Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading
Just started reloading... recommendations re: neck sizer?
CitizenClark:
So after a long time talking about reloading, I finally bit the bullet and got started. I acquired a reloading setup from GreyGeek, and I've reloaded about ninety .308 Winchester cartridges so far. I fired off almost twenty from my first batch this past Friday and they grouped well (though shooting from a modified "California" sitting position I didn't exactly find out what they are capable of in terms of precision), with no signs of unsafe pressures generated, etc.
I read that for brass that is going to be reused in the same bolt gun, full-length resizing is usually unnecessary and hard on the brass, and that neck sizing is preferable most of the time. I am using a Lee single-stage press with Lee dies. What decapper/neck sizing die should I get?
Here is some of what I have reloaded so far (be gentle):
unfy:
I'm personally indifferent on brand of neck sizing die.... or dies in general (mostly).
While there are some nuanced differences between brands of dies such as how their retaining nuts are secured, and a few other things... but dies are dies as far as I'm concerned (until you get into competition seating dies).
So and so's tungsten carbide dies will be similar to who so ever's, etc. There *are* differences and they may be important to you, but after trying dies from 3 different manufacturers, they all function fine in my humble opinion.
In regards to neck sizing vs full length.
You should full length size the brass at least once.
From there, on bolt action guns... neck sizing only is great for getting brass to last longer (you're reworking it far less) and for gaining accuracy / precision (since the brass is now formed to your chamber, making a better seal).
Semi auto's and lever action... should be full length resized usually due to strength of the action (ie: neck sized only more prone to jam in these kinds of guns).
unfy:
BTW - forgot my chant:
One of us...
One of us...
One of us...
One of us...
One of us...
One of us...
One of us...
bkoenig:
--- Quote from: unfy on July 15, 2013, 10:24:48 AM ---I'm personally indifferent on brand of neck sizing die.... or dies in general (mostly).
While there are some nuanced differences between brands of dies such as how their retaining nuts are secured, and a few other things... but dies are dies as far as I'm concerned (until you get into competition seating dies).
So and so's tungsten carbide dies will be similar to who so ever's, etc. There *are* differences and they may be important to you, but after trying dies from 3 different manufacturers, they all function fine in my humble opinion.
In regards to neck sizing vs full length.
You should full length size the brass at least once.
From there, on bolt action guns... neck sizing only is great for getting brass to last longer (you're reworking it far less) and for gaining accuracy / precision (since the brass is now formed to your chamber, making a better seal).
Semi auto's and lever action... should be full length resized usually due to strength of the action (ie: neck sized only more prone to jam in these kinds of guns).
--- End quote ---
I second all of this. The Lee neck sizers have a good reputation and are relatively cheap.
When you reload some rimmed cartridges neck sizing is almost mandatory since they headspace off the rim instead of the shoulder. 303 British, for example. Lee-Enfields have extremely generous chamber dimensions and if you full length size them you'll end up with a case head separation after only a few loads. What happens is the shoulder gets pushed back by the sizer, then on firing it flows back out to fill the chamber. All that back and forth weakens the brass until it finally lets go and you get a face full of hot gas.
CitizenClark:
I went out to Lincoln Ike's with another batch of reloads. Seven different batches, actually.
Here are the results from my Savage 110FP at 100yds:
The 180gr stuff beat me up pretty good, so some of that inconsistency is likely my shooting and not the ammo.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version