Reloading NEW brass...

[JCM]

I've been reloading only a little while and everything I've reloaded for I've used once fired brass.....

Now I'm looking to load a couple of calibers that I've only got new, unfired brass for.  One is a pistol, one is a rifle.

Do I still need to FL size the brass?

Differences in any steps....this is for both pistol and rifle.

Thanks,
JCM

[ricciardelli]

My standard operation for ALL new brass is:

1) Deburr all flashholes;
2) Full-length resize all cases;
3) Trim all cases to the length of the shortest case;
4) Chamfer inside and outside case mouths.

For subsequent firings:
1) Neck size all cases.

[Lone Star]

It is usually a good idea to FL size new cases.  They are often dented in shipping/storage, expecially in the mouth.  Sizing them will straighten out the mouth, allowing easy bullet seating.

[Steve P]

I bet you get a 50-50 response on this.  Half will size them, half won't.  The way I look at it, the manufacturer already sized them, why should I?
But on some, I do anyway.  

I check out the brass really well.  New brass always has to be deburred inside and out, and the primer flash hole cleaned up.   You can also see how it chambers in your gun.  I can usually spot a problem with the brass while doing the flash holes and debur process.  If I am uncomfortable with one of two of the new brass, I size them all.  Easier than pulling bullets.

Steve  

[Coyote Hunter]

Full length resize, trim, chamfer, load, shoot.

[JCM]

Thanks guys!

JCM

[victorcharlie]

Yes, I would full length resize, check length and trim if necessary, but doubt you'll need to trim....

[Gregory]

I just bought some brand new cases for my 25/06 and after deburring the flash hole, uniforming the primer pocket, I just loaded them up with a reduced load and some "leftover bullets" and shot them in my rifle.  Then I'll neck size, trim, chamfer the neck, and load with what I plan to use as my "real load".

[beemanbeme]

I try a few to make sure they will chamber (I've never had new brass that wouldn't) then I bump the resizer ball thru the neck to make sure its round, (no need to lube the case), then I chamfer the mouth, prime the case, charge with powder, seat a bullet and shoot.  Sometimes I use fire forming to use up odds and ends of powder and/or bullets and sometimes I start roughing in a load.  
After I have fire formed the cases, then I trim to a uniform length, etc.

[Steve P]

After I have fired new brass one time, I neck size and trim, then debur again.   I also double check primer pockets and flash holes and then am ready to weight for uniformity if needed.  

I have trimmed new straight wall pistol brass to confirm uniform length as they are less likely to grow or change on the initial firing.   Bottle neck cases always seem to have movement in that shoulder that changes the length.  I end up having to trim again if I trimmed before initial firing.  I guess I am just lazy for not wanting to trim 2x so quickly.

Steve  

[giturgun]

Depends on what it is for here , if it's for the 30-06 no just bump the neck through a die enough to round out the neck   If it's for the 25-06 well the chamber is tight in that one , factory brass won't fit in it . In it I full length size , this gives a slight crush fit . In the others it is some yes some no , depends on how I feel and what the rifles purpose is for. The bench guns get more prep than the moa deer stuff.

[stiff neck]

You should trim the brass BEFORE you trim the flash hole.  Most flash hole uniformers come with a "stop" at the case mouth that allows you to trim every flash hole equally.  But if your brass is not all the exact same length, then your flash holes will not be trimmed equally.  Most new brass is NOT uniform in the case length.  I just trimmed 500 rounds of new Win 223 and you should see the pile of shavings under the trimmer...   :shock: