School me on neck sizing please.

[Jeffery8mm]

Splain it to me!!  What are the advantages.  I am buying some new winchester brass for my 270.  Once I shoot it in my rifle should I continue to full length size or only neck size?  I have Hornady new demention custom grade dies, how do you set them up to only neck size??

Jeff

[Slamfire]

You can't, neck sizing is done in a die that is designed to size only the neck. You can however adjust the die so that the shoulder is not set back. That is called partial sizing. For a cheap way to neck size, get a Lee Loader.

[str8shooter48]

I neck size for 3 calibers I shoot. I've always used Lee Collet Dies. They are reasonably priced and do a great job. The nicest part is you don't have to lube cases at all.

Check them out:
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1132621016.92=/html/catalog/dies-collet.html

Can be bought for less than $25 Here's a couple places.
http://natchezss.com/category.cfm?contentID=productList&category=22&brand=LE&mfgGroup=321&subgroup=937&CFID=1403588&CFTOKEN=64161602


http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=206844

[Val]

Neck sizing is also easier on the brass and it will last longer. However after repetitive neck sizing, you'll note that the rounds take a bit more pressure to slip into the chamber.  This is indicative that it is time to perform a full length size to drop the shoulder. You can then neck size again. I to, use the Lee Neck sizers and like them. The fact that you don't have to lube the cases makes reloading go faster.

[Steve P]

I partially size as explained above, with some of my ammo.  I have purchased special dies from RCBS, Redding, or others to neck size only.  I also have a few Redding S Bushing dies where you actually select the correct bushing for neck tension on the specific bullet you are using.  It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

You can use your sizing die to partially size your brass.  Take brass that has been fired in your gun, smoke the neck and shoulder with a candle, then set the sizer die to just clean off the neck.  Check to see how the brass fits in your gun.  If you have a hard time closing the bolt, screw the die down about 1/16th of a turn and try again.  For hunting ammo, you want it to be able to chamber easily.  After about the 3-4th partially sizing, you will find the brass takes a little more to close the bolt again.  Time to full length resize.  You should get 10 or more firings if doing this properly.  If you anneal your brass also when it comes to the full length sizing operation, it may last even longer.

Good Luck,

Steve  

[june6th1944]

I use Lee Loaders for the .30-06 Springfield, .30/30 Winchester, and 8mm Mauser.  I just bought an 7mm-08, but I do not have the rifle yet.

You will get outstanding results by only neck sizing, and you'll extend your case life as well.  When fired, the case becomes fire-formed to your chamber so they will fit your gun.  If you use once-fired brass from another rifle, you will find that it probably does not fit into your chamber.  I've found this to be true even with a .30/30 Winchester--no need to full-length resize.

I've got sub-1/2 inch groups with the .30-06 and one-inch groups with the .30/30 (using iron sights).  My 1943 k98k Mauser was not even hitting on paper at 100 yards, so I thought the commercial ammo I was using was the culprit.  It was.  I loaded ammo to original military specs (at least very close) and bingo, one-inch groups at 100 yards although they are 4" high and 1" left.  Not bad from an original battle rifle with iron sights and a two-stage military trigger.

The Lee Loaders are all you need and they are inexpensive.  You can reload high-quality ammo consistently using these simple tools.

Good luck.

[bluebayou]

Where did you get a Lee Loader in 7-08?

[PaulS]

Guys,

we're talking about bottle-neck cases. If you back the die up to the point where it only sizes the first two-thirds of the neck the rest of the case will not be touched by the taper of the full-length sizing die. (unless you have a chamber that is ballooned or so oversized that a new factory case would rattle arond in it.
Adjusting your sizing die to size two-thirds of the neck will center the case better in the chamber because the unsized portion of the neck is better centered in the small end of the chamber and the rest of the case has been fire-formed to your chamber. There are things that can cause problems when doing this, like "hot" (over-max) loads causing cases that won't fit the chamber. Another is an elliptical or off-center chamber, this will only allow the case to fit the chamber in one position. If the case isn't in the same position it was originally fired the the out-of-round becomes an interference to fitting.
If the chamber is round, concentric with the bore and you use sensible loads you will never have to full length size your cartridges again.
Accuracy has always been my first concern and this technique has worked for the last 33 years for me - try it.

For those of you who think you are sizing the whole case - try it with a smoked or inked case - no marks means no sizing on the case body.

[june6th1944]

Got the 7mm-08 Lee Loader from someone on eBay.  There is another one listed for sale at the moment.  They made these in the 80s.

[bluebayou]

SWEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.  I threw in a bid.  Thanks for the tip.  I love my 44 Lee Loader.