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Old March 11, 2010, 09:20 PM   #1
Palmetto-Pride
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Shotshell Resizing Needed or Not?

So I just got into shot shell reloading and I was wondering how many people bother to resize or skip this step especially if shooting out of same gun. The reason I ask is because the shells I have reloaded went in and out of the chamber with no problem, and they shot in my semi auto with no problem. So why the need for it?
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Old March 11, 2010, 10:01 PM   #2
jmortimer
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For semi-auto resizing can be critical. You can buy a shell guage from Ballistic Products to see if there is a problem. I use MEC resizing tool with my Lee Load All II. I think resizing is good idea.
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Old March 11, 2010, 10:09 PM   #3
okiefarmer
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Ya know, I can't honestly say. It's just always been a station on the loader, so I used it without question. Figured smarter people than me had already determined that issue. Sooooo, I just micced a few 12 guage factories and a few fired hulls. .805 +/- .001 on loaded factory rounds. I also got right at the same on the low brass same fired round, but when measuring a medium high brass shell, it went up to about .813 +/- .001. Izzat enough to cause an issue, dunno. For sure not in a SXS or O/U. I would think getting a slight taper on the front end after crimp closing would be more important for autoloading. Heck, there was even some shotshells out a few years back without any brass on it at all, ACTIV was one, NORMA was one, could be others.

YMMV, but unless the act of sizing is slowing your loading down that much, I'd just keep on keepin' on. What's it gonna hurt.
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Old March 11, 2010, 10:29 PM   #4
Palmetto-Pride
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I just bought a Lee Load All 2 and for less than the cost of dinner at Outback it can't be beat. If I were using a progressive loader and it was just one of the stations that automatically did it of course it would get done, but with the Lee Load All it involves putting a steel ring sizer on before the deprime and then it comes off at the reprime, but it just seems like a unnecessary step because the fired shells load with no problem.......well any way as long as it works I don't think I am going to mess with it, but I just wondered what other people do.
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Old March 12, 2010, 12:37 AM   #5
zippy13
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If you don't re-size, then you are gambling. You may have the odds in your favor if you have only one gun and it's an O/U. Even with several O/Us you may be okay. If its a stick gun (pump or auto) then the odds are starting to work against you. With an O/U you'll immediately know if there's a problem because the shells won't drop in. With a stick gun, the first shell might be okay but the one in the mag may jamb. In competition it can cost you a lost target. In practice you'll quickly become a distraction and the whole squad's concentration may suffer.

For years and years (20+), I didn't sized my 12-ga brass and never had a problem switching between O/Us. Then I got an auto-loader, and my luck ran out... I had cases and cases of loaded shells that wouldn't fit the new gun. And, I didn't learn about it until I was on post in a tournament. Luckily, I had an understanding squad and was on the field closest to the club house where I was able to make a quick purchase. Now I size all of my shot shells.
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Old March 12, 2010, 02:46 AM   #6
FullCry
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I've been loading shot shells for over twenty five years and if the machine has a sizer I would use it because it's meant to be. I shoot autos, pumps, O/U and single shots and never have any problems. Good luck, FullCry
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Old March 12, 2010, 06:21 AM   #7
whitedogone
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Last year I shot a little over 5000 12g reloads. All done on my Mec 650 (no sizing). I shot them in the same Beretta O/U. I do have a mecsizer in 12,20,and 28. I don't use them much unless I run into some range pickups.
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Old March 12, 2010, 07:12 AM   #8
greco
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I always resize, but my MEC already is set up for it. On a previous set up without sizing, I had several cases stick in my Auto 5, and Rem 870, and I had to use my foot to get the bolt back to them unstuck. It was very dangerous and time consuming. I recommend to always size now.
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