OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
If you pull bullets from rounds you had loaded do you neck size the brass before using the cases again or just seat a bullet?
to seat or not to seat
- Thread starter OU812
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,616
- 9,836
I always run the case through the FL sizer dire to to make sure neck tension is the same.
JD338
JD338
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
I always resize the neck. Seating the bullet does stretch the diameter of the neck somewhat and the tension would be different if you reseated the bullet without neck resizing.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,552
- 6,657
Always resize the neck to ensure similar neck tension on all bullets.
- Thread starter
- #5
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
- 2
I have always done the same thing but was wondering if I was working the necks more than needed by doing so.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,552
- 6,657
In the bigger scheme of things, I consider the minimal loss of ductility in the neck metal to be justified in the trade-off with consistency of release of the bullet.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,471
- 3,595
Absolutely!!!! neck TENSION IS PERTINENT AND PARAMOUNT TO ACCURACY!
I once did a test where I sized similar cases to different ID's (from .002" to .010" below caliber), pulled the bullets, gauged the ID with pin gauges. Even with very different ID's, the case necks all returned to .002" less than caliber.
Actually one of the best ways to get completely consistant bullet grips
So IMO, no you don't have to resize
Actually one of the best ways to get completely consistant bullet grips
So IMO, no you don't have to resize
"So IMO, no you don't have to resize."
I respectfully disagree. I have a bunch of milsurp 30-06 brass left over from a large batch I bought many years ago when a 30-06 was all I ever expected to own. I had to pull the bullets, salvage the powder which as4895 (said so on the ammo can including a lot #) punch out the corrosive primers (LC43 brass).
As I loaded up ammo from that brass, I'd just run what I needed through a full length sizing die and load away. A while back I loaded up about 50 rounds using some of that brass that had never been reloaded and I forgot to resize to make sure the necks would be of the proper size. Every one of the bullets seated in that brass can be turned by hand and easily pushed in, some with just with my thumb. I would have to think that a variance of the .002" you measured would have an effect on the bullet pull which could/would fect the acuracy of the load. JMHO.
Paul B.
I respectfully disagree. I have a bunch of milsurp 30-06 brass left over from a large batch I bought many years ago when a 30-06 was all I ever expected to own. I had to pull the bullets, salvage the powder which as4895 (said so on the ammo can including a lot #) punch out the corrosive primers (LC43 brass).
As I loaded up ammo from that brass, I'd just run what I needed through a full length sizing die and load away. A while back I loaded up about 50 rounds using some of that brass that had never been reloaded and I forgot to resize to make sure the necks would be of the proper size. Every one of the bullets seated in that brass can be turned by hand and easily pushed in, some with just with my thumb. I would have to think that a variance of the .002" you measured would have an effect on the bullet pull which could/would fect the acuracy of the load. JMHO.
Paul B.
G
Guest
Guest
I've tried it both ways, and can firmly say that my experience dictates resizing the necks is a necessity. It's not, however, a necessity for every piece of brass. The trouble is, it's impossible to tell which ones will require it before charging and seating, so you end up having to dump a number of rounds (15-20% minimum, in my experience) and resize, recharge, and reseat. Accuracy is more consistent with sizing them all, as well, due to consistent neck tension, as Fotis has already pointed out.
It's a small task, really. What I do is pull them all, carefully placing the charged brass in a loading block. Once I get them all pulled, I start into resizing by adjusting the expander ball up into the die so it won't decap the live primers. Then I dump the powder into my scale pan with the scale set to read at the appropriate charge weight for verification. Be sure to get all the powder out - especially if it was a compressed load. Use a straightened paper clip or rigid piece of copper wire to scratch around if you have residual sticking in the case. Then size the neck, and recharge. I use two loading blocks so I don't get confused as to what's been sized and recharged versus what needs to be. Then just seat bullets normally. Easy.
It's a small task, really. What I do is pull them all, carefully placing the charged brass in a loading block. Once I get them all pulled, I start into resizing by adjusting the expander ball up into the die so it won't decap the live primers. Then I dump the powder into my scale pan with the scale set to read at the appropriate charge weight for verification. Be sure to get all the powder out - especially if it was a compressed load. Use a straightened paper clip or rigid piece of copper wire to scratch around if you have residual sticking in the case. Then size the neck, and recharge. I use two loading blocks so I don't get confused as to what's been sized and recharged versus what needs to be. Then just seat bullets normally. Easy.
OK you disbelievers! :mrgreen:
RETEST:
30-06 - loaded round pulled out of my box marked 06-1 (was going to do a sizing/pull/ID test but can't find my old FL die since I only use Lee Collets now)
375 Ruger - loaded round marked 75-1 and new cases marked 75-2, 75-3 and 75-4 added later
6.5 rem mag - marked 6.5-1
338RUM - marked 338-1
280AI - marked 280-1
06 pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
6.5 Rem Mag pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
338RUM pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
280AI pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
Now the real test to see how different starting ID's effect the dimensions of the ID's after bullets being seated and then pulled. The only way to do this test is with a FL die and the only caliber I have a FL die for is in 375 Ruger (haven't got around to ordering a Lee Collet yet)
375 Ruger new case unsized before and after bullet seating & pulling, .372" before .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger new case sized with expander before and after bullet seating & pulling, .371" before .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger new case sized without expander before and after bullet seating & pulling .361" before :shock: & .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
All necks were perfectly round from the bullet expansion and ALL .002" BELOW CALIBER. Reseated all bullets back into cases and put back in the box
Paul I did not say they had .002" variance, I said they all returned to .002" below caliber
YMMV but show it to me
RETEST:
30-06 - loaded round pulled out of my box marked 06-1 (was going to do a sizing/pull/ID test but can't find my old FL die since I only use Lee Collets now)
375 Ruger - loaded round marked 75-1 and new cases marked 75-2, 75-3 and 75-4 added later
6.5 rem mag - marked 6.5-1
338RUM - marked 338-1
280AI - marked 280-1
06 pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
6.5 Rem Mag pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
338RUM pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
280AI pulled bullet and pin gauge ID .002" BELOW CALIBER
Now the real test to see how different starting ID's effect the dimensions of the ID's after bullets being seated and then pulled. The only way to do this test is with a FL die and the only caliber I have a FL die for is in 375 Ruger (haven't got around to ordering a Lee Collet yet)
375 Ruger new case unsized before and after bullet seating & pulling, .372" before .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger new case sized with expander before and after bullet seating & pulling, .371" before .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
375 Ruger new case sized without expander before and after bullet seating & pulling .361" before :shock: & .373" after .002" BELOW CALIBER
All necks were perfectly round from the bullet expansion and ALL .002" BELOW CALIBER. Reseated all bullets back into cases and put back in the box
PJGunner":1p1wqalo said:
Paul I did not say they had .002" variance, I said they all returned to .002" below caliber
YMMV but show it to me
"Paul I did not say they had .002" variance, I said they all returned to .002" below caliber
YMMV but show it to me."
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. All I know is that batch of 30-06 I loaded up that has the loose bullets is pretty empirical evidence to me. I'll have to check ou some that I still haven't loaded. Probably can come close with my dial caliper, I hope. :lol:
Paul B.
YMMV but show it to me."
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. All I know is that batch of 30-06 I loaded up that has the loose bullets is pretty empirical evidence to me. I'll have to check ou some that I still haven't loaded. Probably can come close with my dial caliper, I hope. :lol:
Paul B.
I have pulled bullets and reloaded without resizing before. I could then move the bullet up or down in the neck with my fingers after reloading. My experience indicated they must be resized, either full or neck, before reloading.
Woods, Sure can't understand your experience with them.
Woods, Sure can't understand your experience with them.
