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help with loading brand new brass

Brand new lake city brass. For the first loading should I just full length size them or full length size and neck size them ? Once they are fire formed in my rifle I will just neck size but what about the very first loading ?
 
I'd at least run them over a neck sizing ball, or onto a neck sizing mandrel if you have one that's the correct size.

In shipping & handling it's not at all uncommon for necks to get dinged up a bit. Running them over a sizing tool of some kind helps even these dings out, makes bullet seating more uniform & less likely to shave jacket material off in the event there's a serious flat spot on one or more case mouths.

And if for a gas gun I'd fuggedabout neck-sizing only. You need to make sure they'll chamber easily during bolt cycling, for which full-length sizing is more the rule rather than an exception.
 
Here's my procedure for NEW cases for Bolt rifles:

1. Inspect for defects that are not correctable - discard defective.

2. Full Size with Zero cam over for new cases - why - to uniform the necks and make sure all cases are of uniform size. (Note: I had a bag of new Hornady cases that was slightly over size so I found it's a good idea to full size all new cases but with zero cam so as not to push the shoulder back on new cases. After first firing I adjust Full Size die to push shoulder back .001 to .002" from a fire case in a specific rifle.)

3. Check Length - trim if necessary.

4. Chamfer inside and outside necks even if you don't trim because some new cases have edges on the neck that can shave bullets in fact it's not a bad idea to do this first before any sizing so as not to deposit brass particles in your die that can lead to scratching the die's surface.

5. Deburr flash hole and uniform primer pockets - this is more geared towards precision reloads (target shooting and long range varmint / predator hunting) than general purpose hunting reloads.
 
Brand new lake city brass. For the first loading should I just full length size them or full length size and neck size them ? Once they are fire formed in my rifle I will just neck size but what about the very first loading ?

Get rid of your neck sizing die/step all together. No one neck sizes only, its been proven to cause issues and not factor in accuracy.
 
I've read all the posts twice , and you , ( OP ) haven't said what caliber , bolt or gas gun . Be nice to have that information to give you better responses to your questions . After all , LC does make 5.56 & .308 last I checked . Maybe some others , too .
 
I've read all the posts twice , and you , ( OP ) haven't said what caliber , bolt or gas gun . Be nice to have that information to give you better responses to your questions . After all , LC does make 5.56 & .308 last I checked . Maybe some others , too .

50 BMG too
 
Huh, really? Tell me more, I guess I'm doing it all wrong.


There is nothing wrong with neck sizing only. But, you will eventually have to use a body die (especially if running hot loads), for the cartridge to chamber without resistance.
 
Some guys still like to neck size, because it probably works for them. For new brass, I would do what AJC said "Debur the flash holes, check the chamfer, maybe run a mandrel for neck tension and load." Personally I quit neck sizing years ago. I use a full length bushing die for everything now. I feel that more people are using this method lately.... If you neck size only, the brass grows a little with each firing, which means it is inconsistent. Minimally full length sizing gives you consistency.
The only way you will ever know is to try it each way and do what's best for you.
 
I believe that most all manufactures of brass recommend for new brass to be FL sized before loading. This will cover their butt if for some reason the reloaded case blows up on the first firing. Just because the case looks good dose not mean that there is not a weak/ thin spot in the case that would show up when FL sized.
After the first firing the case can be necked sized an checked for length again before loading.
It is always better to play the safe side than to get hurt, or worse, when reloading.
 
Run them through a FL sizing die, check and trim for length if needed, deburr flash hole, ream primer pocket, chamfer case mouth, load them and fire away.
Now if it is for a AR or semi=auto, you might want the FL size die to be a small base one.
 
what is a small base die ?

Sizing die designed & produced with an inner diameter less than ‘standard’ dies nearest the bottom end. Result is a case sized to a slightly smaller OD just ahead of the extractor groove.

They have their uses, while I disagree with the poster suggesting they’re necessary when resizing brass for use in AR-type rifles. What’s important is choosing a sizing die that works well when resizing brass to load & use in a given rifle’s chamber. Not all dies are created equal!!
 

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