full length vs. neck sizing

[Camel 23]

I've been reloading for about 10 years now and have always used full length sizing dies.  What are the pro's and con's of only neck sizing?  I will be loading both 223 rem and 7 x 30 Waters ammo for a Thompson Contender.  Thanks for any input.

[longwinters]

Camel, I am new at reloading but this is what I have read on this site.  The only times you really need to full length size is when switching brass from one rifle to another a/c the brass is formed to the gun it was last fired in, and each rifle is different. The other time is with new brass since it is not necessarily all the same.  Although I know people who only load new brass and never "reload".  They say that reloading is not worth the hassle.  I think it is worth the work myself.   Neck sizing lets your brass last longer and supposedly is the most accurate brass for your rifle (taken of course that it has been already shot in that gun).  My RCBS dies allow me to full length size as well as just neck size.  So far, I have had excellent results with just neck sizing my brass.

[bigdaddytacp]

I've been reloading for about 10 years now and have always used full length sizing dies.  What are the pro's and con's of only neck sizing?  I will be loading both 223 rem and 7 x 30 Waters ammo for a Thompson Contender.  Thanks for any input.

....In many guns it will give better accuracy due to the better fit of the cartridge to the chamber in a more consistant manner....BUT the TC doesn't have the force of the bolt to cam the cartridge in the chamber so you have to go on a chamber by chamber basis as to the roundness of your guns chamber and the expansion of your lot of brass at your chamber/load pressure......the brass will last longer neck sizing than full length IF your chamber is large and the sizing die is small compared to each other but still normal/SAAMI specs and the brass gets sized down a lot in the die and then is blown out to fit the larger chamber....a better fit between the chamber and the die and the longer life of the brass isn't as pronounced......some guns just won't like neck sized brass and won't shoot quite as accurately-consistantly as full length sized....the partial full length sizing that sizes the body but does not set the shoulder back is a good compromise with the full length die backed off as not to set the shoulder back or the use of Redding competition shell holder set which is in different thicknesses to avoid setting the shoulder back.......This is mainly from bolt gun chamberings and a few Ruger #1,3, Browning single shotsB78 and a couple of T/C pistols and feedback from other loaders in my shooting/loading group...HTH...good luck and good shooting!!