Neck size only?

[Glockdaddy]

I currently reload 6.5X55 Swede with a variety of bullets for use in a Winchester M70. When I reload I always do full case resizing when depriming.

Is it necessary to do full case resizing every time or would neck sizing alone be enough with this lower pressure round in a bolt action?

Also, I will be reloading .280 Remington soon too and wondered if it should be treated the same way?

Thanks....

 

[.38 Special]

Neck sizing is fine, even in a high pressure round. Full length sizing is a good idea for cases that are used in several different rifles, and for just about any autoloader. Neck sizing is called for when cases are to be used in a single bolt-action gun. Neck sized cases will last longer and will often be more accurate.

 

[Dean Williams]

I think you have your answer from 38 Special. I agree, but just to elaborate, I full length size bottle neck cases only for auto rifles, like the Garand, and or anything I'm going to hunt with.

If you are loading the same cases for the same individual rifle, neck sizing is the way to go. That's what I do for my Enfield, and I keep the cases for it separate from cases for the Garand. Neck sizing is a lot easier on brass, since you are not setting the case shoulder back every time you run it through the die. You still need to trim to spec every second or third reload, though.

This will apply to your .280, too. Neck sized brass will work in your rifle, though might not in someone else's rig in the same caliber due to minor chamber differences.

 

[Glockdaddy]

Thank-you gentlemen....

I will get some Neck Sizing dies.....less work, less lube, possible better accuracy.....sounds like all positive. My brass is not shared from rifle to rifle and I check headspace and shoulder formation regularly with a RCBS Mic...so I should be in good shape.

Thanks again.....

 

[kelbro]

I have always had a problem with the 'neck-sizing improves accuracy' idea. One of the keys to accurate reloading is consistency. When you fire a round and the shoulder blows out a little, the same powder charge will generate a little different pressure on the next load because the volume has changed. Maybe the next load is more accurate, maybe not. If so, you load again and maybe it's pretty good again. The next time, you set the shoulder back with your FL die. Now you've reduced the volume and the load will not have the same pressure as the previous two loads.

I HAVE seen better results with neck-sized rounds. It still bugs me and the constantly changing case volumes leads me to believe that accuracy would be better if the rounds were FLR every time.

 

[Dean Williams]

Quote: Kelbro;

This

I have always had a problem with the 'neck-sizing improves accuracy' idea.

And this

I HAVE seen better results with neck-sized rounds.

Seem to be in conflict.

When you neck size a cartridge case, you are leaving the case as it was when it left the chamber of the rifle. You are letting it remain the size the gun wants it to be, in effect, and just tightening up the neck so it will hold a new bullet.

I've known a few BR shooters, and you couldn't get them to FL size a case for love or money. They wanted the reloaded case to go back into the chamber the same way it came out, some even putting the head stamp in the same orientation for each shot. It makes sense, really. A fire-formed case is a perfect fit (in a particular rifle), for all practical purposes. It does not have to conform to any industry standard that says a certain caliber cartridge must fit in all rifles of that size. It only has to conform to the chamber of the individual rifle that it came from, and by only neck sizing you are effectively tightening up tolerances by leaving the fire-formed shoulder alone.

As far as consistency goes, I think you will have less brass flow when the case is only neck sized. That means the case will stay closer to it's factory weight for a longer time. I don't think you will get enough case life in either case to affect powder volume enough to cause inconsistencies of a magnitude that will be noticeable to the average target shooter. Maybe the BR guys will chime in about that.

 

[kelbro]

Yes Dean, that's what I'm saying, it is a conflict in my mind. I've seen it myself (with some rifles, not all rifles) but it still doesn't sound right.

I shoot BR and F-Class but the better barrels do not have the sloppy chambers or necks which allow significant case expansion. Some cartridge designs are better than others too.

There is no doubt that brass will generally last longer if it is only neck-sized. The less it is worked, the less it hardens.

I like my barrels to have tight chambers and I set them to minimum headspace. This also reduces brass growth and allows for many reloads. When I FLR, you can barely feel the brass being worked.

 

[oneounceload]

I ONLY neck-size for my 7mm BR, 7-08, 6.5x55, and 7 mag - the brass lasts longer, it is less tedious, and the groups are better with the same load - been doing it this way since the early 80's

 

[.38 Special]

I wrote "...often be more accurate" and considered highlighting it, because Kelbro makes a valid point: neck sizing does not guarantee increased accuracy. Well, in a match rifle with match quality components and dies, it almost guarantees it, but for most of our guns using typical components and dies, it's reasonable to hope for increased accuracy but probably unreasonable to expect it. Just too many variables in typical over-the-counter stuff.

In all honesty, I neck size whenever possible simply because I'm cheap and lazy. Neck sizing is a time and energy saver, and it generally makes the brass last longer. It often results in better accuracy too, but I consider that a bonus. At worst, I've never seen decreased accuracy as a result, but I can guarantee that someone out there has.

 

[.38 Special]

I will point out, though, that Kelbro's legitimate concern about constantly changing internal volumes can be addressed by not changing methods once you've established one. Most of the rifles I load for never need the shoulder bumped. The ones that do get the same (minuscule) amount of bump each time they are loaded.

 

[kelbro]

38 Special, that's where I am in my hunting rifle loading. I guess it would be considered PFLR. I bump the shoulders back .002 and even then, after a couple of loadings, some brass work hardens, loses it's 'springback' and needs a little more setback or an annealing. The only time that this is a concern is when re-using brass for load development. Maybe 4 or 5 loadings to get 'the one'. And, it's not really a problem on rifles with tight chambers.

This is really only a concern when developing new loads for long distance shooting with factory barrels.

Makes you want to switch everything over to AI, doesn't it

 

[.38 Special]

As a recent convert to free pistol competition, I've solved the problem entirely by shooting nothing but .22LR.

 

[Dean Williams]

quote: kelbro

Yes Dean, that's what I'm saying, it is a conflict in my mind. I've seen it myself (with some rifles, not all rifles) but it still doesn't sound right.

Oh, now I getchya. I have a few of those conflicts my own self...

 

[qajaq59]

It's better not to neck size for bottleneck cases that will be used in Pumps, Levers, and Autos.

 

[Remo-99]

It's better not to neck size for bottleneck cases that will be used in Pumps, Levers, and Autos.

good advice there, neck sizing for bolt rifles only, as a general rule.
Although I do neck size for my BLR 243win without issues, but there are some exceptions that don't follow the general rule.