Neck Sizing with a Full length Die

[roc1]

i know this can be done but just do not remember how?I want to use my RCBS full length 243 die to neck size only instead of buying a neck die.How do you set the die so it will work properly and notget setback on the shoulder?I only load for a CZ 243 and no other rifle.
Thanks for input
roc1

 

[LHB1]

Roc,
Some people say if you back out the full length sizing die, then it will only size a part of the neck. What they aren't telling you is that if that occurs, the body of the die is not being guided by the case body and your case neck may not be sized concentric to the case center line. FAR BETTER to spend a few bucks to buy a separate neck sizing die if that is what you want to do and save the full length sizing die until needed. Just my .02 based on 43+ years of reloading.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Steve in PA]

I neck sized for .30/06 using a FL RCBS die. Never had any problems or issues. Your only backing out the die a fraction of an inch.

 

[OLD DOMENION]

Special NECK SIZING DIES
I E-Mailed RCBS on December 12, 2004 and received the following response on December 15, 2004.

From an old #8 Speer Reloading Manual. You and other equipment manufacturers sell special NECK SIZING dies. Does this still apply to your equipment?

Neck Sizing is the term applied to the process of sizing only the neck of a case, with a special die which doesn’t touch the shoulder or body of the case. Neck sizing does eliminate excessive working of the case shoulder and body but, also, may size the neck off-center and leave the body of the case too large to chamber. A better way to reduce excessive working of the case body and shoulder metal is to use a full length sizing die but, use it so it only sizes partially. To do this, the full length sizing die is backed out of the tool so that the shoulder is not touched by the die. This preserves the important head and shoulder dimension and still sizes the neck normally. The body of the case centers the neck in the die and is sized enough to make chambering fairly easy in a bolt action.
Back the die off at least 1/16th of an inch [About one complete turn.]
Many shooters adjust their dies so that only half of the neck is sized. This leaves enough tension to hold the bullet securely for target or varment shooting

The RCBS “Ask the Expert Forum’s response was:
Yes, the necksizers only size the neck of the cases. And yes, there can be run-out after necksizing as there is nothing to support the base of the case - it just sizes the neck. AS FOR PARTIAL SIZING -- Many of our customers choose to do this - but, it is trial and error and sometimes the chamber v.s. die fit does not allow the reloader to partial size - they will not chamber afterwards.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

"Neck Sizing with a Full length Die
i know this can be done but just do not remember how?"

It's pretty easy really. Although it's not "neck sizing." As others have said, it's "partial sizing." It's the best way to go IMO, especially if you're reloading belted magnums and you want your cases to last longer.
This is how you do it: Run your full length resizing die clear down against the shell holder in your press, just as you do for full length resizing. Then back the die out a ways - two turns should be plenty. Next run a lubed case up in your resizing die, pull it back out and look at it. You should be able to see just how much of the neck has been resized and it probably won't be enough. So screw your resizing die into your press a little bit further and run the case up in it again. Repeat the process until you've resized the whole neck of case, but the case shoulder hasn't been pushed back. Really - it's easy to see when you've resized the case neck but your die is still not quite contacting the case shoulder. Set the lock nut on your die and you're ready to go. You might have to screw the decapping pin stem down just a bit in order to pop the spent primers out.

 

[1911user]

If you are concerned about the neck being centered while neck sizing, check out the Lee collet sizing die. The sizing mandral has the decaping pin decap and use the flash hole as an alignment point for the neck sizing. It's a useful die if you keep the sizing fingers lubed so they don't bind inside the die.

It would be my first choice for a neck sizing die to be used in a single stage press. I'm not so sure about prorgressive usage since I always rotated the case slightly and sized it again.

I wasn't that impressed with the seater die though (prefer sliding sleeve of hornady).

 

[cracked butt]

You are far and away better off setting your die to bump the shoulder back than to try to partially resize the case with a FL die.

 

[243winxb]

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/169100316?r=709104416#709104416 The RCBS neck sizing only die was less accurate then full length sizing, using standard dies. What can improve your accuracy is buying a Redding Full length sizing type S bushing die. But this type should have the necks of the brass turned. Try this, Set your FL die so that you have about .005" between the shell holder and FL die. This should give you a good chamber fit in a bolt action rifle. If the bolt is hard to close, turn the die down .001" at a time, till the round chambers easy.