neck sizing dies

:D

But they are worth a shot if it increases the life of the cases over the long run.

Only if that is true.

Lee collet (they have the patent for now, there are no other makes), and bushing dies, fail once the neck has work hardened enough to spring back significantly from the outside compression. Result is poor neck tension.

A correctly set up FL die, with minimal shoulder bump, will fail the other way, when the neck has been over-worked the neck will spring back too much after the expander button has passed through, giving excessive neck tension. Which is probably preferable. Eventually the neck may split and/or shoulder be dragged out of shape.

The solution to both these problems is periodic annealing. But if you are set up to anneal, either method is good.

If you use collet or bushing neck dies you will still need to bump back the shoulders periodically.

If you set up an FL die correctly the shoulders will be bumped just enough every time.

If you set up an FL die badly you may have excessive re-sizing, meaning your brass stretches excessively every firing, necks need trimming every time, and the brass fails early due to potential case-head separation. A particular problem for military calibres with slack chambers, e.g. .303 British.

IMHO neck dies are about convenience, i.e. minimal lube requirement, reduced need for trimming. I doubt they give any measurable accuracy advantage. A well set up FL die can do much the same job, with simply dry neck lube (mica, graphite etc.)

An exception is specialist rifles with tight neck chambering, using turned neck cases that fit precisely, resulting in neck expansion on firing that is minuscule. This is when neck sizing can give almost infinite case life, eg. benchrest rifles, arbour presses etc.

For hunting use, FL sizing with a correctly adjusted die is difficult to improve on.
 
Only if that is true.

Lee collet (they have the patent for now, there are no other makes), and bushing dies, fail once the neck has work hardened enough to spring back significantly from the outside compression. Result is poor neck tension.

A correctly set up FL die, with minimal shoulder bump, will fail the other way, when the neck has been over-worked the neck will spring back too much after the expander button has passed through, giving excessive neck tension. Which is probably preferable. Eventually the neck may split and/or shoulder be dragged out of shape.

The solution to both these problems is periodic annealing. But if you are set up to anneal, either method is good.

If you use collet or bushing neck dies you will still need to bump back the shoulders periodically.

If you set up an FL die correctly the shoulders will be bumped just enough every time.

If you set up an FL die badly you may have excessive re-sizing, meaning your brass stretches excessively every firing, necks need trimming every time, and the brass fails early due to potential case-head separation. A particular problem for military calibres with slack chambers, e.g. .303 British.

IMHO neck dies are about convenience, i.e. minimal lube requirement, reduced need for trimming. I doubt they give any measurable accuracy advantage. A well set up FL die can do much the same job, with simply dry neck lube (mica, graphite etc.)

An exception is specialist rifles with tight neck chambering, using turned neck cases that fit precisely, resulting in neck expansion on firing that is minuscule. This is when neck sizing can give almost infinite case life, eg. benchrest rifles, arbour presses etc.

For hunting use, FL sizing with a correctly adjusted die is difficult to improve on.

+1
 
Only if that is true.

Lee collet (they have the patent for now, there are no other makes), and bushing dies, fail once the neck has work hardened enough to spring back significantly from the outside compression. Result is poor neck tension.

A correctly set up FL die, with minimal shoulder bump, will fail the other way, when the neck has been over-worked the neck will spring back too much after the expander button has passed through, giving excessive neck tension. Which is probably preferable. Eventually the neck may split and/or shoulder be dragged out of shape.

The solution to both these problems is periodic annealing. But if you are set up to anneal, either method is good.

If you use collet or bushing neck dies you will still need to bump back the shoulders periodically.

If you set up an FL die correctly the shoulders will be bumped just enough every time.

If you set up an FL die badly you may have excessive re-sizing, meaning your brass stretches excessively every firing, necks need trimming every time, and the brass fails early due to potential case-head separation. A particular problem for military calibres with slack chambers, e.g. .303 British.

IMHO neck dies are about convenience, i.e. minimal lube requirement, reduced need for trimming. I doubt they give any measurable accuracy advantage. A well set up FL die can do much the same job, with simply dry neck lube (mica, graphite etc.)

An exception is specialist rifles with tight neck chambering, using turned neck cases that fit precisely, resulting in neck expansion on firing that is minuscule. This is when neck sizing can give almost infinite case life, eg. benchrest rifles, arbour presses etc.

For hunting use, FL sizing with a correctly adjusted die is difficult to improve on.

+2~Muir
 
Been home loading for 30 plus years and never neck sized a case.
I always F/L size all the cases in a good quality die .
I load for a lot stalkers from 22/250 243 308 270 the 270 being the one that suites the all rounder.
Neck seizing is only good for that one gun and that only.
 
Been home loading for 30 plus years and never neck sized a case.
I always F/L size all the cases in a good quality die .
I load for a lot stalkers from 22/250 243 308 270 the 270 being the one that suites the all rounder.
Neck seizing is only good for that one gun and that only.

It is also useful when attempting to strangle someone.
 
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