should I FL Size my new .223 Laupa brass before firing

[Linko]

I have new Lapua .223 brass. Beyond checking length, should I FL Size prior to first firing. This is for my Savage Model 12 F TR rifle. S(single round)

Thanks

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yes

 

[Nowhere Man]

Why would you resize new brass?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Because the manufacturer doesnt

 

[M-61]

From Midway site re new brass. Do I think they are the final word? No. However they print the following. Is it there because of lawyers? Don't know and don't care. They have seen fit to include this in their ad.


"New, unprimed brass should always be resized before loading. This brass has undergone factory annealing which extends brass life, as a result of the annealing process the neck portion of the brass may be discolored until the case is cleaned. This is not loaded ammunition."

 

[ShootDots]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

 

[M-61]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

Ben I am with you on that.

 

[ShootDots]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

Ben I am with you on that.

Yes Sir.. When I first started into reloading (I think back when the Asians invented gun powder) I used to worry about how little I could get away with to make it go BOOM! Now-a-days, BOOM just means all my labors must now start all over again! LOL!!!

 

[Linko]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

With that said, I guess you are examining everything. Such as weight, concentricity, neck thickness and volumn. Then sorting.

 

[Linko]

Shouldn't I first fireform at near max load then measure to get correct dimension so I can then set the FL die to bump .002 ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I would fl size em to get em at least round case mouths and fit in the chamber. If youre looking for an easy out then go ahead and max em out

 

[Nowhere Man]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

.
Ben I'd be interested in reading it. Please share.

 

[amlevin]

Based on my experiences with Lapua brass all they really need for the first firing is to run an expander mandrel through the necks and then shoot them once before any more case prep.

I also find that they could use a bit more chamfer on the inside of he case mouth.

If I'm neck sizing I do that AFTER they've been fire-formed and F/L sized (but only enough to bump the shoulders back .001"-.002". This way I know I'm not just truing up a case neck that had a bit of a taper in it from the factory. Fire forming and resizing pretty much insures that you are in contact with the turning mandrel along the full length of the neck ID

 

[ShootDots]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

.
Ben I'd be interested in reading it. Please share.

You have a P.M.

 

[Conrad]

No, if it chambers ok then there isn't any point in bumping the shoulders more. Just chamfer the mouths and run a mandrel through the neck.

 

[riflewoman]

When they manufacture the brass, they make it "ready to load". They don't resize the brass when it is run through their loading machine. The reason you are told to resize is because of all the extra banging around. This banging can put small dents and resizing will remove most of them. YMMV.

 

[Nowhere Man]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

.
Ben I'd be interested in reading it. Please share.

You have a P.M.

Got it. Thank you.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

The last batch of Lapua 260rem brass I worked with needed a mandrel through the necks and the primer pockets uniformed. I had about 10% of the primers seat proud of the case bottom. The 2nd loading was perfect after I uniformed everything.

 

[dbramley]

If I enunciated what I go thru to prep NEW brass, you would think F/L sizing would be the least of your labors! If all you do is F/L size, consider yourself lucky!

.
Ben I'd be interested in reading it. Please share.

You have a P.M.

Ben, could you copy and paste to me the process you go through in your PM? A am attempting to gain what knowledge I can.
Thanks,
Dan Bramley

 

[Berger.Fan222]

I have been mentoring a younger shooter, and 200 Lapua cases hit the line for F-TR this year without being resized before the first loading. At 100 yards, everything was 0.5 MOA with a moderate load of Varget and 80 SMKs. That's good enough for F-TR. After FL resizing, group sizes shrank and have consistently been 0.3-0.4 MOA. Could we have achieved smaller groups at 100 yards (and slightly better F-TR scores) by resizing first? I don't know.

This shooter dropped most points misreading the wind. I bet you will too whether or not you resize the brass first.