Should Match Ammo be Full-Length or Neck Sized?

Bottledestroyer22 · April 8, 2008, 12:24 AM

I hope to get into High Power rifle shooting and would like to know wich way I should size the brass.

Scorch · April 8, 2008, 12:28 AM

What rifle? What cartridge?

Jim Watson · April 8, 2008, 07:20 AM

For an auto, full length size.

I neck size for a bolt action mid- and long range rifle but if I were shooting across the course with it, I would full length size for the short line.

30Cal · April 8, 2008, 01:30 PM

Most guys FL resize for across the course shooting.

Bottledestroyer22 · April 8, 2008, 03:58 PM

I'm talking about 30-06 in a bolt action U.S. M1917.

Alleykat · April 8, 2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

I'm talking about 30-06 in a bolt action U.S. M1917

Neck size, using, of course, only brass that's first been shot through your rifle.

imdarren · April 9, 2008, 01:54 PM

Without getting into a big discussion about the details, bench rest shooters neck size brass only. Remember that those brass will be what they call "fire formed" to that particular rifle / chamber, and cannot / should not be mixed with other brass to be fired in other guns.
If you were firing from a semi auto rifle, you full length size as mentioned above.
By neck sizing, you will get better accuracy AND case life.
Not to mention it's easier too.

D

30Cal · April 9, 2008, 03:29 PM

You ought to at least FL resize your rapidfire ammo.

amamnn · April 10, 2008, 10:35 PM

There was a time when neck sizing was the best method in BR loads. That is no longer true. We now have chambers which are beefier than ever and many BR shooters are FL sizing everything. FL dies can be made from the reamer that bored the chamber. It is also not necessary to blow up your own 6ppc brass from 220 rus anymore, although a lot of people still do. Being one of the more geezerly of the crowd I still fireform my own and blow everything up once before using it in a match. With today's tiny chambers on custom BR guns you are not working the brass nearly as hard as in the old days when folks were using big ol' sloppy Remington 40s. There are also many other reasons to go with FL sizing in BR guns.

In high power I would expect to be neck sizing. If you think you will need to play around with the neck, you might want a good bushing die. I'd guess that an ex-military rifle would need no experimentation on the neck, unless it was a match rifle. A lot of people like the Lee neck die for the .30-06. I still use mine for loading .30-06.

Wildalaska · April 10, 2008, 11:22 PM

I neck size, using Redding dies.

WildcarefulprepAlaska TM

April 8, 2008, 12:24 AM	#1
Bottledestroyer22 Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 87	Should Match Ammo be Full-Length or Neck Sized? I hope to get into High Power rifle shooting and would like to know wich way I should size the brass. __________________ .22 forever

April 8, 2008, 12:28 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	What rifle? What cartridge? __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 8, 2008, 03:58 PM	#5
Bottledestroyer22 Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 87	I'm talking about 30-06 in a bolt action U.S. M1917. __________________ .22 forever

April 10, 2008, 10:35 PM	#9
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	There was a time when neck sizing was the best method in BR loads. That is no longer true. We now have chambers which are beefier than ever and many BR shooters are FL sizing everything. FL dies can be made from the reamer that bored the chamber. It is also not necessary to blow up your own 6ppc brass from 220 rus anymore, although a lot of people still do. Being one of the more geezerly of the crowd I still fireform my own and blow everything up once before using it in a match. With today's tiny chambers on custom BR guns you are not working the brass nearly as hard as in the old days when folks were using big ol' sloppy Remington 40s. There are also many other reasons to go with FL sizing in BR guns. In high power I would expect to be neck sizing. If you think you will need to play around with the neck, you might want a good bushing die. I'd guess that an ex-military rifle would need no experimentation on the neck, unless it was a match rifle. A lot of people like the Lee neck die for the .30-06. I still use mine for loading .30-06. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

April 8, 2008, 07:20 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,537	For an auto, full length size. I neck size for a bolt action mid- and long range rifle but if I were shooting across the course with it, I would full length size for the short line.

April 8, 2008, 01:30 PM	#4
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	Most guys FL resize for across the course shooting.

April 9, 2008, 01:54 PM	#7
imdarren Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 164	Without getting into a big discussion about the details, bench rest shooters neck size brass only. Remember that those brass will be what they call "fire formed" to that particular rifle / chamber, and cannot / should not be mixed with other brass to be fired in other guns. If you were firing from a semi auto rifle, you full length size as mentioned above. By neck sizing, you will get better accuracy AND case life. Not to mention it's easier too. D

April 9, 2008, 03:29 PM	#8
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	You ought to at least FL resize your rapidfire ammo.

April 10, 2008, 11:22 PM	#10
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	I neck size, using Redding dies. WildcarefulprepAlaska TM