Sizing cases

[Gemsbok]

Do you full length size every time you reload a case?

When do you just neck size?

Does it lessen the life of a case by FL sizing?

[Land_Owner]

Not to make light of your question, however, I recommend that you do a little "mining" using the SEARCH function of this web site on this Forum for your title.  You will find the question already asked and answered dozens of times.

[Gemsbok]

I understand the feature but when using a cell phone accessing the net, it can be cumbersome at times.

[stimpylu32]

gemsbok
 
If your loading for more than one gun , an auto loader or pump action and sometimes even some single shots , then yes you need to FL size every time , but if your loading for a bolt gun and only have one in that round you can get by with neck sizing a time or two before you need to FL size again , This applies to bottle necked rifle cartridges , strait walled pistol rounds do best with FL sizing every time and with carbide dies there is no real reason not too .
 
And in most cases , neck sizing will help extend case life as your not working the brass as much .
 
stimpy
 
PS - I know the smart phones can be a PITA to axcess the net sometimes . 

[hillbill]

i full length size every time because i dont know what rifle or pistol this load may be shot in 10 years from now.i want my ammo to be close as it can be to factory. ammo. but i know what you mean, mark them boxes of shells with the serial number of the rifle they go too.it will make it lots easier for yur son or whoever to sort it out after yu pass.

[Grumulkin]

I've tried full length sizing versus neck sizing in a number of cartridges.  I would say neck sizing probably does increase case life but I've never seen an accuracy advantage.  In fact, in a 7mm/08 I got worse accuracy in neck sized cases.


The bottom line, I full length size pretty much everything but will probably continue trying neck sizing at least temporarily when loading for a different gun or cartridge; I guess I haven't really learned my lesson yet.

[FPH]

I neck size all fire formed cases.  I only full length size new cases.

[Lloyd Smale]

I pretty much full lenght size everything. Brass life might be a tad shorter but ive never seen a differnce in accuracy. At least not enough to make a differnce in the field. Reliability is my first consern with hunting ammo, bullet performance second and accuracy comes in at third. Brass life is way the heck down on that list.

[roper]

So to answer your question "No I don't FL every time I reload a case"  I'll neck size about 4th time then I'll FL size, as to case life that varies.

[LaOtto222]

I am coming in a little late on this. I full length size all straight walled cases, as has been said with carbide, no reason not too. Bottle necked cases are only full length resized for my break open single rifles and semi-auto. I neck size all my bolt guns and keep their cases separate for each rifle. I hate full length sizing and will avoid it any chance I can. However there comes a time when you must full length size a case. Case life depends on how much expansion a chamber causes. If it expands a lot, then squeezed back down, it will work harden quicker than one that gets little squeezing done. Even a neck sized case will work harden the neck after a while.

I am evidently in the minority, but I like to use a water soluble case lube. it is messy, but warm water will rinse it right off the outside and inside of the case and I do not have to worry about any of it getting inside the case, so I use it to lube the inside of the neck too. It works so well, I do not understand why more people do not use it. The only thing, you have to be careful of is putting too much on and denting shoulders. If your lubing pad gets to be a dirty mess, then you can wash it up and be as good as new. A little dab will do ya

Good Luck and Good Shooting

[wncchester]

 Do you full length size every time you reload a case?  ---- No.

When do you just neck size? ---- Ocasionally, depending on variables.

Does it lessen the life of a case by FL sizing?  ----  Not really.  Most cases fail from spit necks and normal neck sizing doesn't change that.

[SHOOTALL]

gemsbok
 
If your loading for more than one gun , an auto loader or pump action and sometimes even some single shots , then yes you need to FL size every time , but if your loading for a bolt gun and only have one in that round you can get by with neck sizing a time or two before you need to FL size again , This applies to bottle necked rifle cartridges , strait walled pistol rounds do best with FL sizing every time and with carbide dies there is no real reason not too .
 
And in most cases , neck sizing will help extend case life as your not working the brass as much .
 
stimpy
 
PS - I know the smart phones can be a PITA to axcess the net sometimes . 

 
What he said !

[Buckskin]

Only thing I full length size is for an semi-auto gun, everything else is either neck sized or bumped then neck sized.
 
I see no reason to bring the bass back to sami specs if using it only in one gun, bump it so it just under your chamber measurements and you're good to go with better accuracy, and longer case life and lessen danger of case separation.
 
I neck size only several calibers of which I will bump every 4-5 reloadings if needed. I use a redding body die and bump .002" so the neck is never touched. Then use a Lee Collet die for the neck. My ammo is much straighter than when I used a FL die, accuracy is improved as well as case life.
 
Using a FL die does lessen the life of a case. If you think otherwise, you don't understand how a FL die works. It works the brass 2x, first by squeezing the neck down and then the expander ball opens it up to the correct diameter, thereby working it 2x as much as neck sizing.
 
A lot of guys recommend FL sizing if you are intending to hunt with the bullets. I see no difference... I check each round to make sure it chambers and I also use a Lee Factory Crimp die with a light crimp for all neck sized rounds. I feel it gives the most consistant neck tension on the bullet, which is important for accuracy as well.

[SHOOTALL]

I have had trouble with break open guns if the case was nor FL sized. The action often springs a bit when fired .