Neck sizing .223 for a match ar upper with a Wilde chamber??

[Master Blaster]

I am curious if any of you good folks who shoot match ARs and reload have tried neck sizing your brass rather than full length resizing and if it worked in a match / Wilde chambered AR?????

Is full length resizing always necessary???

Thanks

 

[P0832177]

The only real way to "neck size" in an auto loader is to use a Redding Type S Full Length sizer die, with the approriate bushing as you need to full length size the 223 used in an autoloader. You are writing a prescription of failure with your suggestion of neck sizing the cases for an AR platform gun. It has nothing to do with whether it is Wylde Chamber, simply put the action does not have the camming action to close on neck sized cases. In order to maximize cae life in the autoloader. I suggest getting a RCBS Precision mic, and then set up your sizing die so that size enough to function, but minimize over working your brass. This is especially true of 30 caliber auto loaders such as a M1A or Garand.

 

[Steve Smith]

The Redding S Type Full Length Sizer is not a neck sizer but rather a full length sizer (as the name implies) with a user-selected neck bushing to control neck tension.

You should always full length size your brass for the AR, and the Redding S type is an excellent choice (that is what I use).

You should also buy a Stoney Point Headspace Gauge, fire the same case in your rifle three times (without having sized the body, only the neck) and then take a measurement. Deduct .002"-003" from that measurement and set your size die to that measurement. That way you are sizing the brass the least amount that will still provide reliable function.

I typically use a .246 bushing in the die for LC cases.

 

[Fatelvis]

So Steve, you`re saying to neck size, and fire a round three times in the AR to get an accurate HS measurement? I thought (as P08`s response stated) the AR lacks the camming action, and could result in problems, by not fl sizing. Wouldn`t there be a problem firing the "test" cartridge three times? Thanks-

 

[Steve Smith]

A good gun with a good load (one that is stout enough tomake the gun work) will do it. Won't day in and day out, but it will.

What I'm suggesting:

Get a case and run the bushing over the neck. Load that cartridge and fire it. Now push that bushing over the neck again (this makes the case hold the bullet, that's all), load powder and a bullet again and fire it again (you may have to drop the bolt from lock-back). Do that three times. After that you know that the brass is as expanded as it can be. Take your measurements off of that.

Neck sizing only will most likely lead to malfunctions in a semi-auto, but this is a one-at-a-time procedure so reliability isn't an issue.

Mine still function fine, though.

 

[Master Blaster]

Thanks Steve,

The procedure you suggest is thesimilare to the one that Redding suggests in their die instructions, which say to take a casing fired in the gun in question and after backing the resing die off a 1.5 turns from the full length setting, size the case and see if the bolt will close easily on the empty, if not adjust the die down slowly checking the chambering after each adjustment, till you resize it enough for the bolt to close on the resized case.