Neck Sizing?

[T-Man]

OK.

So I just got my press/kit from SIR. So I'm about to take the reloading plunge.
(It's a Lee hand press for my .308.---I don't have the space for a full press)

How do I go about neck sizing my cartridges? I hear that will lengthen the life of my cases.
I have a full length resizing die. From my reading I think I can adjust this to resize just the case neck. Is this so? How?

All help and comments are apreciated.

--Trevor

[blacktail]

With the hand press you won't be able to do it properly

[Gatehouse]

To propery neck size, you need a proper neck sizing die, which IMHO is perfecty worthess in a hunting cartridge. (Been there, done that)

What you shoud do is *partial size* Do this:

Install the shellholder raise it up the whole way.

Install the die, twist it down the whole way. Twist your decapping pin /expander ball out s that it hits the primer and drops out. That is not important right now.

Twist it back several turns- well ALOT if your chamber is generous. Just twist it *way* back up.

Put a lubed case in your shellholder, raise it up into t he sizing die.

Attempt to chamber it in your rifle (it shoudl NOT, or you are sizing too much)

Keep lowering the die until it just chambers wiht very little resistance. Then you have your resizing settign for a PARTIAL resize.

You want your die adjusted so that the decapping pin pops the old primer, and the sizing die only resizes enough to make it easy to chamber tha case.

If this is a WSM or SAUM, you need to do different stuff...

[Mauser98]

The idea behind partial resizing is to resize the neck and part of the body of the case while not pushing back the shoulder of the case.

Keep in mind that partial resizing is really only effective on brass that has been previously fired in your rifle. If you get brass that been used in another rifle and you just partially resize, it probably won't chamber in your rifle unless it's been full-length resized. On subsequent firings, partial resizing will work.

To adjust my FL die for partially resizing, I bring the ram of the press up to full height then screw the die down until it's the thickness of a dime from touching the ram. I then adjust the lock ring to that position. The result is a properly sized neck and a shoulder that hasn't been touched. Partial resizing also resized the upper part of the case.

[T-Man]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll give partial sizing a whirl.....of course I'll also give full length resizing a chance too.

All my brass has been fired in my rifle so I think I can start with partial resizing.

Now all I need is primers and powder (and shell holders for my auto prime, and a pilot for my case trimmer, and .............................. the list will keep growing so I'm told).

Any ideas on where to start with powder? Manuals? (I've only got the load data that came with my kit.)

Trevor

[Mr. Dean]

Originally Posted by T-Man

Thanks for the replies.
I'll give partial sizing a whirl.....of course I'll also give full length resizing a chance too.

All my brass has been fired in my rifle so I think I can start with partial resizing.

Now all I need is primers and powder (and shell holders for my auto prime, and a pilot for my case trimmer, and .............................. the list will keep growing so I'm told).

Any ideas on where to start with powder? Manuals? (I've only got the load data that came with my kit.)

Trevor

You could select a bullet manufacturer, then use that Company's data to get things started.
I have several different ones on hand and find that they make VERY interesting reading sessions. I have learned that there are several different ways to build a cartridge.........

Good luck!

[260_Rem]

pick up some 4895, Varget, RL15, or 4064

any of those should give you good results with any load in a 308 Win.

my personal pick would be Varget.

I use Federal primers almost all the time now, but have used CCI & Winchester in the past. I like match primers, they cant hurt IMO.

[T-Man]

Thanks guys.
I'll give it my 1st go tonight.
I'll be using Federal brass (fired once) CCI primers, Reloader 15, Hornady 165 boatails.

I'm looking forward to it.

Trevor

[Downwindtracker]

For neck-sizing Lee uses a different method ,a collet squeezes the neck around a mandrel. Works like a hot damm. Quik, easy,no lube,no trimming. And for a 303 reloader,there simply isn't a better die. 303 chambers are quite generous,they had to take mud as well as cartidges.

[T-Man]

OK.

So now I have a problem.
I tried neck sizing (lee decapping and sizing die--came with hand press kit).
Got stuck......pulled the decapper out of the die......fixed that no problem.
The case seems like it has a slight bulge (v.small ridge that runs around the case) at the base of the neck, above the shoulder......is this normal?

Next, I chamber the case. I have to manually attach it to the bolt as my rifle is a Parker Hale--Mauser style action and wouldn't feed the case into the chamber otherwise. Problem? I don't think so. Anyone care to differ?

Then:
Out of curiosity I try the same thing with an unsized case.........it CHAMBERS WITH NO PROBLEM! Now I'm thinking that this goes against everything I've read about spent and unsized cases not rechambering. Has this happened to anyone else? Does this mean my rifle is unsafe? I don't know what to think.

My rifle doesn't have a silky smooth action in the first place, but I expected it to NOT chamber the cases----but it seemed to chamber them no problem, which might make neck sizing/partially resizing my cases difficult as there is no benchmark for what is or is not "sized enough".

All help is apreciated and much needed.


--Trevor

[Mauser98]

Originally Posted by T-Man

OK.

So now I have a problem.
I tried neck sizing (lee decapping and sizing die--came with hand press kit).
Got stuck......pulled the decapper out of the die......fixed that no problem.
The case seems like it has a slight bulge (v.small ridge that runs around the case) at the base of the neck, above the shoulder......is this normal?

I don't think it's a problem from you description. It appears there is a small portion of the neck didn't get resized.

Next, I chamber the case. I have to manually attach it to the bolt as my rifle is a Parker Hale--Mauser style action and wouldn't feed the case into the chamber otherwise. Problem? I don't think so. Anyone care to differ?

Perfectly normal for a Mauser-style action.

Then:
Out of curiosity I try the same thing with an unsized case.........it CHAMBERS WITH NO PROBLEM! Now I'm thinking that this goes against everything I've read about spent and unsized cases not rechambering. Has this happened to anyone else? Does this mean my rifle is unsafe? I don't know what to think.

My rifle doesn't have a silky smooth action in the first place, but I expected it to NOT chamber the cases----but it seemed to chamber them no problem, which might make neck sizing/partially resizing my cases difficult as there is no benchmark for what is or is not "sized enough".

All help is apreciated and much needed.


--Trevor

The cases were originally fired in your rifle, right? If so, why does it seem strange that it chambered without resizing? After firing, if it extracted ok, obviously the case is smaller than the chamber.

Actually, I'd be more concerned if the fired case didn't fit back in to the chamber

When we use a new case in a rifle, it chambers very easily because it has been manufactured to fit all chambers in the caliber. When it is fired, the pressures cause the brass to expand to perfecly match the shape of the chamber. The brass the springs back to apparently the same shape it was before firing but it's actually slightly larger. The neck will no longer grip a bullet, the shoulder has been moved forward and the body is bigger.

Resizing alters the shape of the case back to where it is useful.

Neck sizing just treats the neck so that the case will grip the bullet. The shoulder isn't touched

Partial resizing will treat the neck and the upper part of the body. Here again, the shoulder isn't touched.

Full-length resizing will treat the whole case including pushing the shoulder back.

After each firing with normal loads, the brass will loose some of it's spring. If you are just neck or partially resizing, extraction and chambering will become more difficult to the point where you'll probably have to full-length resize your brass for at least onc firing then go back neck or partial resizing.(or chuck the cases and get new ones)

[Gatehouse]

Originally Posted by T-Man

OK.



.



All help is apreciated and much needed.


--Trevor

So now I have a problem.
I tried neck sizing (lee decapping and sizing die--came with hand press kit).
Got stuck......pulled the decapper out of the die......fixed that no problem.
The case seems like it has a slight bulge (v.small ridge that runs around the case) at the base of the neck, above the shoulder......is this normal?

What you are looking at, if I understand correctly what youare saying- is a partially sized neck. The top of the neck (and mouth) are sized. Teh little ridge around the case is the size of your chamber.(Which may be a bit generous) This isn't bad, it will hold your cartridge in alignment with the bore, which is a good thing. Just make up a dummy round and make sure that it chambers fine before making mass quantities!

Next, I chamber the case. I have to manually attach it to the bolt as my rifle is a Parker Hale--Mauser style action and wouldn't feed the case into the chamber otherwise. Problem? I don't think so. Anyone care to differ?

That is fine, although you can get a Mauser extractor to snap ove rthe rim of a chambered cartridge by pressing on the extractor with your fingers of your left hand, as you chamber. SOme peopel dont' liek this practice as it can break or bend *some* extractors. Try it out once or twice,its' handy to know.

Then:
Out of curiosity I try the same thing with an unsized case.........it CHAMBERS WITH NO PROBLEM! Now I'm thinking that this goes against everything I've read about spent and unsized cases not rechambering. Has this happened to anyone else? Does this mean my rifle is unsafe? I don't know what to think

Well, the case came OUT of your rifle, right? SO it stands to reaosn that you can pop it back in! It's when you startt to resize, that dimensions change and you can't chamber a case. Your rifle may have a generous chamber (probably does) Handloading, using partila sizing, will help to deal with this.

My rifle doesn't have a silky smooth action in the first place, but I expected it to NOT chamber the cases----but it seemed to chamber them no problem, which might make neck sizing/partially resizing my cases difficult as there is no benchmark for what is or is not "sized enough".

What is sized "enough" is what wil hold a bullet and fit in your chamber, slide in easy, every time.

So partially size the case, leaving that last bit of neck unsized. You need about a *diameter of bullet* length of sized neck to hold the bullet in the neck.

[T-Man]

Whew!!!!
Thanks guys!
So what you all have said makes sense to me.

When that happened to me last night I thought I was going to have a fit.....but I was too tired for theatrics so I posted my problem here and then went to bed instead.

My mind is now allot more at ease.

I will have to get a notebook and start making notes before I start weighing powder and seating bullets. I can see that taking a very systematic approach to reloading is the only way to go.

Thanks again,
Trevor

[the rifleman]

Originally Posted by T-Man

Next, I chamber the case. I have to manually attach it to the bolt as my rifle is a Parker Hale--Mauser style action and wouldn't feed the case into the chamber otherwise. Problem? I don't think so. Anyone care to differ?
--Trevor

I have had a Parker Hale,(SS1200) Mauser style action that for over 35 years I have been able to feed shells into by simply dropping one down the throat, then closing the bolt. No pressing on extractor, no snap as the extractor slips over the case rim. The PH had a slight bevel on the extractor which allowed this. If you have an older WW2 PH this may be different, but the Super Safari 1200, and the Safari 1200 should work fine.

So T-man, have you managed to shoot any of your handloaded shells yet?

[T-Man]

Funny you should ask about the reloads.
I just loaded up my very first 5 live rounds tonight.
165 gr. interlocks
36.5 gr. of RL 15 (starting load)

I should take a picture of one and send it to BC Bigbore, as he gave me his scale to help me on my way.

I think I need a faster way to measure up charges though.
(my dipper was the wrong one------maybe I should get the whole Lee set, or some other charging device (volume) to compliment the scale.)
I just used the dipper to get close and then used the trickler to finish up the charge.

Anyway, everything seemed to work great----except my priming tool. It won't feed primers properly. So I'm bummed about that. Luckily I was sent the ram prime tool when I ordered my stuff from SIR.

Can't wait to try my loads. But I'll have to go re-join the fish and game club first so I can shoot at the range.

I'll post up once I try them out.
Don't expect sub 1" groups though as my rifle is iron sighted and I'm just not a crack shot. Ha!Ha!

My rifle seems to bind if the shell gets ahead of the bolt.
Heck, sometimes it doesn't feed so hot either........strange for a Mauser?

Anyway. I like it (it's actually a CIL 972C--which is a 1200). It is a nice looking rifle, and I think it shoots ok (but I don't have a scope).

How do you like your Parker Hale?
Been good to you?

Thanks for the reply.

Cheers,

Trevor