to neck size or full length ?

[cocopuff]

I know this has probably been kicked around a thousand times.

But has anyone really found any big increase in accuracy by
neck sizing only? I have been waiting for some warmer weather
to do some load testing muself.
I know with one of my 308 rifles I found that the neck sizing
did not improve anything..It may have been the effect of the
neck tention? But I do know the full length sizing really made
a big difference with that rifle...Share your comments...

 

[Down South]

FL size, set the die up to bump the shoulder .001 or .002 for easy chambering and be done with it. If you just neck size eventually you will have to bump the shoulder with a body die anyway and that sizes the body and changes it from a fire formed case into a FL sized case. I used to just neck size and my load were no more accurate than full legth sizing them like I do now. Just my .02

 

[Shynloco]

I have tried both ways and have found the FL resizing provides better and more consistent accuracy in all my rifles. The Neck Sizing only theory is for people who want to believe their casings will last longer by not "working the brass" as much. But that's at the expense of accuracy, a trade off I'm not willing to make. I will say, that if you have a dedicated chamber (aka" tight chamber), and your brass matches, the brass won't be worked as much anyway. There's also an old adage for best accuracy in prepping casings, "what you do to one, you do to all." Just kinda of a personal preference thing also which is why this topic is discussed in great detail from time to time and people usually walk away doing exactly what they did before jumping into the dialogue. I know I'm sticking with the FL resizing.

 

[Lapua40X]

I've tried it both ways and I find that with neck sizing only each round requires more effort to chamber than those rounds that are full length resized. With the firing pin out of my rifle the neck sized only cases require more effort for closing the bolt than do the FL sized cases (bolt closing on cases that have been FL resized is almost effortless ) ......
I conclude that the neck sized round it being "reformed" to some degree by the chamber (most probably at the shoulder) and that doesn't make for good accuracy. I always FL resize.

 

[cocopuff]

That is excellent replies and well thought out as well..

Myself am a beleiver in full length sizing..For my 223
as well as my 22-250....This is a new 308 barrel I will
be trying..So I am going to load some full length sized
and some that are neck sized and see what the results
will be at 300 yards....I appreciate your replies..And
thank you...

Just want to make it known I will shoot a few to be formed
to the chamber...and then neck size..

 

[K22]

FL size, set the die up to bump the shoulder .001 or .002 for easy chambering and be done with it. If you just neck size eventually you will have to bump the shoulder with a body die anyway and that sizes the body and changes it from a fire formed case into a FL sized case. I used to just neck size and my load were no more accurate than full legth sizing them like I do now. Just my .02

Totally agree - plus proper full sizing gives you more consistent cases and does not reduce case life.

 

[M-61]

I have a .222 BR rifle that I had made in 1975. It has a SHBF. (shell holder bolt face). I have neck sized only over the years with a great deal of success as to case longevity. I make sure to place the cartridges orientated in the same UP direction which is very easy to do with this type of configuration. 222's are not hard on the brass so that surely helps, however I feel that the case is being worked to the very minimum in the chamber. Thus neck sizing has served me well in this application. The rifle shoots quite well and I certainly am prejudiced towards it as its been with me a long time. Other rifles I fl size. It might be more of a mental thing with me as I don't think SHBF really caught on at all.

 

[BoydAllen]

Most FL dies do not fit the chamber that the brass that it is used to size, was fired in. This has created some reluctance to FL size, discussions about brass life, and accuracy. IMO the whole issue arises from the typical mismatch between FL dies and chambers. If one has a chamber that is well matched to a FL die, fired brass is moved so little that brass life is not an issue, and there is a uniformity of fit in the chamber, that produces more consistent accuracy. This parallels discussions on barrel cleaning in which typical rough factory barrels should be treated as an entirely separate subject from lapped match grade barrels. So... I have a question for the thread starter, are you asking about a FL die that actually matches the chamber, or the typical Die?

 

[M-61]

Most FL dies do not fit the chamber that the brass that it is used to size, was fired in. This has created some reluctance to FL size, discussions about brass life, and accuracy. IMO the whole issue arises from the typical mismatch between FL dies and chambers. If one has a chamber that is well matched to a FL die, fired brass is moved so little that brass life is not an issue, and there is a uniformity of fit in the chamber, that produces more consistent accuracy. This parallels discussions on barrel cleaning in which typical rough factory barrels should be treated as an entirely separate subject from lapped match grade barrels. So... I have a question for the thread starter, are you asking about a FL die that actually matches the chamber, or the typical Die?

Great points, but assuming the only stupid question in the unasked one, Boyd how do you insure (or check) that the FL die you are using 'actually matches the chamber or is the typical die'? This has always bothered me with FL sizing.

 

[BoydAllen]

You either specify the reamer from well used brass (harder, springier, larger out of the die) that has been sized using the die, or you order a custom die, dimensioned from fired brass. If you don't own the reamer, and rebarrel, the custom die route can get a bit expensive (new chamber may not fit custom die), but if you start with a die, it can be an off the shelf piece...much less expensive, and the cost of the reamer is the same either way. Your are right about the question.