Neck Size or Full length

[roc1]

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I have used both methods and everything you read it seems the consensus is mixed at best. I wonder if one is really better than the other by much of a margin? I have read where the best method now is partial full length sizing to fit your gun exact what does anyone think of that? Just wanted input from others on these ideas.
Thanks
roc1

 

[JimKirk]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=495828

Read this thread lots of info there.

Jimmy K

 

[ranger335v]

"I have used both methods and everything you read it seems the consensus is mixed at best."

The reason is, it's a mixed bag of results.

Which is better depends on variables such as the actual match of any given FL or neck sizer die to the rifle, how well the reloader does his work and, appearantly, which direction the ducks are flying on any given day. If it were cut and dried, we'd all be doing it the same way.

 

[rcmodel]

Depends.
Different strokes for different uses.

I FL size .223 for interchangable use in three different rifles.
I neck size for my 25-06 varmint rifle because it only very slightly more accurate that way.
I FL size for my 30-06 deer rifle because every one must chamber easily while hunting.
I FL size for all of my lever-actions because, they are lever-actions.

If it was a target rifle or single-shot, I might neck size.

Full Length sizing for serious hunting or SHTF rifles, or other rifles like lever-guns, pumps, and semi-auto's that require it to function properly.

rc

 

[lopezni]

cases usually last much longer with neck sizing, that is the only benefit I've noticed.

 

[flashhole]

You should figure out what your guns chamber size is with respect to your ammo.

For example, I have a Kimber Longmaster Classic bolt gun in 223 Remington. It has a chamber such that FL sized ammo fired in this gun results in a shoulder that moves forward .002" - .003" and the neck expands about the same amount. The gun has a very tight chamber so I FL resize when I process my brass. Even when using the FL resize die my brass is not seing much movement at all and I get excellent brass life.

A second example, I have a Ruger #1V in 25-06 that moves the shoulders on factory ammo forward about .006" - .007" and about the same for the neck expansion. The Ruger has a fairly sloppy chamber compared to my Kimber. I've taken to resizing military 30-06 brass to 25-06. This buys me a thicker neck that takes up some of the slop and I bought a Redding Body Die to bump back the shoulder when it needs it. I use a Lee Collet Neck Die on brass fired in this gun to keep from exercising the brass too much. Again, I get excellent brass life.

One thing I do when sizing the chamber and fitting ammo to the chamber is drill two holes in an appropriately sized hex nut. One hole is sufficiently small to engage the ogive of the bullet. This allows me to use the ogive as the datum when measuring seating depth. The second hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the fired cartridge neck. This allows me to use the case shoulder as the datum when measuring case expansion after firing and is a very accurate way to measure how far back you bump the shoulder during resizing. It takes the guess work out of the equation and helps me get the recipe for accurate ammo specific to the gun.

 

[Slamfire]

Full length resized in a RCBS small base die.

I fired this prone with sling, irons, single shot, 100 yard Highpower match.

Improvements in position, sight alignment and trigger pull will improve my group, but not neck sizing.



A shooting bud of mine shot this 200-17X twenty shot 100 yard highpower group with his 6XC Tub Rifle. He full length resizes.



Maybe its the shooter, not the way you size.