To resize or not to resize, that is the question...

[hdwhit]

...whether tis' nobler of the mind to suffer the possibility a case won't chamber or run them through the sizer once again and thereby work harden them?

I recently bought some brass that was advertised as having been 1) decapped, 2) primer crimp swaged and 3) polished. It was indeed all of that and I was very pleased with what I got. But, when I set the micrometer to 0.3764 to check the diameter of the case near the head, every case passed through with room to spare. Indeed, all the critical dimensions of the case were consistent with brass that had been not only prepared but also resized.

I have an RCBS sizer die adjusted so that every case that comes out of it will fit and feed comfortably in any of the five rifles that I load cartridges for. My question is, should I run these cases through my sizer die which I know means they will work or should I trust the processor's sizer die was "good enough" and save the time and effort, not to mention the extra work hardening of the brass?

 

[redbullitt]

Run them all through your die just so you know it is proper. At least I would! The peace of mind would be worth the minimal working of the brass and time spent I think. If they are all sized properly, there should be no working of the brass really, right?

You can always anneal them later when they need it.

I generally make it a habit to size everything on my own for the reason stated above AND for the fact that I have bought good once fired brass before that would spring back after sizing just enough to be too tight in most of my rifles. Sometimes it just seems to have a bit of memory when fired in a big chamber or something, and it often needs to be sized again to be proper. This may not be the case always, but I think it is better safe than sorry. Besides, the necks on a lot of brass wind up getting dinged and need fixed any way.

 

[Havok7416]

Saving time now could mean you lose time later redoing what had supposedly been done. I always resize even if they don't seem to need it. So much less potential for aggravation later.

 

[Grumulkin]

I recently bought some brass that was advertised as having been 1) decapped, 2) primer crimp swaged and 3) polished. It was indeed all of that and I was very pleased with what I got. But, when I set the micrometer to 0.3764 to check the diameter of the case near the head, every case passed through with room to spare. Indeed, all the critical dimensions of the case were consistent with brass that had been not only prepared but also resized.

I have an RCBS sizer die adjusted so that every case that comes out of it will fit and feed comfortably in any of the five rifles that I load cartridges for. My question is, should I run these cases through my sizer die which I know means they will work or should I trust the processor's sizer die was "good enough" and save the time and effort, not to mention the extra work hardening of the brass?

I would take a sample of the brass and run it through each of the five rifles. If the samples fit all of them, I wouldn't resize the brass.

 

[Jack B.]

Just run them through the die. Just to make sure. How hard can that be? I'd hate to have a bunch of loaded ammo that won't work.

 

[GBExpat]

My question is, should I run these cases through my sizer die which I know means they will work or should I trust the processor's sizer die was "good enough" and save the time and effort, not to mention the extra work hardening of the brass?

I would run every one of them thru the resizer die ... just as I have always done with all of the Lots of processed brass that I have purchased, no matter how pretty it is and/or correct it seems.

 

[Toprudder]

Diameter is one thing, head to shoulder dimension is another. Neck tension is something to consider. I would run them all through the sizer, but that is just me.

 

[Allen One1]

Another vote for resizing the lot. I think it would be quicker to resize it than to measure each one to determine if it met your spec. You eliminate one more variable if things do go bad down stream as well. If they have already been sized there should be little stress put on the brass for this second sizing. Removing the case lube is the worse part of the process for me.

 

[TheDomFather]

One more vote for resizing! Its not worth the trouble you might run into at the range and ruin a good range day!

 

[Kaldor]

Vote for resize here as well!

Edit: If the processor did their job, then you wont really be working the brass.

 

[mdi]

Unless my cases cost $1.00 each I don't worry about case life. I F/L size every new to me case, so I'll know for sure what I'm working with...

 

[Demi-human]

Alas poor @hdwhit, I know you not really well, but I still would like to help.

Size them! It may not be live or death, but my luck would have me set out the chrono, get the rest set and get one fired. Then the second one would stick enough to have me pack everything back up and head home. Most will be lost to the environment, rather than split necks or hardness.

(My Shakespeare was more pithy at Midnight, before I fell asleep at the computer.)

 

[milemaker13]

I would have said if they measure correctly, then no need.. but in the end the arguments for resizing are more compelling.
Time saved now will be insignificant if you have a jam at the range. And mic'ing all the cases would surely take at least as long as resizing.
If they are already sized, the cases shouldnt see much more stress, if any... And besides, cases are reuseable but still consumable.

 

[Nature Boy]

I run brand new Laupa brass through the sizer, so yes, run it through before loading

 

[Sunray]

"...will fit and feed comfortably in any..." Any FL die does that.
The amount of work hardening done in one resizing is negligible. If the cases were not advertised as being sized, size 'em. It's only time you'll be spending.

 

[hdwhit]

Demi-Human wrote:
Alas poor @hdwhit, I know you not really well, but I still would like to help.

Thank you for join in the Shakespeare motif.

 

[hdwhit]

Jack B. wrote:
I'd hate to have a bunch of loaded ammo that won't work.

It just becomes an excuse to get out the bullet puller and have more press-time.

 

[hdwhit]

Allen One1 wrote:
Removing the case lube is the worse part of the process for me.

I use Hornady Unique. To remove it, I just dump the cases into the tumbler for an hour or so and they come out nice and clean.

 

[hdwhit]

Shall I to the sizing of pure brass admit impediments?
Headspace is not headspace that is longer than the chamber.
It is the shoulder that must be bumpeth back so gently
To allow the gentle neck to chamber.

A sizing I shall go.

As badly as my attempt to be Shakespearean has turned out, my next stop should be the Bulwer-Lytton competition.

 

[Orcon]

Hamlet
Act III
Scene III
Line 87

"No."

 

[Grumulkin]

Some of you guys ought to try living on the dangerous fringe sometime and not resize new brass. Have you ever tried it? My guess would be no. Do you REALLY think you will do a better job of sizing new Lapua brass than the factory did? How about Remington and Winchester?

On the occasions I've used new brass with one exception (in loading for about 40 different cartridges over several decades I should be allowed one exception) I have loaded it right out of the box and NEVER had any problem whatsoever. That would be hundreds of rounds. The one exception is new 460 S&W Magnum brass to be used in a revolver; the sizing was needed to keep the bullets from moving under recoil. For new 460 S&W Magnum brass to be used in a single shot I don't resize.

 

[Demi-human]

Lapua brass has too much neck tension straight from the box for my two-twenty three F/TR target rifle. I still need to purchase an expander mandrel, so guess what I do. Size them. Without sizing groups are in the one inch area at one hundred and at least one flier in ten. My current personal best is twenty all inside a three quarter inch orange dot, no fliers, all sized, brand spanking new. The best part is knowing that the second and third cycle on the brass produced the same results.

 

[Demi-human]

Now back to the important matters a hand.

But soft! What light through yon basement window breaks? It is the Annealer! And the torch is the sun! Arise fair sun and kill the Inglorious hardness, who is already sick and sooted from firing. Non but fools do suffer from it! Cast it off with the flame.
She speaks, and yet says nothing, only the target may tell.
But I am too bold! Could it have been the wind? Would the gusts seek to collect the holes for me?
A fluke? A twist of weather? No! For it happens again!

 

[rjbmjb]

I wouldn't want to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune if I take arms against a sea of troubles and the round won't chamber (unless I'm just shooting paper)

 

[someguy2800]

I'm not well educated enough for this thread!

I vote the third option of getting a headspace comparator for your caliper and then you'll always know.