Oistol Ranch, All of my full length sizer dies are versatile dies, I get all the use possible out of my versatile dies, I size cases for short chamber, chambers that are .017 thousands shorter than a go-gage length chamber, that is .012 thousands shorter than a full length sized/minimum length store bought new, factory ammo, I can size a case that is .012 longer than a go-gage length chamber, that would be a case that is .016 thousands than a full length size sized case or a minimum length store bought, factor new\ commercial case from the head of the case to it's shoulder. I use trashy old shell holders, shell holders that allow the case to align with the die when the ram is raised, Lee is the trashiness because they are (more) loose(r). If it was not for the slack in the shell holder I I would have difficulty sizing 29 different length cases from .012 thousands shorter than a minimum/full length sized case to .016 thousands longer than a minimum length/full length size new, commercial, over the counter brand new case without the slack in the shell holder.
Again, I use the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage, it is a standard, transfer and a tool that can verify results. it could/can prevent some reloaders from starting over every day like they were waking up in a new world....every day. I load for rifles that have the same chamber like the 30/06, 8mm57, 7mm57, 8mm/06 and unless I chambered them there are no two chambers that are alike.
As to neck sizing, an opinion, is mindless, to fire a case then go straight to neck sizing is not a good ideal until the reloader has gained experience, then there is the "Neck size for the first firings and then full length size to start over", think about it, the case has been fired 5 times, how is it possible to start over AND there is never a mention of how heavy the case was hammered when fired, as though the case is exempt from yield and the head of the case is not an unsupported column of brass, and my favorite part, that is when the case whips the press and refused to allow the press to size it? Not a problem for me, I have the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage, a few others stick their heads under the bench to eye ball light passing between the top of the shell holder and bottom of the die, I can only guess there is a tool I do not have or can not make like the light micrometer that is used to measure the width of light passing though the gap.
Neck sizing, my favorite, partially neck sizing, when the neck is partially neck sized the part of the neck that is not neck sized centers the neck of the case in the chamber, then there is the shoulder moving forward? Lyman/Ideal described neck sizing many years ago, before the Internet the shoulder instead if being straight was convexed, that is the shoulder took on a slight radius.before being full length sized, and that is the reason I am a big fan of determining head space first before sizing, as I said if I did not cut the chamber SAMMY is not involved, all I need to check head space before firing is a press, shell holder (trashy is preferred), a versatile die and the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage.
When sizing with the aid of the feeler gage there is no guesstimates as when someone says they back the die off .001, .002 or .003 thousands!!! with out a degree wheel, without an index, without a depth micrometer or a dial caliper, Me? I can use the dial caliper or a depth micrometer to adjust the die off the shell holder in any thousands, but I prefer the feeler gage, even if my press had a $1,000.00 dollar attached to it I could use the feeler gage to verify the setting or transfer a measurement from anywhere to the press, shell holder and die, why do I need with another expensive gage, I have not gotten all the use out of the ones I have. Transfers, standards are expensive, feeler gages cost from between $6.00 dollars to $11.00 dollars, the most frequently used are the leafs that start at .001 and go to .009 thousands.
F. Guffey
