Advanced neck sizing 101

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What I ended up doing is I ordered the redding FL bushing die and two steel bushings instead of one TiN (I'll upgrade later)

Fired Brass comes out of my chamber @ .345" so I ordered a .340" bushing and a .335" for final sizing. This way I can bring the case necks back down to size in two .005" steps

Since I didn't have any cases here I figured it'd be best to err on the side of too much neck tension and still be able to load ammo.

As of yet I don't have the equipment to neck turn, however I plan to rectify that in the next midway spending spree.

For those of you who size the necks in multiple bushing steps what is the procedure? I figure I'll be able to pull 3 or 4 firings by using the die to neck size only appx 80% of the neck which won't pose a problem. But once it comes time to FL resize how do you work that?


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Full Length Sizing Bushing Die- Redding Type-S FL

But once it comes time to FL resize how do you work that?
The die you ordered full length resizes the body of the brass every time you load. The bushing sizes the neck area, every time you load. You are full length resizing in 1 operation but controling how much you size the neck. No expander will be needed most of the time. I have not needed to use 2 bushings to size down in steps.
 
Fired Brass comes out of my chamber @ .345" so I ordered a .340" bushing and a .335" for final sizing. This way I can bring the case necks back down to size in two .005" steps

Good move. If you don't use the intermediate size bushing and just try to go from .345" to .335", your necks will come out at .334". BTDT, and got the T shirt.;)

Don
 
The die you ordered full length resizes the body of the brass every time you load. The bushing sizes the neck area, every time you load. You are full length resizing in 1 operation but controling how much you size the neck. No expander will be needed most of the time. I have not needed to use 2 bushings to size down in steps.

I'm aware of that, what I'm more interested in knowing is to size the neck in two steps when the time comes to FL resize are you pretty much stuck sizing the entire case twice?

Not that doing so would be nearly as dramatic as a die that uses an expander ball


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I'm aware of that, what I'm more interested in knowing is to size the neck in two steps when the time comes to FL resize are you pretty much stuck sizing the entire case twice?

Not that doing so would be nearly as dramatic as a die that uses an expander ball

The 2nd time FL resizing with the .335" bushing in will only resize the neck further down. It will not do any further sizing of the body. Without an expander ball, resizing a 2nd time is not an issue as far as working the brass goes.

Don
 
The 2nd time FL resizing with the .335" bushing in will only resize the neck further down. It will not do any further sizing of the body. Without an expander ball, resizing a 2nd time is not an issue as far as working the brass goes.

Don
Thank you for confirming.


Now we've come full circle and are gonna be back at "Just how much to size"?

For starters I'll just use the die as a neck size only proposition with it backed off the shellholder slightly until I can swing a set of gauges that will allow me to make exact headspace measurements.

Question: When FL resizing can you adjust the bushing up so only a portion of the neck is resized? I haven't been able to find anything clear on that.


ETA Found the info I seeketh thanks to 243winxb


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=536198

Redding_1.jpg
 
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I neck size .243 Win and .22 Hornet cases (I only have one rifle in each caliber). I'm using Lee Collet Dies. The .243 seems to like moderate powder charge weights for accuracy, so I'm getting pretty good case life. With neck sizing only, will I eventually have to Full Length Size them?

How does one adjust a FLS die to "just bump the shoulder back"?

Any special issues with neck sizing only with the Hornet, and its lack of a well defined shoulder? Partial neck sizing seem to be working great with this cartridge.

THANKS

P51D
 
R.W.Dale said:
Now we've come full circle and are gonna be back at "Just how much to size"?

My 400 or so .308 Win Lapua cases (without any neck turning) measure 0.339" at the neck (O.D.) with a 178gr A-MAX bullet seated. I was using a 0.338" bushing for quite a while but struggled with inconsistent neck tension. The 0.338" bushing only reduces the neck by 0.0005" smaller than the bullet radius all the way around. If your brass has a wall thickness that varies by more than 0.0005", which it will if it's not neck turned, you'll get inconsistent neck tension. Until I get around to turning the necks, I'm using a 0.336" bushing to resize the neck, followed by a R.W.Hart expander (part of the neck turning kit) to open the necks up to the same I.D. I then check the necks with the R.W. Hart mandrel. I'm getting much better results on target but I'd rather have uniform necks from turning and simply go back to neck sizing with a 0.338" or 0.337" bushing.

As for FL sizing ... I don't use a FL sizing die at all. I bump the shoulders back with the Redding body die. Also, the Competition Shellholders from Redding are well worth the cost.
 
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