Neck size or buy a case trimmer

[DC Plumber]

Hey folks,

I have about 150 once fired brass that I fired from my Ruger Hawkeye. To help prevent having to trim brass down the road, should I invest in a neck sizing only die or should I just plan to trim in the future. I usually load in the 95% max range, which seems to be where the accuracy is. I will shoot about 150 rounds per year, so I don't know how soon I'd have to trim. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[rcmodel]

I think trimming all the brass to the exact same length might be better for accuracy then neck-sizing brass of all different lengths.

Even your once fired brass needs trimming to make it all the same I betcha.

I'd buy a trimmer first.

But then, I don't neck size anything and never have.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Buy a trimmer.

 

[BigN]

I neck size all reloads and only rarely have to trim. I use the lee trimmers. You can pick them up for just a few bucks per caliber, but you're going to need a trimmer eventually, regardless of neck or full sizing your brass.

 

[FROGO207]

I use a combo of neck size and FL size for my rifles. I trim them anyway if they don't fit the case gauge when I check after resizing each time.. Those are a really good investment for any cartridge you reload as you can see if it is going to fit and work before you try to use the ammo.

 

[gamestalker]

Even though necking your brass will help to reduce the growth of the brass you still need to monitor your brass and trim when it gets to the limit. It's especially important with high powered rifle that is being loaded to near maximum. Pressures can get quite high if your brass isn't within SAMMI spec. I use a Lee case length guage and the cutting tool set up for all my brass. This is a very inexpensive way to go, maybe $15 for the first case and then $6 or $7 for each guage after that, and they will work with a drill with good results.
One more thing I wanted to say about trimming brass. When your brass gets beyond SAMMI recomendation, it can cause the neck to get pinched when the bullet is trying to exit the mouth thus causing pressures to rise very high, unpredictably high in fact. Because throat dimensions vary from one firearm to the next, keeping your brass trimmed to SAMMI is just a good house keeping habit to follow.
I too feed my firearms a steady diet of near maximum loads and always measure my brass during each loading session even though I neck them. Also keep in mind that eventually you'll have to bump the shoulder's a little after a few cycles, or they will get too tight to chamber.

 

[918v]

Get a Lee trimmer. Cheap and good.

 

[gab909]

Get a neck sizer. I find that I dont have to trim as much when I neck size my brass. I don't shoot enough 7 MM mag to worry about neck sizing. I only neck my 223 and 22-250 squirrel guns. At 150 rounds a year, check it with the gauge, if it is too long talk to some friends and borrow theirs instead of investing for a 1 every 3 year event.

 

[helotaxi]

You need a trimmer to load rifle. A neck sizer will help you not have to use it as often but you still need it.

 

[45ACPUSER]

Unless you are using a Bushing Dies, without an expander...every time you resize a case and drag the expander ball thru the neck you will stretch the case. THERE IS NO WAY TO AVOID TRIMMING. Lee is crude but works, Possum Hollow has a slew of trimmers that are better....