Handloading Handi's - Full Length or Neck Only Resizing?

[pagris]

Members - I have always full length re-sized my cases for my Handi, but I was wondering if anyone here has had success with neck-only resizing?  Thanks in advance.

[stimpylu32]

pagris

I just started about a month ago to neck size for my 22-250 and 30/30 to see if it would make a big difference in my group sizes , so far i have not seen much of an improvement .

I do expect it to improve case life to some extent , but as i said i have not seen that much improvement in group size .

stimpy

[alan in ga]

I "partial resize". use a full length die,,run about half the neck into size down area. Some of the body is sized a bit. I've since used several Collet neck size dies,,but have not had a "handi" rifle since.
I now am back into owning a Handi,,a .357 mag. Although I have carbide dies,,I may try sizing only the area that holds the bullet just for testing.
I neck size only for some of my bolt action rifles,,,but have not tried a neck only in a Handi except for a 30/30 Ackley Improved. I used a .308 Winchester Full Length die to size the necks only with the 30/30 AI empties. Worked fine even tho the neck walls of the 30/30 case are a bit thinner.
Alan in GA.

[greg916]

I neck size only for my 30-30 and 22 hornet.  The chambers on my handi rifles are at maximum.  Neck sizing  improves case life and, especially in the Hornet, greatly improves accuracy. 

[quickdtoo]

Mac and I only neck size on our .338-06 A-Squares, we both have FL die sets and neck dies, but I have yet to need to FL size them except when the brass was new, but I've only done 2 reloadings using the neck dies. I've also partial full length resized on several rimless calibers as Alan mentioned, only sizing enough to get the necks and a little of the body.

Tim

[Winter Hawk]

I think to a great extent it depends on how hot you make the loads.  With high pressures you may experience excessive case stretch and not be able to close the action on the third or fourth reloading if neck sizing only.    It is prudent to run the brass through the rifle's chamber after neck sizing to make sure everything works before  p[riming, charging and seating the bullet.  I ran into that with a Remington 788 I had, where after three reloads using a Lyman 310 tool I couldn't close the bolt anymore.  I have had a problem occasionally with the NEF.  Using low end loads, which tend to give me better accuracy anyway, I haven't had any problems.  Still using the Lyman 310 with .30-06 dies I have had since the late 1960s.  Those which have had stretched cases I used a Lee hand press with Lee FL dies to get them back in shape.

-WH-

[sui generis]

I'm currently trying to develop some .30-30 loads for my handi -

I start with new, unfired cases and fire-form them with a fairly stout lead bullet load -

then trim and fl resize -

the unfired cases fall several thousandths below the second step on my Wilson case gage -

the resizing is limited to just enough to get them between the steps, as close as possible to maximum.

I have no idea if it helps, but I do it anyway.

[pagris]

It is prudent to run the brass through the rifle's chamber after neck sizing to make sure everything works before  p[riming, charging and seating the bullet. 

-WH-

That is a good idea, Winter Hawk.  I will give it a try after neck sizing just to see how my Handi takes to them.  Thanks to all for your replies.