[callgood]

I just cleaned up some once fired .45 ACP brass prior to de capping / resizing it. I had sized it according to the Sierra manual I was using after purchasing it.
Before I up it in my carbide sizer I slipped it into a case gauge- sure enough, it wouldn't go all the way in. I then put it in my Sig barrel, and it slipped in slicker than owl poo. So, I ask myself, why the heck am I doing this? I don't have another .45 and I'm not going to give it away at Halloween, so why not just deprime?
Is there something I'm missing here? I've only been reloading a couple of months.

[Dave P]

You want it to function flawlessly, like all sigs do - resize it. Prolly won't hold the bullet if you dont?

[callgood]

While I'm waiting, I'll go slip a bullet in to see if it's tight. Hadn't thought of that. Be right back.

[callgood]

Nope, a 230 grain bullet won't enter the mouth, would still have to bell the mouth to seat it.

[model 649]

Try a few and see if they function. I, myself, always full-length size for autoloaders.
Josh

[goalie]

Since you have to run it through a decapping die to deprime it anyhow, the real question is why WOULDN'T you re-size it???? When the same amount of work is involved in a choice between doing something right or taking a shortcut, it really isn't a choice to me.

[taliv]

you lost me here...

you're saying you got a batch of once-fired brass
you resized it
you were about to size it again in a carbide sizer??
put it into a case guage and it wouldn't go in (indicating it is out of spec, regardless of whether or not it chambers in your sig)

and are now wondering whether you should resize it again, since it chambers in the only 45 you own and you won't let anyone else shoot your reloaded ammo, not even when the guy in the range next to you offers to let you shoot his new 45?

I would resize it. I might consider not resizing it if I knew that EVERY single one of the pieces you got were fired in the same gun or with the same load. If one of them wasn't, it may jam you up.

Brass doesn't necessarily need to be sized every time it's fired, especially if it's going back into the same gun. That's why a lot of precision rifle shooters only size a few milimeters of the neck between firings. No problems feeding and ejecting when you only size the neck, even on high-pressure rounds.

But... I'd still resize it.

[callgood]

Taliv, I bought the brass new and resized it when loading it the first time. While I was setting up to de-prime it, I took one and dropped it into my Sig barrel. It went in very easily, although it wouldn't go into my case gauge.
Of course I would have to resize it if I used my Redding size die to deprime it. However, Lee makes a decapping die that doesn't resize. I measured the cases and all measurements were LESS than those in the manual, so it seems that if the case is already within spec, sizing in this instance would just be an uneccessary working of the brass.
I am in no way looking to take a shortcut. In this situation, what purpose does resizing serve?

[taliv]

oh, ok, that makes sense.

i'd say not much purpose.

[Ol` Joe]

I am in no way looking to take a shortcut. In this situation, what purpose does resizing serve?

Resizeing a straight wall case insures the bullet tension will be consistant and tight enought to get proper burn of the powder charge and pevent bullet movement during chambering and recoil. Chambering is only one reason for sizeing, The case will quite often rechamber in the gun it was fired in with out sizeing. The case can`t grow anymore then the chamber will let it and "spring back" reduces the diameter a couple thousanths more.

[HSMITH]

Joe nailed it ^^^^^. Case tension is why you should resize it. Set one back on the feed ramp and blowing up your Sig would be pretty silly.

[Mal H]

What Ol' Joe and HSMITH said.

callgood - Think about it this way - if you used the "it fits in my chamber so why resize it?" theory, in general, you wouldn't need to resize any cases for any caliber. It still fits in your chamber because a case can't grow larger than a gun's chamber from sitting around on the range floor or while stored waiting to be loaded.

It wasn't larger than your chamber at any time, before, during or after firing, so why would it surprise you that it stills fits in the chamber? That might not always be true as you might pick up a case that was fired in a loose, but still in spec, chamber and try to insert it into a tighter chamber.

You resize to make the case's grip on the bullet very tight. There are other reasons, but that is by far the most important reason.

[callgood]

Thanks for the insight, all. I ate my mom's eggplant casserole with a greater appreciation after she explained it was good for me (not really, it was still purple goop). I am aware of the importance of neck tension from reading about rifle reloading, 'tho I've never reloaded for rifle. Neck turning, reaming, etc. I use a Forster CoAx, so you know maximum output isn't at the top of my list. Consistant, accurate ammunition is my main goal. Thanks for taking the time to "splain" it to me. Probably save me from wondering why the guy two stands to the right had all those extra holes in him target.