full length resizing?

[grafsk8er]

is full length resizing absolutely crucial? i've heard that if you're only using your cases in your own gun you need not to use the full length resizer, only the neck resizer. correct? if this is true, how exactly would i go about doing this? sorry if this is a simple question, its just been on my mind the last couple of hours.

 

[Mark whiz]

In general, what you have heard is correct - to an extent. For bolt action firearms, you can indeed just resize the neck and reload. It is probably a good practice to full length resize after a half dozen firings or so just to make sure everything is safe, but many don't even do that. If you go this route, it would be a good practice to work the cases slowly out with the bolt after firing to make sure the brass has settled into it's "rebound" position within the chamber.
This can be done with either a neck sizer die or by adjusting a full length sizing die in your press so as to only hit the neck and not bother the shoulder of the case.

IF you load for a semi-auto or lever-action, ALWAYS full length resize - just hitting the necks on those types can cause serious problems.

 

[Bitswap]

It Depends...

I'd full size the following:

1) Once fired military brass.
2) Semi-automatic weapons
3) If used in more than one rifle
4) After five or so reloads (check for separation!)
5) After annealing

Nothing wrong with FL sizing, even with single-shot bolt guns. Works the brass more which may limit your reloads. I guess one may consider this a 'match' step. The only problem with FL sizing dies is that they usually constrict, or size, the neck much more than they need to be.

If you decide to go FL all the time, I'd recommend you get a sizer that you can put in a neck bushing to size the necks to your specifications. Neck preparation is one of the steps I'd recommend even if your not match reloading cause it makes a big difference in accuracy.

 

[grafsk8er]

alright, thanks for the replies. i just ask because i'm going to begin reloading my fireball soon, and i'm just getting some little info here and there until i go out and buy a book. i've been reloading shotshells for quite a while, so i can't imagine it being that incredibly different. plus, i'll have my grandpa start me off reloading rifles, since he used to do that back in the day.

 

[peterotte]

I only ever full length resized someone elses case to fit my gun. It was a mini-14 and never had any problems with neck sizing only. But then I did not load to max pressures (and 223 cases don't seem to expand much?).