Do I need to resize new brass?

[Eaglesview68]

I'm almost afraid to ask this one. I thought I was supposed to resize my brass even when it is new? I use Win, and Rem brass. I load for a 270, 308 and 243 and I'm just making hunting loads. I've heard to and NOT to. What do you guys think?

 

[witchhunter]

I always size new brass, along with primer pockets, flashholes and trim. I want to start out with everything the same, especially if I am working up a new load. It depends on what you are wanting out of your ammo. I want accuracy first. I would hate to load all of it up and find out it won't fit my chamber....

 

[judgedelta]

I find that a lot of time some of the necks are mashed (dented) in on new brass. Might as well size them all...

 

[Valkman]

I have to load some new 44spl cases and will resize them. I made that mistake before with Win brass in 454 Casull where it was new so I didn't resize and they didn't work.

 

[murf]

at a minimum neck size then inside/outside chamfer the mouth.

murf

 

[frankmako]

good question. i all ways do. it just works out better when you do. that way you know it will chamber.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also run new brass through the sizing die. In a perfect world you shouldn't need to but the way they get banged around during shipping, I wouldn't load them without sizing them first.

 

[LAGS]

I at least do the necks and then check them on the trimmer.
Then do the Whole nine yards after fire forming them, and I neck size only, and keep the loads for That one rifle only.
I have batches of ammo for Each of my rifles.
Accuracy is better that way from the get go, and the brass seems to last longer.

 

[gamestalker]

At the very least, I size the necks, check lengths, and inspect primer pockets. If for some reason I need to FL size, I'm careful not to bump the shoulders more than is necessary for chamber fit.

GS

 

[345 DeSoto]

It can't hurt...

 

[USSR]

Since your FL sizing dies can't resize to the same size or smaller than factory brass, the only thing you will end up doing is working the necks. Just run your expander ball thru the necks to ensure that they are round and that you don't have too much neck tension (very common with Lapua brass), chamfer them, and you are GTG.

Don

 

[km101]

I resize all new brass! I got some Remington brass in 22-250 several years ago, that I loaded right out of the box and almost half would not chamber. So now I resize, deburr flash hole, check primer pockets and check length before loading.

No manufacturer is perfect. It's much easier to size it first, than have to tear down loaded rounds.

Better to be safe than sorry!

 

[gamestalker]

KM101, I agree with you. I just bought a bunch of new 7 mag brass (Win) nothing special obviously. A good deal of it was so badly mangled from shipping and general handling, that it wouldn't chamber in any of my actions. And some was simply out of shoulder spec, and needed a bump to get it to fit.

So ya, I always give new brass a once over through a die and also through the action. Nothing stinks more than having to pull a bunch of bullets, deprime, and having to start all over from square A.

GS

 

[splattergun]

I have resized all my new brass, trimmed and chamfered it. I have seen new brass with dents, dings, and variable lengths. In fact, I have seen more brass shaved off the mouth of new brass than from 1x and 2x fired brass.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I resize all new or new to me brass no matter what. Lapua is the only brass I've heard of that some of our members didn't have to resize.

As far as pistol brass goes it all gets resized so I can get all the neck tension I can get. As far as rifle goes I want the necks and shoulders to work in my particular rifles and new brass isn't form fitted to fit any rifle in particular.

 

[USSR]

...new brass isn't form fitted to fit any rifle in particular.

Au Contraire. New brass is deliberately sized smaller than regular FL sized brass so as to fit in ALL SAAMI spec chambers.

Don

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've never heard that before, I guess I learn something new everyday. I've always been warned by my suppliers, to make sure and resize the "raw" brass I bought from them, that this brass was not finished formed.
This was back in the 1970s and 80s.

Maybe this has changed over the years and passed me by.

 

[rondog]

I'd do the full treatment too - fl resize, trim, flash holes, chamfer/bevel. That way you're sure you're starting out at the same baseline as your other brass. I certainly wouldn't assume that "new" meant "right".

 

[fguffey]

Do I need to resize new brass?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'm almost afraid to ask this one. I thought I was supposed to resize my brass even when it is new?

I have Remington 270 Winchester cases that were sold in the green/orange box of 20. The cases were sold as unprimed. I have boxes of Norma in non descript brown boxes sold as unprimed. In the old days cases were not sold in baggies, sizing was not necessary.

I do not need cases new in a baggy but if I did I would measure the new cases for length from the shoulder to the head of the case and diameter with a chamber gage. Then there is the neck, there is no shortage of neck sizing dies around here.

F. Guffey

 

[ironworkerwill]

Huntin' ammo- no you don't NEED to unless the mouths are dinged up. I've never had NEW brass that needed a shoulder bump.

 

[arizona98tj]

So, do all the big name ammo manufacturers resize their brand new brass before reloading it? Just wondering. I recently bought some Lapua rifle brass and didn't resize it. My first range session with it was very impressive, IMO, a 5 shot group less than .7".

 

[45lcshooter]

Yep resize new brass, i bought new brass from a brass dealer at gun show once. Took it home opened the factory bag up, and it looked like someone took a hammer to every case. Resize, uniform your primer pockets, debur your flash hole, trim to length. Then your good to go.

 

[Potatohead]

Well crap, I got some new Starline 380s and Ive just been loadin em up. Hadnt had any trouble though.

 

[jmr40]

I used to. I've read enough to convince me it is a waste of my time and no longer do so.

 

[Mike Kerr]

I assume we are talking about bottle neck rifle cases. I started off years ago without resizing but I have run into a few situations where I needed to full length resize. Depends on the brand of brass. - I do not load for bench rest type competition.