Partial Full Length resizeing?

[C.Smith]

Is it better to have the neck sizer die or will partially resizine work just about as well? Also if someone could describe how to partially full length resize I would greatly appreciate it.

Corey

 

[jr1968]

Corey

You can use your regular resizing die for neck sizing. For partial sizing or neck sizing the ram of the press don't contact with the shell holder.
I leave a quarters thickness between the ram and the shellholder and that sizes half the neck . You could go down a little more depending how much you want size.
I hope this helps you
jr1968

 

[steve4102]

These are not my words. I copied them from another site. It does a good jopb of explaining the PFL process.

1. Put the Shell Holder in the press and raise the ram.

2. Screw the Full Length(FL) Die into the press so it is about a "nickle's thickness" above the Shell Holder.

3. Lube a "Fired" case (walls and inside the neck) and squash it.

4. Remove the Lube and try closing the bolt on it in the chamber.

5. If the bolt closes with no resistance, screw the FL Die into the press about 1/8-1/4 turn and repeat steps 3 & 4.

6. As you feel the resistance begin, slow down how much you screw the FL Die into the press so you are at about 1/16 of a turn, or "Fine Tuning". At some point you will not be able to close the bolt and you are extremely close to having the FL Die in the proper position.

NOTE: The reason for this is because the FL Die has begun Resizing the Case-walls down to the Pressure Ring. As it does so, the Case-body lengthens slightly which in turn moves the Case-shoulder slightly forward. Then as the "Fine Tuning" continues the Case-shoulder makes contact with the FL Die and is moved slightly reward(or slightly shortens the Case-head to Case-shoulder dimension).

7. Stop when there is a slight bit of resistance when closing the bolt on the empty case. You now have a "slight crush fit" for the case in that specific chamber, or Zero Headspace.

8. Once you get it where you want it, take some masking tape or a black marker and put a Witness Mark where the FL Die Lock Ring is positioned to hold the FL Die in this position. Loosen the FL Die and return the Lock Ring to align with the Witness Mark and sung up the Set-Screw.

Screw the FL Die back into the press and try squashing another case. It should have the same resistance as the previous one. If not, you need to re-adjust the Lock Ring so it does. But you are extremely close to where you want it, so make very small changes at this point.

Occasionally check the fit of the cases in the chamber, say every 5th firing just to make sure nothing has slipped. Checking more often won't hurt anything and give you confidence that the Set-Up is still proper.

You have now Set-Up the FL Die to P-FLR and will have the very best opportunity at having long case life and the very best accuracy possible.

If you are hunting in Dangerous Game country, you should forget P-FLRing or Neck Sizing, and always Full Length Resize so the case chambers and extracts easily.

 

[Guy Miner]

An advantage of the true neck-size die is that it is a bushing type die, that allows you to select different bushings, for different neck tension.

 

[rick smith]

Steve4102, step 5, why do you need to go into the press with the die when the case is already loose in the chamber?
You don't need to turn the die out from contact any more than one full turn. I usually don't go that far. I would also suggest removing the expander ball when setting up to FL or PFL die. After setting the die, replace the expander ball in the die and size a case. If the case doesn't fit the chamber properly, it is not the die setting but the expander ball causing the problem. I don't even try to set to FL or PFL until my cases start getting tight in the chamber.Rick.

 

[C.Smith]

Thanks guys I appreciate it.

Corey

 

[steve4102]

Steve4102, step 5, why do you need to go into the press with the die when the case is already loose in the chamber?
.Rick.

PFL sizing is sizing the brass for a slight "Crush" fit by slightly pushing the shoulder forward. Step#6 and "Note".
If you set up your FL Die to size the neck only, you are not PFL sizing, you are neck sizing with a FL die. Hope this helps?

 

[kraky]

These are my experiences. I don't believe in a "crush fit" as a good thing anymore. In my experiments I get a different point of impact with brass that has even the slightest hint of bolt tension when closing the bolt. Benchresters no longer do a crush fit. They all set up dies......usually FL dies (many dies are custom built) so that they have about .001" headspace.
I would never hunt with ammo that didn't have some headspace....for me I like about .002".
So for me.....the bottom line is.....use a full length die the way it should be used and just set it up so that it doesn't make any excessive headspace.
Just so you know I've experiemented with standard neck dies, FL dies, collet dies, and body dies. I see no difference in accuracy between any methods in a normal hunting rifle if you are using the dies right and making good straight ammo.

 

[rick smith]

Steve, PFL is not for a crush fit but to allow the bolt to close without excessive headspace as noted by kraky. PFL should set the shoulder back 0.001-0.002" from a crush fit. Plus you cannot use a FL die to neck size cases unless you are just touching the top of the neck, the walls of the case will be in contact with the die before the neck starts to size. Just place an unsized case, by hand, into a FL die and you will see what I am talking about. I realize we are splitting hairs with our efforts but there seems to be a lot of confusion about whathow to use FL dies. Bottom line is we don't want to cause excessive headspace or over work the brass.Rick.

 

[steve4102]

Steve, PFL is not for a crush fit but to allow the bolt to close without excessive headspace as noted by kraky. PFL should set the shoulder back 0.001-0.002" from a crush fit. Plus you cannot use a FL die to neck size cases unless you are just touching the top of the neck, the walls of the case will be in contact with the die before the neck starts to size. Just place an unsized case, by hand, into a FL die and you will see what I am talking about. I realize we are splitting hairs with our efforts but there seems to be a lot of confusion about whathow to use FL dies. Bottom line is we don't want to cause excessive headspace or over work the brass.Rick.

I agree completely. One cannot neck size with a FL die. I also agree that the shoulder should be set back .001-.002 from a crush fit. But, by using the PLF method described above one can set up their FL die to do just that, set the shoulder back exactly what is desired without the use of gauges. Once you have found your "crush fit" just screw in the die a bit more until the bolt closes with ease and you are very close to .001-.002 set back. Not a set back from your fired brass, but a set back to your chamber dimensions. The touch the shell holder and add about 1/8 to 1/4 turn method doesn't work for me, as I am sure not for you as well.
I prefer to measure my brass with gauges, but this method is about the closest one can get to proper headspace without them.