Neck size .243

tlsdad · January 21, 2017, 10:19 AM

Gentlemen. Rcvd a new Browning X-bolt chambered in .243 for Christmas. Picked up a bag of Winchester brand .243 cases and set about loading Hornady 75 grain Vmax over 36 grains of Varget (min load). COAL 2.650.

Off to the range. Fired beautifully...no problems or obvious indication re pressure. After examining the fire-formed casings i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile. When making some inquiries, some are teling me that that my brand new rifle chamber to too tight and that i have a problem!!?? Following up with some internet research has suggested that this "neck issue" is a not unusual for .243 and not a problem. So...im looking from input from you old timers and experts....with thanks.

NHSHOOTER · January 21, 2017, 10:26 AM

I am just wondering how you know that you dont have to resize?? Did you just try to reseat a bullet?

tlsdad · January 21, 2017, 10:46 AM

NHSHOOTER......was just examinaing cases...deciding weather i should fls or just neck size. Discovered the neck was still small enough to seat a bullet.

NHSHOOTER · January 21, 2017, 10:51 AM

Since I read your post I just checked some fired 243 cases that have yet to be resized, they too seem to be good to go without resizing and they were fired from a 2 yr old weatherby S2 that has been fired at least 500 times.

tlsdad · January 21, 2017, 10:59 AM

You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that!!

tlsdad · January 21, 2017, 11:01 AM

So....im guessing then that you fls all the time??

NHSHOOTER · January 21, 2017, 11:10 AM

I usually neck size my 243, 22-250 and 223 until they chamber too tight, then I full length size. Its funny that your talking about a x bolt though, I too just got a new one in 7-08 and the chamber is tight but it is one hell of a shooter. Headed out to shoot it again today, getting some nice tight groups , 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 yds..

243winxb · January 21, 2017, 12:29 PM

Light loads/bullet cause the case neck not to expand fully.

Happens with reduced loads also.

Common to other cartridges also.

tlsdad · January 21, 2017, 06:20 PM

So 243wnxb....thank you for the information. I appreciate it as Im new to .243. So...do you fls or neck size??

243winxb · January 21, 2017, 08:00 PM

Redding type S FL sizing bushing die.

Mobuck · January 22, 2017, 09:18 AM

"i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile"

Under no circumstances is this OK. If the neck has no room to expand to release the bullet, this affects the pressures of the load. Barring a legitimate precision cut chamber/neck that requires matched brass, the fired case should allow a bullet to drop or be easily pushed into the case.

T. O'Heir · January 22, 2017, 03:57 PM

You should have checked the new brass for length, trimmed as required, only, and chamfered and deburred to start with. New brass is not ready to load without sizing.
"...I'm new to .243..." Isn't any different than any other cartridge. Mine's partial to IMR4350 and heavy bullets. Your Browning probably will too. Has a 1 in 10 twist.
Even if you have a neck sizing die, eventually, you will have to FL resize. Meanwhile, you need to resize, but it's one way or the other.

tlsdad · January 22, 2017, 06:59 PM

T. O'Heir....when you say "heavy". What are you talking??

NHSHOOTER · January 22, 2017, 08:16 PM

You can get 243's anywhere from 55 gr to 107's, So I would say he is saying the heavier side, I say it depends on what you are going to be shooting, paper? Varmints? Deer. My Vanguard really likes 70 gr sierra match while my Hawkeye likes 85's..Try em all and see what works best for you, that is the fun of reloading, you have many options.

ShootistPRS · January 22, 2017, 08:53 PM

I have learned that any time you have a fired cartridge that will not allow you to push the bullet easily into the mouth there is a problem. If it is a standard load (not a light load) then there isn't enough clearance in the chamber and you need to turn the necks to fit. There is a point at which a cartridge will fire without over expanding the neck and the case can be reloaded without sizing... for a period of time. I have seen bench rest shooters that tune their cases to do this. They start by turning the neck to make sure it is concentric and then sand or steel wool the inside of the neck for fit. They get a limited number of reloads out of these cases before they can no longer be used. For a rifle that uses "off the shelf" ammo this is a dangerous situation as it can produce very high pressure peaks that will slowly destroy your gun from micro-fractures in the chamber.

Bear2 · February 8, 2017, 07:30 PM

I am loading 41 gr of IMR 4350 behind 100 gr Sierra BT, and getting 1/2 MOA out measured to 200 yards. Also 46 gr of IMR 4350 behind 70 gr Nosler BT, AND EQUAL MOA. Rifle Remington 700 SPS Stainless, Leupold 3.5-10 Vari X 3 scope. Both below current maximums.

January 21, 2017, 10:19 AM	#1
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	Neck size .243 Gentlemen. Rcvd a new Browning X-bolt chambered in .243 for Christmas. Picked up a bag of Winchester brand .243 cases and set about loading Hornady 75 grain Vmax over 36 grains of Varget (min load). COAL 2.650. Off to the range. Fired beautifully...no problems or obvious indication re pressure. After examining the fire-formed casings i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile. When making some inquiries, some are teling me that that my brand new rifle chamber to too tight and that i have a problem!!?? Following up with some internet research has suggested that this "neck issue" is a not unusual for .243 and not a problem. So...im looking from input from you old timers and experts....with thanks.

January 22, 2017, 03:57 PM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	You should have checked the new brass for length, trimmed as required, only, and chamfered and deburred to start with. New brass is not ready to load without sizing. "...I'm new to .243..." Isn't any different than any other cartridge. Mine's partial to IMR4350 and heavy bullets. Your Browning probably will too. Has a 1 in 10 twist. Even if you have a neck sizing die, eventually, you will have to FL resize. Meanwhile, you need to resize, but it's one way or the other. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 8, 2017, 07:30 PM	#16
Bear2 Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2017 Posts: 9	243 I am loading 41 gr of IMR 4350 behind 100 gr Sierra BT, and getting 1/2 MOA out measured to 200 yards. Also 46 gr of IMR 4350 behind 70 gr Nosler BT, AND EQUAL MOA. Rifle Remington 700 SPS Stainless, Leupold 3.5-10 Vari X 3 scope. Both below current maximums.

January 21, 2017, 10:26 AM	#2
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	I am just wondering how you know that you dont have to resize?? Did you just try to reseat a bullet?

January 21, 2017, 10:46 AM	#3
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	NHSHOOTER......was just examinaing cases...deciding weather i should fls or just neck size. Discovered the neck was still small enough to seat a bullet.

January 21, 2017, 10:51 AM	#4
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	Since I read your post I just checked some fired 243 cases that have yet to be resized, they too seem to be good to go without resizing and they were fired from a 2 yr old weatherby S2 that has been fired at least 500 times.

January 21, 2017, 10:59 AM	#5
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that!!

January 21, 2017, 11:01 AM	#6
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	So....im guessing then that you fls all the time??

January 21, 2017, 11:10 AM	#7
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	I usually neck size my 243, 22-250 and 223 until they chamber too tight, then I full length size. Its funny that your talking about a x bolt though, I too just got a new one in 7-08 and the chamber is tight but it is one hell of a shooter. Headed out to shoot it again today, getting some nice tight groups , 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 yds..

January 21, 2017, 12:29 PM	#8
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Light loads/bullet cause the case neck not to expand fully. Happens with reduced loads also. Common to other cartridges also.

January 21, 2017, 06:20 PM	#9
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	So 243wnxb....thank you for the information. I appreciate it as Im new to .243. So...do you fls or neck size??

January 21, 2017, 08:00 PM	#10
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Redding type S FL sizing bushing die.

January 22, 2017, 09:18 AM	#11
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile" Under no circumstances is this OK. If the neck has no room to expand to release the bullet, this affects the pressures of the load. Barring a legitimate precision cut chamber/neck that requires matched brass, the fired case should allow a bullet to drop or be easily pushed into the case.

January 22, 2017, 06:59 PM	#13
tlsdad Junior Member Join Date: January 19, 2017 Posts: 6	T. O'Heir....when you say "heavy". What are you talking??

January 22, 2017, 08:16 PM	#14
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	You can get 243's anywhere from 55 gr to 107's, So I would say he is saying the heavier side, I say it depends on what you are going to be shooting, paper? Varmints? Deer. My Vanguard really likes 70 gr sierra match while my Hawkeye likes 85's..Try em all and see what works best for you, that is the fun of reloading, you have many options.

January 22, 2017, 08:53 PM	#15
ShootistPRS Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2017 Posts: 1,583	I have learned that any time you have a fired cartridge that will not allow you to push the bullet easily into the mouth there is a problem. If it is a standard load (not a light load) then there isn't enough clearance in the chamber and you need to turn the necks to fit. There is a point at which a cartridge will fire without over expanding the neck and the case can be reloaded without sizing... for a period of time. I have seen bench rest shooters that tune their cases to do this. They start by turning the neck to make sure it is concentric and then sand or steel wool the inside of the neck for fit. They get a limited number of reloads out of these cases before they can no longer be used. For a rifle that uses "off the shelf" ammo this is a dangerous situation as it can produce very high pressure peaks that will slowly destroy your gun from micro-fractures in the chamber.