Sizing pistol brass...Do you?

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Timothy

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Got to thinking about this thing of FL sizing new straight wall pistol brass and started to wonder why I do it. I guess I’ve always tried to accomplish uniform bullet tension from round to round but after measuring a few I wonder if it is worth working the brass.
New starline 10mm brass measures .4195 OD.
Sizing takes them down to .4165 OD.
Expanding (not flaring) takes them up to .4180 OD
We are talking .0015 of an inch here and with either method the bullet OD is still greater than the brass ID so does that little bit of difference in tension between expanded and not expanded have any effect on anything? BTW I have no feeding problems!
What is your practice and why.
Appreciate your input. Thanks in advance.
 
For me ... resize pistol stuff ...... always.

Altho in theory the cases are 'fireformed' to one gun .... even if you keep them for this gun ... the bullet will generally ''fall in'' when re loading. The sizing reduces whole case most of way down .... arguably not needed as far but there can develop a ridge at base of sizing die end travel ... which will probably not assist chambering. My .357 cases in fact end up being pitched due to the slight ridge near base, before they split!!

Anyways ... once resized ... it should take only the slightest/minimal flare (which is hardly expanding like rifle cases - and anyways ... why do you even mention expanding? :) )...... and then the bullet will slightly swell that sized case .. giving a good grip on it ... to be finished as necessary with some degree of taper or roll crimp to suit type.

With semi rounds .... case grip will often suffice ... but lack of sizing and you might as well not even start!! Even a retrospective crimp will struggle to achieve retention.

Just a rambling 0.02

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Must learn to read too! DUH .... NEW cases ... oh sorry ... yeah ... i leave them as they are .. skip resize - not needed IMO .. straight into powder and bullet ... ignore the drivel up front of this post!!:rolleyes: :D
 
I use the Lee Carbide Crimp dies on my .40 S&W so I esentially full length resize them TWICE. Once before and once after the bullet is seated and I've reloaded some cases over a dozen times before losing or tossing them. I've never had a split .40 case so I'm guessing that this isn't overworking the brass with as few time that I reload it.

Now if you plan on trying to keep your brass indefinately, or think there is something to be had from slightly larger initial case volume by not crimping it might be worth exploring.
 
I noticed you mentioned new Starline, not once fired. I have had complete success loading new Starline 10mm without sizing first. Once fired needs to be sized. New stuff was completely reliable - several hundred cases minimum - in tight KKM chamber and loose G29 factory chamber.
 
Absolutely POSITIVELY size new pistol brass EVERY time!!!!!!!!!

Revolver brass and single shot you can get away with not sizing but an autoloader will bite you if you don't. Case tension is all that prevents setback, and setback makes guns blow up. Your hands and face are on the line and not mine, but think about it. It only takes a second per case.
 
I've noticed on new cases there is very little effort in the resizing die, so I assume they are pretty close, being new and all. But I do it anyways just to make sure.

I always resize fired brass.

Resizing brass is about the only exercise I get right now...heh. :)
 
I've always resized all my brass. Some brands of virgin brass are easy to resize, which indicates I might not have needed to resize it, but as far as I'm concerned, the peace of mind and pride in craftsmanship are worth the slight extra effort.
 
This is from the Starline website....

1.) Does one need to full-length size brass prior to loading?

Generally speaking, Starline cases require no resizing prior to loading. Due to variances in diameter of different bullet types, it is a good practice to size the case only as far down as the bullet seating depth. When full length sizing is required, it will be noted in the box with the brass. The only Starline case that requires full sizing is the 454 Casull.

Again, in 10mm even the very tight KKW chamber has shown no problems using NEW Starline unsized. Bullet grip is excellent and feeding has been flawless. Last thousand purchased, half were resized and loaded, half not. No problems either way.
 
I have started only resizing my revolver brass as far down the case as the base of the bullet. Sort of like neck sizing a rifle case.
 
Resizing brass is about the only exercise I get right now...heh.
Click to expand...
Me too!!:D

I resize all my brass, new or old. No particular reason, except that its the first station in my progressive, and would be a bit of a pain in the butt to get used to loading my ammo any other way than I am used to.

Damon
 
What HSMITH said is right on the money. You don't want a KB because of something completely preventable. You might reload your next batch with less fingers.:what:
 
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