Thoughts on neck sizing

[JWFilips]

Hi Guys,

On all my cast bullet rifles I use neck sizing dies ( after the cases are once shot in their chambers) I use Lee Collet style neck size dies , all with custom made mandrils to give me the neck tension I need in each caliber. While not Redding Bushing dies, these do serve me well for paper punching ( The only thing I do with my rifles)

Now with my new acquisition of a .358 Win, I need to start thinking of the future. For now I’m partially FL sizing but I can not size any more then 1/2 of the neck before the die starts touching the upper part of the case and squeezing it inward. I haven’t shot a lot of loads like this yet but from what I have (About 20 rounds) they shot really well with the RCBS 35-200 with Plain Base.

In a way by partial neck sizing the back half unsized part of the neck should give me a bit of cartridge centering in the chamber and since I do not take out the flair on the front of the neck ( from seating the bullet) I would think this helps center it up also……… just bugs me that the upper part of the case body it getting a little squeezed.

I’m really only shooting light target loads so I guess I’m not overworking the brass too much, So I’m thinking I will be fine ….Started this thread wondering what you guy’s thoughts are

Jim

 

[KHornet]

IMO, not a problem.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
I agree with your assessment of the need that the case be as closely fit to the chamber as possible. Centering the bullet each time the same way certainly adds to accuracy especially if the chamber is cut in line with the bore.
If you want to get real picky about your case file a notch on the case and start orientating that notch in the chamber as best as you can. Yea you have to become a single shot shooter. By far easier on single shots but even bolt rifles can benefit sometimes.
Once that gets all programed and working start orientating that "notch" in your resizer. You may discover there is a orientation place on that resizer that better corresponds to your chamber and gives that next little hair of accuracy improvement.
Is it worth all the fuss... just depends how bored you might be or if your over active compulsatory system demands you try for more.
Mike in Peru

 

[Lost Dog]

Well sir, I only have two center fire rifles now. All others are long gone. However, the two I still have are both fired with necksized loads. I load about 80% cast in the '06 and all cast in the .45-70, but all are necksized. I'll only FL resize when cases begin to become difficult to chamber, which is ultra rare with light to moderate pressure loads. Of course I load with a 310 tool and at times with an old Spartan press with the Lee collet dies for the '06 at times. There, especially with the 310, I'm sizing just the portion of the case that holds the bullet in place and no more.

My opinion on your actions is simple. If it works for you, you're satisfied with the results, and things are working right, why change?

 

[RBHarter]

I practice 80% sizing in all my rifles . Long necks like 06', 7x57 and 257 Roberts have a visible 10th or so unsized above the shoulder . Short necks will have somewhat less but it is always with the idea in mind that the lower neck doesn't get sized and that minimal sizing happens elsewhere. I have just 1 magnum, while working a PP load for it I found that using a 458 WM FL die for decaping the 264 WM and only sized about 1/4 of the bottom of the case . Why that worked like it did I have no clue ,but it does so I won't fight the system.

I suppose I should spring for neck sizing dies but 2nd sets and loose sizers have come along and allowed me to have 2 sizers set up for most cartridges .

Just as a note a tight 308 die doesn't size my 30 WCF far enough to hold tight .

 

[quicksylver]

JW ...I neck size only using the Lee collet die ( love it).

I do oil it every once in while.

I believe you are a methodical person so filing a notch ( ON THE CASE RIM) might help relieve any concern you have
about centering the case.

Heck I register the mold seam on the bullet the same way when chambering a round, haven't started doing the same with the cases yet.

Same when sizing the bullet, a bit much perhaps......

Maybe a magic marker to start with....anything for additional confidence, don't really know if it would make any real difference down range.

I can tell you this...last year or so I purchased a Lyman mold, the 311332...surprise, it was out of alignment so badly I thought at first the two halves were from different molds.

I sized and lubed some of the bullets and sent them down range.

Not to to bad, then I got thinking, "well the nose is really oval and I am shooting a two groove barrel, so what would happen if I oriented the bullets horizontally for ten rounds and vertically for ten rounds ? "

Wouldn't you know the horizontally oriented bullets grouped much better and continue to do so.

Go figure.....Dan

PS ......I bought Al's 311332 mold, those just plain shoot no mater how I stuff them in the chamber.

Oh!.. and to answer your question, no harm done to your cases, but I think real Ns'ing would be better, it won't "Flow" the brass.

 

[KHornet]

Agree with Quicksylver! Have Lee collet dies for all the cases I load with the exception of KHorned. for that one I have a Redding NS.

 

[JWFilips]

Well Like I said I have the full range of Lee Neck Collets For all my rifles but I'm sure not going to lay out big bucks for a .358Win ( Custom shop only) at That point the Redding bushing die is the same price! However again It would be a long wait because it ins't a stock item!

Now I fascinated by this die Seems too good to be true:
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...er-(point358)-Neck-Sizer-Die-With-Zip-Spindle

Anyone know anything about them?

Dan: By the way I found that lubing the collet system on the Lee Neck Sizing dies with Brownells Moly Action Magic grease work great & for a long time especially if you polish out the parts first & remove all other oils before applying! Since I have done this with all mine they work super.
Lee actually has been pretty good at making custom mandrils for me. Just before they run them I have had their machiniest call me to make sure of the specs ! You do have to do your part and lightly hone out the mandril holder to accept the slightly larger mandril!
Jim

 

[Ian]

I don't see where the Hornady die has interchangeable bushings, or how one would install them into the die body if it did. So that means it has a fixed neck, probably too small for cast bullets.

I'd be a lot more inclined to go with a Redding, Forster, or RCBS neck sizer plus a couple of bushings. Expensive, though.

 

[James W. Miner]

Neck sizing is great and can be done with normal dies. But using the neck only dies will result in hard to chamber soon. Then you need to get back to size and neck dies will fail.
Shoulders move so need set back. The Lee does work but you need FL dies after all when a round will not chamber.
Sorry, you need both dies, not just neck.

 

[4060MAY]

If you have a collet die for .35 Remington, add a spacer on the bottom of the collet for the correct length.
I have done this for a few cartridges that I load for and there are no collet dies...if you have access to a lathe the spacer is easy to make, I use LLA to hold it in place, I have also used washers held together with bullet lube and stuck to the bottom on the collet, Rube at best but it will work