resised and the shoulder is bumped back.

JD338

 

[kendog]

I have loaded a few thousand 30-06 rounds and never once had to bump the shoulder back. Not sure the reason, 243 and 308 I have to. ?

 

[PA243]

thanks for all the info.After how many firings do you have to set the shoulder back?

 

[OregonCoyoteKiller]

If the action gets hard to close. Then yes. Or start over with new brass.

 

[DrMike]

You'll feel the increased tension required to close your bolt. It is telling you that you need to set the shoulder back a couple of thousandths. Generally, depending on tolerances when your chamber was cut, that will be two to three firings.

 

[JD338]

thanks for all the info.After how many firings do you have to set the shoulder back?

It will depend on "your" chamber, brass and the pressures of the load.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

PA243 - I've got a couple of rifles for which I only neck size: a .204 Ruger and a .25-06 Rem. Also mostly neck size for .375 H&H, .308 Win, and .300 WSM. It works out pretty well for me.

The neck-sizing dies I prefer are by L.E. Wilson, out of Cashmere Washington. They are used with a small arbor press, not a standard reloading press like my Rockchucker. The advantages to these Wilson dies include tremendous precision, and also they use a bushing for the neck sizing. This allows the loader to swap bushings, varying the amount of neck tension holding the bullet. There is no expander ball with these dies - it's not necessary. That eliminates some working of the brass - it just gets squeezed down to the required diameter, not squeezed down, then bumped back up. I seen to get very little case stretch when I'm using these dies.

This setup is conducive to building very accurate ammo. I use these dies on all my .204 & .25-06 loading, and most of my .308 Win loading - although sometimes I'll run the .308 brass through a "normal" sizing die.

For the other cartridges - the .300 WSM & .375 H&H, I've been neck sizing with standard dies for the most part - and it's working very well. With the .375 am actually getting more of a "partial full length" sizing - as discussed above, but mostly it's just the neck getting squeezed down. This has resulted in some excellent accuracy, particularly with the 260 gr Nosler AccuBond. Really pretty impressive, getting sub MOA accuracy from such a powerful rifle.

I don't think neck sizing is the only answer, but I do like it. Accuracy and long case life are two good reasons.

Regards, Guy

 

[DrMike]

Wilson dies are the BMWs or Lexus of the reloading world. Good stuff.

 

[mwells]

I do the partial length resizing out of necessity. I have a Contender in 7-30 waters in both pistol and carbine barrels. The pistol I have never had an issue with. But the carbine barrel has given me fits. It seems that TC barrels do have some issue with headspacing from time to time. But by using preformed brass and neck sizing I have gone from about 60 percent reliability to 100 percent. And groups tightened up some as well.

 

[JD338]

I do the partial length resizing out of necessity. I have a Contender in 7-30 waters in both pistol and carbine barrels. The pistol I have never had an issue with. But the carbine barrel has given me fits. It seems that TC barrels do have some issue with headspacing from time to time. But by using preformed brass and neck sizing I have gone from about 60 percent reliability to 100 percent. And groups tightened up some as well.

I think if you bumped the shoulder, you will be fine.
FWIW, I have a T/C Contender 7-30 Waters too. Great round!

JD338