Single shots and neck size only

BLS700 · October 1, 2009, 01:03 AM

I know this debate has popped up on here off and on but I've never seen a thread for it. Does anyone have any experience with FL resizing vs neck sizing only on a single shot. I've gotten responses from you can only FL for accuracy to only FL the first time. I've also gotten neck sizing is dangerous on a single shot

. If you aren't jamming the round in the chamber how could fire forming brass to your gun be dangerous? So anyone who can shed some light on this I'd appreciate it. I'm about to work up my first batch of neck sized rounds.

RAnb · October 1, 2009, 01:39 AM

Slight resistance when closing the bolt or in the case of a break open single shot, when closing the action is ideal. If it is hard to close the action on a neck sized round, then this is a sign that the brass needs to be full length sized, or at least partial full length sized to bump the shoulder back a bit. The less the brass is worked during reloading, the better.

Ranb

bpratl · October 1, 2009, 06:54 AM

I am going through the same thing. I am loading for a T/C 22" .204 and trying FL and case neck sizing but; I am having Run out problems with different dies.
So far the LEE collet dies seem to give me the best results.

SL1 · October 1, 2009, 07:40 AM

because the action is springy. I load for a Contender in .30 Herrett cartridge in a COntender action, and took the old advice in handloading manuals about making the case dimensions (on bottleneck cartridges) long enough to need to "close the action with a snap." But, the cases stretch and, at least in the Contender, the action does not fully lock-up if the case is too long, even though it SEEMS closed. That messes-up the accuracy, compared to what it can do when it is properly locked-up. So, I really need to bump the shoulder for my Contender. For more information, see Mike Bohm's site here: http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/ . Look at the list of articles in the green column on the left and read the ones about accuracy and headspace. He says NOT to necksize for a Contender action. How that translates to the newer Encore actions I don't know.

I also shoot a .270 Winchester, and I use a Lee Collet Die to neck-size for that bolt action gun. No problems with safety or accuracy problems when neck-sizing for the bolt-action.

SL1

oneounceload · October 1, 2009, 09:28 AM

My single shot is a Remington XP-100 target pistol which is a bolt action type of single shot. I ONLY neck-size for it and have had my brass last a loooooong time with great accuracy (when I do MY part)

I also have a H&R in .223 that only gets neck-sized - same results - better accuracy and longer case life - no issues

RAnb · October 1, 2009, 10:43 AM

If your contener does not close with a snap, then it might open under recoil. My 7mm tcu opened when fired and the brass came out , rotated 180 degrees and made a half moon cut in my forehead.

Ranb

BLS700 · October 1, 2009, 11:45 AM

bpratl I think you and i may be working on the same gun. Mine is also a .204.
If you get a load worked up let me know what your results are if you could. Once I get my first batch fired I'll post results. As far as opening and having the brass come out was that because the case was too long for the action to be fully locked into place?

brickeyee · October 1, 2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

If it is hard to close the action on a neck sized round, then this is a sign that the brass needs to be full length sized, or at least partial full length sized to bump the shoulder back a bit.

There are 'body dies' available that size the case and shoulder without touching the neck.

They are used when cases that have been neck sized become hard to chamber.

After a body die, the regular neck size die is still required to reduce the neck.

bpratl · October 1, 2009, 07:28 PM

BLS700, The reason I was neck sizing my .204 was that I was getting short brass life when full sizing with cracks showing up after 4 reloads. I started annealing and neck sizing but; then found excessive case run out. That has been solved with LEE collet dies so now I will restart new reloads. I was using 28.5 grains of W748 (my only available powder at that time) with 32 VMAX. I just picked up BLC-2 and I am going to give that a try.

Bart B. · October 1, 2009, 10:53 PM

For what it's worth, folks shooting high power competition with box magazine match rifles for 200 to 1000 yards and 800 to 1000 yards with single shot rifles producing the best scores have full length sized their fired cases. Even new cases produce near equal accuracy. Some folks get dozens of reloads per rimless bottle neck case by proper use of the right full length sizing tools and dies.

Neck sizing has never proved all that good and even the benchresters have started moving to full length sizing.

Anytime the bolt binds a bit when closed typically doesn't seat at exactly the same place for each shot. This degrades accuracy.

The above aside, folks who full length resize but don't use the right tools set up the right way oft times get better results by some type of neck sizing.

troy_mclure · October 2, 2009, 12:07 AM

i neck size on my encore .204 as well.

i fl size on range or used brass i find.

i had some accuracy probs while fl sizing, those have vanished with neck sizing.

bpratl, i have had good luck with 29gr of w748 under the 32gr vmax in my 28" prohunter.

bpratl · October 2, 2009, 06:06 AM

Troy, what make of neck die have you been using and what was your best load data for your .204? What was your best COL?

darkgael · October 2, 2009, 07:05 AM

I have both a T/C Contender and an Encore. I have neck-sized only for the Contender for decades at this point. Never a problem. Accuracy is fine. Cases last. I do, however, find that the necks need to be annealled periodically and that the cases benefit from a FL sizing after a half dozen loadings. The cartridges involved are the .30-30 and the .30-06.
I have to admit, though, that what appeals to me most about NK sizing is that it is less work, at least two steps simplified or removed in the loading process.
Pete

troy_mclure · October 2, 2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Troy, what make of neck die have you been using and what was your best load data for your .204? What was your best COL?

i have rcbs dies, best col was 2.151(as gotten from chamber cast), best load was win small mag rifle primer, hornady brass(neck sized after firing (factory ammo)), 29gr w748, 32 hornady V-max.

i dont have a chrono so i dont know the speed, but i can put 20 in a 2" group at 100yd. havent taken it past that yet.

i have the prohunter 28" bbl with a muzzle break, so your results may vary! lol

October 1, 2009, 01:03 AM	#1
BLS700 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 229	Single shots and neck size only I know this debate has popped up on here off and on but I've never seen a thread for it. Does anyone have any experience with FL resizing vs neck sizing only on a single shot. I've gotten responses from you can only FL for accuracy to only FL the first time. I've also gotten neck sizing is dangerous on a single shot. If you aren't jamming the round in the chamber how could fire forming brass to your gun be dangerous? So anyone who can shed some light on this I'd appreciate it. I'm about to work up my first batch of neck sized rounds.

October 1, 2009, 07:40 AM	#4
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	The T/C is a little different because the action is springy. I load for a Contender in .30 Herrett cartridge in a COntender action, and took the old advice in handloading manuals about making the case dimensions (on bottleneck cartridges) long enough to need to "close the action with a snap." But, the cases stretch and, at least in the Contender, the action does not fully lock-up if the case is too long, even though it SEEMS closed. That messes-up the accuracy, compared to what it can do when it is properly locked-up. So, I really need to bump the shoulder for my Contender. For more information, see Mike Bohm's site here: http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/ . Look at the list of articles in the green column on the left and read the ones about accuracy and headspace. He says NOT to necksize for a Contender action. How that translates to the newer Encore actions I don't know. I also shoot a .270 Winchester, and I use a Lee Collet Die to neck-size for that bolt action gun. No problems with safety or accuracy problems when neck-sizing for the bolt-action. SL1

October 2, 2009, 07:05 AM	#13
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	NK I have both a T/C Contender and an Encore. I have neck-sized only for the Contender for decades at this point. Never a problem. Accuracy is fine. Cases last. I do, however, find that the necks need to be annealled periodically and that the cases benefit from a FL sizing after a half dozen loadings. The cartridges involved are the .30-30 and the .30-06. I have to admit, though, that what appeals to me most about NK sizing is that it is less work, at least two steps simplified or removed in the loading process. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

October 1, 2009, 01:39 AM	#2
RAnb Junior member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: WA, USA Posts: 447	Slight resistance when closing the bolt or in the case of a break open single shot, when closing the action is ideal. If it is hard to close the action on a neck sized round, then this is a sign that the brass needs to be full length sized, or at least partial full length sized to bump the shoulder back a bit. The less the brass is worked during reloading, the better. Ranb

October 1, 2009, 06:54 AM	#3
bpratl Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Gloucester, MA Posts: 47	I am going through the same thing. I am loading for a T/C 22" .204 and trying FL and case neck sizing but; I am having Run out problems with different dies. So far the LEE collet dies seem to give me the best results.

October 1, 2009, 09:28 AM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	My single shot is a Remington XP-100 target pistol which is a bolt action type of single shot. I ONLY neck-size for it and have had my brass last a loooooong time with great accuracy (when I do MY part) I also have a H&R in .223 that only gets neck-sized - same results - better accuracy and longer case life - no issues

October 1, 2009, 10:43 AM	#6
RAnb Junior member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: WA, USA Posts: 447	If your contener does not close with a snap, then it might open under recoil. My 7mm tcu opened when fired and the brass came out , rotated 180 degrees and made a half moon cut in my forehead. Ranb

October 1, 2009, 11:45 AM	#7
BLS700 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 229	bpratl I think you and i may be working on the same gun. Mine is also a .204. If you get a load worked up let me know what your results are if you could. Once I get my first batch fired I'll post results. As far as opening and having the brass come out was that because the case was too long for the action to be fully locked into place?

October 1, 2009, 07:28 PM	#9
bpratl Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Gloucester, MA Posts: 47	BLS700, The reason I was neck sizing my .204 was that I was getting short brass life when full sizing with cracks showing up after 4 reloads. I started annealing and neck sizing but; then found excessive case run out. That has been solved with LEE collet dies so now I will restart new reloads. I was using 28.5 grains of W748 (my only available powder at that time) with 32 VMAX. I just picked up BLC-2 and I am going to give that a try.

October 1, 2009, 10:53 PM	#10
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	For what it's worth, folks shooting high power competition with box magazine match rifles for 200 to 1000 yards and 800 to 1000 yards with single shot rifles producing the best scores have full length sized their fired cases. Even new cases produce near equal accuracy. Some folks get dozens of reloads per rimless bottle neck case by proper use of the right full length sizing tools and dies. Neck sizing has never proved all that good and even the benchresters have started moving to full length sizing. Anytime the bolt binds a bit when closed typically doesn't seat at exactly the same place for each shot. This degrades accuracy. The above aside, folks who full length resize but don't use the right tools set up the right way oft times get better results by some type of neck sizing.

October 2, 2009, 12:07 AM	#11
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 2,716	i neck size on my encore .204 as well. i fl size on range or used brass i find. i had some accuracy probs while fl sizing, those have vanished with neck sizing. bpratl, i have had good luck with 29gr of w748 under the 32gr vmax in my 28" prohunter.

October 2, 2009, 06:06 AM	#12
bpratl Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: Gloucester, MA Posts: 47	Troy, what make of neck die have you been using and what was your best load data for your .204? What was your best COL?