Author Topic: Something to Remember While Neck Sizing with a FL Die (Read 502 times)

Duffy · « **on:** January 04, 2004, 07:00:42 PM »

I was messing around the other day with my Head-n-Shoulders gauge and did a few test's. I took several 708 cases that were fired from my Encore that would easily rechamber and measured them. I lubed them properly and then just neck sized them in a FL die. All of them grew in the shoulder area about .010-.012 from the case body being formed back and not pushing the shoulder back. This was enough to not let them chamber easily in the gun. So if you are using a full length die to neck size keep it in mind that you may have to bump the shoulder back even though it will be fired in the same gun. Better yet buy a neck only die!

What had tipped me off was a fellow had brought in a Rem 760 that wouldn't always fire. It has a fairly long chamber and he was using a FL die to only neck size and getting away with it sometimes. Even though a fired case from this gun sized in a NS die would chamber easily the extra case body sizing in the FL die made it too long. The brass has to go somewhere.
For new reloaders this is NOT the brass OAL, it is the Headspace length, eg. from the case head to the middle of the shoulder.(appox)

Ryan

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2004, 02:15:00 AM »

Ryan,

FWIW, and some neck sizer dies will do that also. you just have to check

woodseye · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2004, 10:50:34 AM »

What brand dies are you using Ryan? I have been neck sizing with a backed off Hornady die and haven't hit that problem yet.

woods

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:50:38 AM »

Woods;
Redding and RCBS.
I noticed it on all the calibers that I have tried, but it lengthens some more than others. (I used assorted brass that had been picked up here and there) If the chamber is a bit on the large end letting the body expand it's going to lengthen more as you size. On the Encore I get about 3 loadings before the shoulder needs to be bumped back. On my 270 and 223 rifles I get quite a few more loadings depending on how hot they are.
If your die is very close to your chamber size or vice versa it should strech very little as seems to be your case and you are very fortunate to have that combo.

Ryan

woodseye · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2004, 10:23:36 AM »

My chambers tend to be tight and both are custom barrels with a tight headspace (Savage so easy to adjust headspace with ) glad mine are working well and won't question my good fortune.

woods