556 neck sizing and bullet seating

[new2this]

I am in the process of collecting everything I need for 556 reloading, haven't yet done any, and I'm confused with regard to neck sizing and bullet seating.

I have the Lee Pacesetter die set which includes the full length size/decap die but not the neck sizing die. I plan to full length size and primer pocket swage on a single stage press, trim, and then move to a progressive press to load.

Questions:

1. Should I start on the progressive press with a neck sizing collet die? Is there an accuracy advantage to doing this if I've full length sized before trim?

2. Either with or without the neck sizing die, do I need an expander die? I have the Lee seating die but I don't see anything like an expander die as in 9mm loading. Does the sizing prepare the neck for placing a bullet prior to seating?

 

[338 dude]

An expanding mandrel is my final step in my brass sizing process

 

[Cemetery21]

Your expander ball in the Lee full lenth sizer, or the mandrel in the collet die will leave the neck ready to load. There is no seperate neck bell/expander for rifle loading (well, maybe there is something for lead bullet loading, but we are talking normal copper jacket rifle loading here).
Dude and many other precision loaders will size necks a little undersized then use a seperate expander mandrel die to finish size the internal neck (not just bell the mouth like you do for 9mm).
I doubt you would be able to use your collet die if you used the Lee full length die first. The neck would be too tight to go over the collet mandrel.

 

[jelenko]

What will the rounds be used for? Hunting? Competition? If competition, what 'discipline or format'?
Peoples' recommendations can depend on what the round will be used for.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

If you are shooting an AR platform, the neck sizer will do you no good. You must full length resize every time.

No expander die is required.

 

[new2this]

Thanks everyone for the input. In response to some of the questions/comments, my goal is to hit the bull's eye at 300 yards for my own personal satisfaction. I am definitely not a competition shooter. lol

This is for an AR and I will definitely do a full length resize, regardless. I was just wondering if there was a benefit from a neck-only die, in the same vein that separate die for bullet seat and crimp is generally considered better than a single die that does both functions. From the responses, I'm concluding that the neck only is not needed after resize, and may not even work.

Thanks everyone, you saved me from buying a neck-only die for nothing (well, actually for $29.91).

 

[mac86951]

Thanks everyone for the input. In response to some of the questions/comments, my goal is to hit the bull's eye at 300 yards for my own personal satisfaction. I am definitely not a competition shooter. lol

This is for an AR and I will definitely do a full length resize, regardless. I was just wondering if there was a benefit from a neck-only die, in the same vein that separate die for bullet seat and crimp is generally considered better than a single die that does both functions. From the responses, I'm concluding that the neck only is not needed after resize, and may not even work.

Thanks everyone, you saved me from buying a neck-only die for nothing (well, actually for $29.91).

For an AR? Are you planning on magazine feeding or single loading thru the ejection port?

If Mag feeding, no I don't think you'll see any benefit from full-length sizing followed by neck sizing in any cartridge if you're excluding neck turning too.

AR recommendation; just FL size only, get a RCBS precision mic, or Hornady equivalent tool. From fired, set your dies for 3-4 thou datum to case head length shortening (aka setback).

You can load all of this on a progressive press; but I still do the brass cleaning, sizing, trimming separate from loading to ensure I've culled out crimped primer brass.

300y bullseye, what size? If 3" is your goal, the only questions that remain is cartridge component selection and details about your rifle to match components.

-Mac