neck vs full lenght resizing die

[Nicholas Fahey]

stupid question probably, but which is to be preferred and when?

 

[scotspine]

Full length sizing returns the case dimensions to "factory" settings. Chambering these rounds is easy and reliable as there is plenty of slack between the case and chamber. You could also use these rounds in other guns of the same calibre, assuming of course that all other specifications are in line with manufactures specs. I only full length size second hand cases before fire-forming in my gun.

Collet dies are for fire-formed cases and work by squeezing the neck only and have the following advantages:-

• Minimal case lubrication required
• Reduced case trimming
• Increased case life
• Speed and convenience
• Uniform neck tension
• Improved accuracy

So I would go for neck sizing only unless your rifle is a bit sticky with them.

 

[Offroad Gary]

i loaded a box of 80 gn soft points in my .243 (R93) in some 2 or 3 times neck sized cases, they were a bitch to chamber and a tw&t to get out if not fired. when fired they extracted normally. out came the pliers and the full length resizeing die

full length sizeing only for me now

 

[Mauser66]

Full length sizing returns the case dimensions to "factory" settings. Chambering these rounds is easy and reliable as there is plenty of slack between the case and chamber. You could also use these rounds in other guns of the same calibre, assuming of course that all other specifications are in line with manufactures specs. I only full length size second hand cases before fire-forming in my gun.

Collet dies are for fire-formed cases and work by squeezing the neck only and have the following advantages:-

• Minimal case lubrication required
• Reduced case trimming
• Increased case life
• Speed and convenience
• Uniform neck tension
• Improved accuracy

So I would go for neck sizing only unless your rifle is a bit sticky with them.

+1

 

[Muir]

I like Collet dies too but they require less than minimum lubrication: they use NO lubrication.

OffRoadGary: A little knowledge is dangerous! With high pressure (modern) cartridges neck sizing is only good for a couple of firings before FL resizing is needed. This is nothing new; very common knowledge. Unfortunately, a lot of makers don't pass that tid-bit on to the buyers of neck sizing dies. I always "partial neck size", or FL resize hunting loads for reliability. Partial Neck Sizing is done when you back the Fl die off enough to not touch the shoulder but still size a portion of the case-head area. RCBS used to include instructions on this practice with all dies. It is a great compromise. You might ant to try it.~Muir

 

[Offroad Gary]

OffRoadGary: A little knowledge is dangerous!

and also quite frustrating. try unloading about 90 loaded rounds with a kinetic hammer - i got to about number 3 and then decided on a quicker (but more destructive) method!

i also found that i wasnt getting enough / or uniform neck tension with the collet die - with the full length die it was always constant

 

[finnbear270]

OG, As demonstrated to Ash243 on Sunday, Catalogue number #050095 Hornady collet die bullet puller, you could have easily pulled your 90 rounds & reset neck tension in about half an hour! 8) these are about £20.00, "Other brands are available " Steve.

 

[Brithunter]

Hmmmm let's se I use the lee collet dies on I think it's 4 cartridges and have yet to notice poor of varible neck tension. Lee even includ di-structions on how to increase neck tension if you think more is needed I have a another set of collet dies which not longer work however that is beacuse I bored an 8x57mm set out to handle .375 RNE (9.5x57mm) and no longer have the .275 Mauser rifle.

One day I will order a replacement 8mm collet and polish the 0.375" stem down to 0.366" to handle neck sizing for the 9.3x57mm I find th collet dies very useful and versatile

 

[flytie]

I bought the Lee de-luxe se of dies with both types of re-sizer, so i can neck size untill I need to full length resize. Not expensive either.

ft

 

[Offroad Gary]

OG, As demonstrated to Ash243 on Sunday, Catalogue number #050095 Hornady collet die bullet puller, you could have easily pulled your 90 rounds & reset neck tension in about half an hour! 8) these are about £20.00, "Other brands are available " Steve.

to adjust neck tension with charged case do you take out the decapping tool from the lee die?

so pull head, change die, reset tension, change die, seat bullet - 3 per minuite

hmmmm, it took me about 5 mins to pull the 90 heads and dump the powder, i then had to resize as the rounds wouldnt chamber - it wasnt just neck tension in my case. on my hourly rate it wasnt worth saving the bullet heads by pulling them properly!

 

[finnbear270]

Between Ash & myself, we pulled the bullets, tipped the charges back into bulk, reset necks (remove de-capping pin), re-weighed charges to ladder scale increments, seated bullets & left for the range, 40 rounds broken down, ten left as is, single stage press, dippers & trickler, digital scale, Ash was away for home just after lunchtime, from arrival at 9.30!

 

[Offroad Gary]

i thought neck tension is reset by the expander on the decapping tool on the way out?

 

[finnbear270]

Just remove the pin for safety's sake, the expander ball stays in situ.

 

[Mauser66]

i thought neck tension is reset by the expander on the decapping tool on the way out?

No expander button on a collet die. It has a collet which closes on the neck at the very end of the stroke. Needs force at the end of the stroke.

 

[finnbear270]

My apologies Gary!, In reading your post I had not taken on board the use of Lee collet dies!, I really must pay more attention! , It probably has a bit to do with me not using the Lee dies, I only use RCBS stuff, (Seemples)

 

[Offroad Gary]

i thought neck tension is reset by the expander on the decapping tool on the way out?

No expander button on a collet die. It has a collet which closes on the neck at the very end of the stroke. Needs force at the end of the stroke.

so as i was getting inconsistent neck tension, my strokes must be somewhat irregular?

 

[finnbear270]

http://psa.bizhosting.com/images/Magback.bmp Hope I don't get to this stage of lack of attention! Sorry for this, but it is Reloading after all! 8)

 

[Richard Parsons]

Offroad Gary,
Don't neck size for the Blaser. Full length size ONLY. The straight pull
action easily jams tight fitting cases as there is no twisting motion in the extraction process. I got really stuck once bigtime ..... accuracy with full length sizing does not make a dick of difference believe me....

 

[caorach]

I started out neck sizing for my Blaser but half the reloads wouldn't chamber. I think I posted the question over on AR and several people replied that you shouldn't neck size with a Blaser. Since that I've been full length resizing.

However, recently got myself a Lee collet neck sizing die and going to experiment with that as soon as I get the chance. No idea if it will work with the Blaser and am really just experimenting for the sake of it.

Based on that I'd say not to neck size for the Blaser unless you are going to be shooting the rounds at the range rather than in the field. If it proves reliable at the range then you might want to move to the field with your neck sized reloads, that is my plan.

 

[Muir]

Wow. I missed the part about it being for a Blaser rifle. You may even need small-based dies for a straight pull.~Muir