Neck sizing .308 question

I stopped neck sizing a few years ago. In my notes from when I did neck size my .308, I would full size them every 4th loading.

I also stopped neck sizing a few years ago after I found that loads with neck sized brass not only were no more accurate than those with full length sized brass but were even less accurate.

"...Starting with new brass..." You got lucky. New brass needs to be checked for length, trimmed, chamfered and deburred as required(not likely to need trimming, but it will need chamfering) and FL resized. Neck sizing is only done with once fired out of the rifle it's being reloaded for. However, there is no set number of loadings before FL resizing will be needed again. Neck sizing has nothing to do with accuracy. It's just a brass "saving" technique. I think it's more trouble than it's worth.
44.5 grains of Reloader 15 is very close to the max load of 45.0. That's why you're only getting a few loads. Perfectly safe, of course, but case life is dependant on the load used.

You got lucky. New brass needs to be checked for length, trimmed, chamfered and deburred as required(not likely to need trimming, but it will need chamfering) and FL resized.

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The factory doesn't do any of this and there are some very accurate factory loads. Maybe the brass sold to hand loaders was sub par 50 years ago and needed all of that work done. But there is no reason anymore to not just prime and load new brass.

Sunray said:

"...Starting with new brass..." You got lucky. New brass needs to be checked for length, trimmed, chamfered and deburred as required(not likely to need trimming, but it will need chamfering) and FL resized. Neck sizing is only done with once fired out of the rifle it's being reloaded for. However, there is no set number of loadings before FL resizing will be needed again. Neck sizing has nothing to do with accuracy. It's just a brass "saving" technique. I think it's more trouble than it's worth.
44.5 grains of Reloader 15 is very close to the max load of 45.0. That's why you're only getting a few loads. Perfectly safe, of course, but case life is dependant on the load used.

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I disagree, neck sizing keeps the bullet more centered to the bore. Especially in a chamber that pushes the upper tolerance. If it didn't help in accuracy then bench rest shooters have been wasting their time for years.

I generally do not full length size unless absolutely necessary. A good shoulder bump will USUALLY go a long way towards keeping the cases chambering and the brass lasting. I find that putting the shoulder back between .001 and .002 (closer to .002) will do the job. A properly set Bushing FL style die will do a good job, at least it has for me.

I was curious about this also, as after three loadings I had to FL size my .308 brass. I just attributed it to the fact that I'd annealed said brass twice. After FL sizing and three more loadings, you guessed it, I needed to FL size again. I haven't neck sized since. I got rid of my .223 Rem neck sizing die when I purchased a set of Forster dies. Haven't regretted it.

I neck resize using Lee collet die. After 3 loading I FL resize using Forster Full length sizing die with honed neck and expander mandrel.
Accuracy is about the same with neck size only and full length resized, so I just continue what I'm doing.

jmr40 said:

The factory doesn't do any of this and there are some very accurate factory loads. Maybe the brass sold to hand loaders was sub par 50 years ago and needed all of that work done. But there is no reason anymore to not just prime and load new brass.

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I have to agree, the last new Winchester brass I tried to size, didnt even seem to touch the die!

Russellc

I want reliable feed and extraction. And I want it for the same ammunition used across a number of rifles. I therefore small base size everything I can get a small base die, and I set my dies up with cartridge headspace gages.

The Wilson measures the distance between base and shoulder of the case, does not measure "fatness". In fact, it is deliberately cut wide between base and shoulder so you can drop a fired case in the gage.



This gage was cut with a SAAMI minimum reamer, the port is neat, makes you think you can understand why your case does not fit. Usually cases don't drop in because of expanded case heads, something the sizing die can't fix.




As for accuracy, just give me a break about accuracy. The F Class shooters I know, they full length resize because they want the case to extract as well as feed. No one wants a stuck case. I have had over pressure cases that stuck in the chamber and it is a score ruining exercise to run to the vehicle, find the cleaning rod (!!!) , knock the case out, and try to get back in the game. In the mean time the wind has shifted, your time is running out, you broke position, and you are under pressure to shoot even though you haven't the slightest idea where the bullet is going to land. Ammunition full length resized is more accurate than the shooter, and this is forgotten in all these equipment discussions. Shooting is a skill. You cannot compensate for poor shooting abilities by expensive equipment and esoteric reloading practices.

Try this, standing shot, 200 yards. See if you can place your shot reliably in the black each and every shot standing. You don't have to hit the 7" ten ring each shot, just hit the black. The black is 13" in diameter. Ought to be easy. It is not. Then, put the same target out to 300 yards and hit the black, each and every shot from any position you want. Actually this is a lot more doable if you shot prone, but then, the criteria ought to be, X ring first shot. After all, with that super duper ammunition, ought to be a pin wheel X.



If you can't do that, the problem is not with the ammunition. Its with the shooter.

I don't profess to be an expert such as yourself. My comments are based strictly on my experiences. Over the years I've had several single shot rifles whose accuracy benefited from having the case Fireformed in that particular rifle then neck sized only and loaded to an OAL a few thousandths off the lands. My current one is a contender carbine in 22 Hornet. It shot 1.5" groups with my full length resized reloads. With my new recipe it's groups size shrank to .625". Therefore my conclusion that neck sizing only is more accurate. For the record in my repeating hunting rifles I full length resize for reliability in feeding.

My results with unmessed-around-with Lapua brass.