Fullsizing new brass

steve_of_AR · February 15, 2006, 07:23 PM

I getting started reloading, doing a lot of reading. I read in the "ABC's of Reloading" book that even new brass should be full-length resized. Is that so, and if so, why? I had planned on only neck-resizing.
I'm going to use new Winchester brass, in .270 and 7mm-08. Rockchucker master kit.

Thanks

kingudaroad · February 15, 2006, 08:15 PM

Hi Steve and welcome to TFL.

Full length resizing is necessary on new brass and brass that has been shot in a differnt gun than the one you are going to use the brass in.

You may neck resize only if the brass was once fired from the same rifle you are currently loading for.

Once the brass is fired in one individual gun it fire-forms itself to the exact dimensions of that individual chamber, so you neck size only.

You will need two different sizing dies. A full length and a neck only for each different caliber you will be loading for.

Good luck,be safe,have fun, go slow.

jclaude · February 15, 2006, 09:32 PM

My perception of "New" brass is that which has never been fired in any chamber. Until it has been fired, it should not be necessary to size it at all. You should be able to prime it right out of the new box, dump the desired powder charge, and seat the bullet of your choice.

After is has been fired in a particular chamber, you should be able to neck size only, Provided that: It is a bolt action rifle, and you only plan to fire it in that very same chamber.

Jim Watson · February 15, 2006, 09:35 PM

Most new brass is bulk packed and may have dented, dinged, and out-of-round case mouths. I size it as though it had been fired, then deburr the inside of the mouth so it won't scrape up the bullet and the outside so it will chamber freely.

Ifishsum · February 16, 2006, 12:04 AM

You can't trust it to be perfect out of the bag. It doesn't take long to size them and make sure the necks are good - you usually don't need lube for new brass.

rwilson452 · February 16, 2006, 12:58 AM

Like the man said. new brass has taken a beating I full length resize, trim and chamfer all new brass. As to neck sizeing I would check your brass after the first fireing with a dial indicator to insure your chamber is properly aligned with your bore. IF it isn't then the dial indicator will indicate to you that the neck is not concentric.

PinnedAndRecessed · February 16, 2006, 01:04 AM

Nah. I buy new brass already primed. You can't resize it (without pulling the pin) and don't need to.

I have always used new brass without sizing. In 30 years of shooting/reloading I've never had a problem.

Smokey Joe · February 16, 2006, 01:51 AM

My procedure has been to try the new brass in the intended gun for chamber fit. Normally it's no problem. That being so, I neck size the brass for uniformity's sake, then prime, powder and seat bullet as usual.

I've had new brass that needed neck chamfering, and new brass that didn't. I do that if the brass needs it; why do it if it isn't necessary? Note: I DO keep my lots of rifle brass separated, and always do the same thing(s) to each piece in the lot.

I see no reason to FL size new brass that chambers in the intended rifle--Yes, it doesn't fit the chamber precisely, but neither does fired, FL sized brass. After fire-forming in a particular rifle, THEN the brass fits that chamber!

Mr_Magoo · February 16, 2006, 02:14 PM

But, do you know that all dimentions are correct on that new brass?

I want to know that everything is correct with the ammo I load.
I full length size
Trim
Chamfer
Uniform the primer pocket
drill, deburr, and reshape the flash hole

If I am going to fire something out of my gun, I want to be sure that it is the best it can possibly be. I intend to stay healthy.

Tim R · February 16, 2006, 02:33 PM

I use new brass for my Hunting ammo. Don't want any problems in the field, right? So far the only need I see is neck sizing to make sure the mouths are in fact round followed by normal brass prep in order to seat the bullets. Everything else will fire form.

As far as lube goes, you had better believe lube is required on all rifle brass no matter what you might be doing when it gets close to a size die.

Smokey Joe · February 16, 2006, 02:48 PM

Mr. Magoo--

Quote:

But, do you know that all dimentions are correct on that new brass?

SAAMI specs are such that the largest factory manufactured brass has to fit into the smallest factory chamber. Therefore, new factory brass from a reputable company will chamber and be correct (just like new factory ammo) for a given cartridge. I don't go to the length of measuring every dimension of the brass and comparing it to the standard dimensions--and I don't know anybody else who does. That would be taking anal-retentiveness to a whole new level IMHO.

I don't use cheapo brass to reload; that would defeat the purpose of reloading. Most of my new rifle brass is Norma or LaPua; most of my new pistol brass is Starline. I have been known to buy Winchester new brass on occasion. That's about it. So all the new brass I buy is SAAMI spec.

Quote:

drill, deburr, and reshape the flash hole

Buy Norma or LaPua brass and this is already done for you. Save yrself some effort. It's XLNT brass in all other respects, too.

As to knowing for a fact that the brass is perfect--Nothing in this life is guaranteed. Not to snipe at you, but how do you know that your resize die is better than the dies that the manufacturers use? How do you know that there are no metallurgical flaws in the brass?

Everyone has to reload to their own standards; if you are happy with yours I have no quarrel with you. I just think you are going to effort you don't need to, to achieve round-to-round uniformity, and safe functioning. If that's what makes you happy, go for it.

629 shooter · February 17, 2006, 01:01 AM

I have thought about this as well using new rifle brass. Then I thought:

1- If the factory was loading these same cases for new ammo would they be resizing each case in a die?

2- Is primed brass already full length resized compared to cases bought unprimed? I doubt one is different than the other except one has a primer and one does not.

Since , like mentioned above , the factories sell primed brass they obviously do not expect the user to full length resize the brass.

I never have full length sized my new rifle cases. My old .223 shot some great targets using new brass that was only neck sized. For handgun I have never sized new brass.

dogfood · February 17, 2006, 10:06 PM

This may not apply to your particular situation, but I never full-length size new brass for any of the rifles I shoot. Many military rifles have very generous chambers (this is particularly true of some .303 Enfields). Full length sizing will do nothing but make for a sloppier fit, which results in more case stretching upon first firing.

As pointed out earlier, if your new brass will chamber in your rifle without full-length sizing, I would only neck-size to start.

dogfood

marks655 · March 1, 2006, 11:45 PM

Deburr flash hole if it isn't Norma or Lapua. Neck size maybe if it's dented. Chamfer and go.

Some of my best groups are with virgin brass. Nothin like virgin.

February 15, 2006, 07:23 PM	#1
steve_of_AR Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: AR Posts: 18	Fullsizing new brass I getting started reloading, doing a lot of reading. I read in the "ABC's of Reloading" book that even new brass should be full-length resized. Is that so, and if so, why? I had planned on only neck-resizing. I'm going to use new Winchester brass, in .270 and 7mm-08. Rockchucker master kit. Thanks

February 15, 2006, 09:32 PM	#3
jclaude Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Coastal North Carolina Posts: 157	Resize New Brass? My perception of "New" brass is that which has never been fired in any chamber. Until it has been fired, it should not be necessary to size it at all. You should be able to prime it right out of the new box, dump the desired powder charge, and seat the bullet of your choice. After is has been fired in a particular chamber, you should be able to neck size only, Provided that: It is a bolt action rifle, and you only plan to fire it in that very same chamber.

February 16, 2006, 12:58 AM	#6
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	New brass Like the man said. new brass has taken a beating I full length resize, trim and chamfer all new brass. As to neck sizeing I would check your brass after the first fireing with a dial indicator to insure your chamber is properly aligned with your bore. IF it isn't then the dial indicator will indicate to you that the neck is not concentric.

February 16, 2006, 01:51 AM	#8
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	FL sizing new brass My procedure has been to try the new brass in the intended gun for chamber fit. Normally it's no problem. That being so, I neck size the brass for uniformity's sake, then prime, powder and seat bullet as usual. I've had new brass that needed neck chamfering, and new brass that didn't. I do that if the brass needs it; why do it if it isn't necessary? Note: I DO keep my lots of rifle brass separated, and always do the same thing(s) to each piece in the lot. I see no reason to FL size new brass that chambers in the intended rifle--Yes, it doesn't fit the chamber precisely, but neither does fired, FL sized brass. After fire-forming in a particular rifle, THEN the brass fits that chamber!

February 15, 2006, 08:15 PM	#2
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Hi Steve and welcome to TFL. Full length resizing is necessary on new brass and brass that has been shot in a differnt gun than the one you are going to use the brass in. You may neck resize only if the brass was once fired from the same rifle you are currently loading for. Once the brass is fired in one individual gun it fire-forms itself to the exact dimensions of that individual chamber, so you neck size only. You will need two different sizing dies. A full length and a neck only for each different caliber you will be loading for. Good luck,be safe,have fun, go slow.

February 15, 2006, 09:35 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,169	Most new brass is bulk packed and may have dented, dinged, and out-of-round case mouths. I size it as though it had been fired, then deburr the inside of the mouth so it won't scrape up the bullet and the outside so it will chamber freely.

February 16, 2006, 12:04 AM	#5
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,035	You can't trust it to be perfect out of the bag. It doesn't take long to size them and make sure the necks are good - you usually don't need lube for new brass.

February 16, 2006, 01:04 AM	#7
PinnedAndRecessed Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2004 Posts: 449	Nah. I buy new brass already primed. You can't resize it (without pulling the pin) and don't need to. I have always used new brass without sizing. In 30 years of shooting/reloading I've never had a problem.

February 16, 2006, 02:14 PM	#9
Mr_Magoo Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Posts: 46	But, do you know that all dimentions are correct on that new brass? I want to know that everything is correct with the ammo I load. I full length size Trim Chamfer Uniform the primer pocket drill, deburr, and reshape the flash hole If I am going to fire something out of my gun, I want to be sure that it is the best it can possibly be. I intend to stay healthy.

February 16, 2006, 02:33 PM	#10
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	I use new brass for my Hunting ammo. Don't want any problems in the field, right? So far the only need I see is neck sizing to make sure the mouths are in fact round followed by normal brass prep in order to seat the bullets. Everything else will fire form. As far as lube goes, you had better believe lube is required on all rifle brass no matter what you might be doing when it gets close to a size die.

February 17, 2006, 01:01 AM	#12
629 shooter Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2002 Location: IN , USA Posts: 967	I have thought about this as well using new rifle brass. Then I thought: 1- If the factory was loading these same cases for new ammo would they be resizing each case in a die? 2- Is primed brass already full length resized compared to cases bought unprimed? I doubt one is different than the other except one has a primer and one does not. Since , like mentioned above , the factories sell primed brass they obviously do not expect the user to full length resize the brass. I never have full length sized my new rifle cases. My old .223 shot some great targets using new brass that was only neck sized. For handgun I have never sized new brass.

February 17, 2006, 10:06 PM	#13
dogfood Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2004 Location: Southwestern OH Posts: 239	This may not apply to your particular situation, but I never full-length size new brass for any of the rifles I shoot. Many military rifles have very generous chambers (this is particularly true of some .303 Enfields). Full length sizing will do nothing but make for a sloppier fit, which results in more case stretching upon first firing. As pointed out earlier, if your new brass will chamber in your rifle without full-length sizing, I would only neck-size to start. dogfood

March 1, 2006, 11:45 PM	#14
marks655 Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 363	Deburr flash hole if it isn't Norma or Lapua. Neck size maybe if it's dented. Chamfer and go. Some of my best groups are with virgin brass. Nothin like virgin.