Neck size or body size first?

[Tsu45]

When performing these operations separately, do you neck size or body size first? Using a Redding bushing neck die and Redding body die. Plan to try out a Lee collet die soon.

Also, this is all once fired brass, so if I decide I don’t need to move the shoulder back yet do I need to use lube with the Redding neck die? I bought the upgraded nitride bushings.

 

[Mozella]

I neck size first with a bushing die simply because I do that on a Hornady progressive press. Since the neck die also removes the spent primer and the Hornady requires the depriming to happen in station one, this dual operation comes first. The next die is the body die followed by a mandrel die to final size and round out the neck.

Since the cases are lubed for this operation I can't comment on neck sizing without lube.

I don't know if a different sequence would be better or worse, but my sequence seems to work OK.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Once fired in THAT gun? If the brass will fit back in the chamber and the bolt closes with no issues, neck size and reload.
If it's from another chamber, try it but be ready to full length resize and start from scratch.

 

[M-61]

Quote from Tsu45:
"...... so if I decide I don’t need to move the shoulder back yet....."

And that decision you make will be based on what?
Is this being reloaded for a bolt action ?
Is this for target or hunting?

 

[jepp2]

back yet do I need to use lube with the Redding neck die?

Well, I had about 20 rounds of 222 Remington brass I wanted to tighten the necks on. Using a titanium nitride bushing, this happened on around the 6'th round of not using lube. Now I always use lube.

 

[Tsu45]

Once fired in THAT gun? If the brass will fit back in the chamber and the bolt closes with no issues, neck size and reload.
If it's from another chamber, try it but be ready to full length resize and start from scratch.

Yes. One rifle.

 

[mikecr]

I don't see how a neck bushing could do that. You must be doing something very wrong.

I hand deprime(before cleaning), then bump shoulders, bushing NS, and mandrel preseat, just prior to charging cases.

 

[Tsu45]

Quote from Tsu45:
"...... so if I decide I don’t need to move the shoulder back yet....."

And that decision you make will be based on what?
Is this being reloaded for a bolt action ?
Is this for target or hunting?

I was going to base it on neck sizing only a couple of cases and test chambering, checking for any resistance. Bolt action. Target.

In the long run I intend to keep the shoulder bumped back a couple thou for ease of chambering, but is my understanding that this once fired brass may not be fully formed yet, so there is a possibility I may not be bumping back off the actual chamber dimensions at this point.

So if I do decidide through testing that I’m fully formed forward at the shoulder and will need to perform both operation, which should I do first?

 

[jr600yd]

Body size & bump shoulders back .001-.002, neck size, prime load shoot.

 

[jepp2]

I don't see how a neck bushing could do that. You must be doing something very wrong.

Doubt it. I have successfully run over 10,000 through bushings using lube without an issue. Maybe the case neck had a defect, don't know for sure. It was a challenge to remove though.

 

[243winxb]

do I need to use lube with the Redding neck die

Just on the outside of the neck. Its on Reddings website. Use very little. Steel or coated, both get lube.

Just what is on my fingers is enough lube, when using my type S fl die.

Numbers stamped on Reddings bushing should face the case neck, or down.

 

[NorCalMikie]

If you end up just neck sizing, sooner or later you'll have to body size or full length as the body gets fat and the bolt will get hard to open. Lots of folks will just full length resize and be done with it. I prefer neck sizing and body sizing as needed.

 

[HTSmith]

I neck size first as that also deprimes. My theory is that the body sizer will work a little better with no primer in place. I'm not sure if my theory is any good, but the process works pretty well for me.

 

[John Russell]

I neck size first as that also deprimes. My theory is that the body sizer will work a little better with no primer in place. I'm not sure if my theory is any good, but the process works pretty well for me.

What does the presence of the fired primer (or lack thereof) have to do with sizing the body??

 

[akajiggs]

Just on the outside of the neck. Its on Reddings website. Use very little. Steel or coated, both get lube.

Just what is on my fingers is enough lube, when using my type S fl die.

Numbers stamped on Reddings bushing should face the case neck, or down.

Thought the numbers on the bushings go up. Guess I have been doing it wrong.
Jim

 

[Shynloco]

Tsu45,
I'm kinda surprised by the number of reloaders that neck size BEFORE they body size (if that's the method they use). It strikes me that when you are resizing, whenever you change any dimension in the body of the case (including the base), that change travels upward in the casing toward the neck. Any sizing in the neck area would be affected including the shoulder angle (bump), unless done in concert when using a FL Resizing Die.. Now admittedly, I do not use a Body Die UNLESS I want to reshape the entire casing due to poor concentricity. And I have found success in "rehabilitating" a casing by turning it 1/4 turns 4X (running it through the Body Die on each 1/4 turn) and then run an oversized mandrel through the neck and THEN run it through the Neck Die for sizing. If concentricity is bad after all that, I either round file the casing or use it as a Fouler. Works for me, but each to his own.

Alex

 

[jimbires]

I body size first , then bushing neck size . my third step would be , I've started to use an expander mandrel in a few cartridges .

my thoughts are , sizing the body could change the neck size , so I body size first .

 

[John Russell]

I body size first, then bushing neck size. My third step would be, I've started to use an expander mandrel in a few cartridges.

My thoughts are, sizing the body could change the neck size, so I body size first.

Can you please 'splain how that happens - I cannot, for the life of me, picture how that is possible?? It is more likely that neck sizing second, could effect the body (but I doubt that too).

 

[jimbires]

Can you please 'splain how that happens - I cannot, for the life of me, picture how that is possible?? It is more likely that neck sizing second, could effect the body (but I doubt that too).

I sure didn't say it does . I don't have pin gauges either , it's just my way of thinking . you size the neck perfectly , then you push the shoulder back a couple thousandths . only one end of the neck is supported , the other end is free to do as it wants . how do I know the neck didn't change size or shape , and cause a change in neck tension . I really don't see the body getting altered by sizing the neck only . so I've felt I'd rather take a chance on doubtfully altering the body a tenth or two , instead of maybe altering the neck a tenth or two .

 

[mikehotel]

interesting discussion. My most accurate reloads are by using the redding type 's' die without a bushing followed by the Lee collet die, which also deprimes the case.