full length or neck only?

[josebd]

i have a remington 700 bdl .223,going to start reloading for first time,already have full length die set (rcbs 11101).is it ok to resize the full lenght?and do i need to resize the neck? if so do i need a different die for the neck?

[bigdaddytacp]

i have a remington 700 bdl .223,going to start reloading for first time,already have full length die set (rcbs 11101).is it ok to resize the full lenght?and do i need to resize the neck? if so do i need a different die for the neck?

...........No one can say for sure either way......I have a 700vssf in 223 that has a good chamber and shoots well......it shoots just about as well with full length sized brass as it does brass only neck sized with a Redding bushing neck die.......I also tried the "partial" full length/neck sizing with the full length die......the only positive advantage that neck brass showed is it has taken more loadings with overall better accuracy........You can either get a set of die shims that let you space the full length die off the shell holder a set amount by the thickness of the shim......get Redding competition shell holder set that has different thickness shellholders to do the same.....or just unscrew the full length die a small amount and lock the die ring and experiment with this "partial full length sizing" all are done to avoid setting the shoulder of the fired case back more than required for your chamber in your gun.......experience and "feel" can tell a lot but for accurate measurement a Stoney Point case comparator can measure the shoulder/base length on fired cases and you match that with you die by above listed means ....plus a few thousandths for sure chambering....then use the comparator bushing to get a good repeatable seating depth for bullet jump......also the RCBS precision mic.....works well for the case measurement........again only your gun and the paper results will tell for sure which your chamber/gun prefers........I have had good results with H335 and 55Hornady V-Max bullets and Berger 52 flat base HP bullets......Rem 7 1/2 primers or Federal BR primers........mine likes the bullet .015off touch and I detail the brass to BR standards and use molly coated bullets......5 shot groups from prone with bags go high .2 low .3 with good wind and a 20xscope........I use RCBS standard and COmpetition 223 full Length dies, Redding Competition bushing neck die and the RCBS Comp. seater and Forster Ultra seater for the best loads.....the Lee collet die does well for neck sizing if you polish the cone/sleeve and slits in the collet and neck mandrel..........HTH and not just confuses you....good luck and good shooting-loading!!!

[josebd]

i want good accuracy,just need to know if i need to resize with the full resize die everytime,i have a neck risizer ordered, or just resize the neck?

[Graybeard]

Like bigdaddytacp said there really is no pat answer to your question. Too many variables.

For sure neck sizing is likely to extend the life of your cases. Beyond that it is really a crap shoot. If the die body doesn't fit the case closely enough it can actually be detrimental to accuracy. This is especially the case when you try to use a standard FL die for partial sizing.

If your chamber is cut correctly and properly centered with the barrel I tend to think NS might be of more help but until you try you just really aren't gonna know. I do it both ways on different rifles.

GB

[josebd]

im getting the neck sizing die from rcbs, and ill give it a try

[bigdaddytacp]

i want good accuracy,just need to know if i need to resize with the full resize die everytime,i have a neck risizer ordered, or just resize the neck?

.......If the gun likes the neck sized brass then you neck size UNTILL the cartridge get hard to chamber and then you use the full length die to set the shoulder back....all the way or with the methods mentioned eariler.......this is with the brass trimmed to trim length and making sure a fired case will let a bullet slide fit in the case before sizing to make sure the case neck wall thickness hasn't grown too thick......also in neck sizing most people only size the first 3/16 of the neck to hold the bullet and leave part of the neck expanded to help center the case in the chamber and avoid setting the shoulder back untill necessary....I didn't know this and tried to "hit" the neck / shoulder joint just perfectly and a fellow shooter showed me the advantage of the short neck sizing method..........enjoy the process and keep a written log of what you try and this will let you note what works and you can combine the good features of neck sizing,seating depth and later might want to try neck bushings to test neck tension......again good luck and good shooting in ittty bitty groups!!!!

[Graybeard]

Staying within the limits of book loads I've yet to have the need to FL size any of the rounds I use NS dies on, not even the 7-30 Waters in a TC even tho some say you MUST FL size for TCs. Maybe I've just not yet fired any cases enough times but then I've fired some like in the 7-30 well over a dozen times without the need to FL size.

GB

[josebd]

so how do i knock out the primer,without resizing the body of the shell? im new at this!

[josebd]

oh,never mind i looked at a picture of the neck sizing die,it looks like it has a rod to punch out the primer

[josebd]

is it necassary to crimp the bullet on the .223 with hornady 55 grain v-max?

[GBO MGMT]

Crimping is generally not needed or desireable for bottle neck rifle rounds UNLESS they are to be used in a lever action with tubular magazine or in some semiautos which might bang them around a bit in the chambering process. Some times in really heavy kickers for dangerous game it is desireable also.

GB

[josebd]

if i use lee collet dies and only want to size the neck,which die do i use to knock out the primer?

[Graybeard]

I honestly know nothing about Lee dies. Have never loaded a round using them. But both Lee and RCBS and maybe others make a die just to deprime cases. It is a general purpose die usable for a variety of rounds.

GB

[josebd]

has anybody used the lee collet neck sizing dies?

[drdoolittle_1]

Lee makes a universal decapping die that will decap(only) all of you cartridges. I decap in a seperate stage on fired rounds prior to tumbling before resizing.

[jgalar]

The Lee NS die also removes the primer. You also do not need to lube the cases when using it. There is less working of the brass and the chore of case trimming is not as often.