cleardatum said:
assuming i'm loading for one gun, is there an advantage to neck sizing only? what i read and hear is contradictory, to say the least (like almost everything having to do with reloading). am i going to have to experiment on my own, to find out what works for my gun, and my shooting?
Hi,
First Rule of Reloading:
"There are many ways of achieving the same result. All work equally well. But mine's the only way to do it and yours is stupid!"
Does that about cover most of the controversies you're reading about? :lol:
Ok, on topic, now, it's fairly well agreed that a fixed action such as a bolt or a single shot is the better choice for neck sizing than an auto, pump or lever action if only because of the potential for feeding difficulties with ammo that's NOT full length resized in the latter actions. And it's fairly well agreed that the ammo you should think of neck sizing only should be fired in one gun. So you've got your one gun, the Savage, which meets the bolt action test, meaning you're a good candidate for the process!
Now, how to do it? I know of at least three ways, and perhaps there are others I've missed. First is the "poor boy's neck sizer" which is probably what Precision 32's talking about, where you use your regular resizing die, but leave it screwed out far enough it only touches the neck, without setting back the shoulder or sizing the body. A little careful observation of the "scratch marks" on the neck will let you know when you've got the die adjusted "just right." They should stop just a few thousandths above the neck to shoulder transition. This costs nothing extra, and many shooters find it works great, so I'd start there (and did!)
Then there are specialized dies which require different sized inserts depending on caliber. These have been around for many years, and several of the major die makers offer them in one form or another. Disadvantage is cost, advantage is they can be custom fitted to your particular chamber's requirements if you're willing to make chamber casts and do some machining (or have that work done by a good smith.) A lot of the guys who think a target should come back to the line with only one hole, despite several shots, like this approach.
The third way I know of is the one I currently use, the collet die from Lee. Advantage, fairly low cost, super simple to adjust and operate. It uses a fixed diameter mandrel and collet "fingers" which press the brass into the mandrel. Works pretty well, requires no concentration on staying away from the shoulder, so it's good for loaders like myself who try to follow the Thoreau School of Most Everything: "Simplify!" Disadvantage is that, like most of Lee's "sizing" tools, you have a choice of any size you want, as long as it's the one they decided you need! To some, that can be problematical, while to us "Average Joes" it's generally workable.
Now, what should you expect when you try neck sizing only? For me, the biggest advantage has been extended brass life. I started using the practice ("poor boy" style) with my .303 British ammo, being fired in what's often politely called a "generously sized" Enfield chamber. Between an initial headspacing problem, now solved, and that chamber sizing, I was experiencing head separations after only one or two loadings. Not good. "Poor boy" neck sizing would usually get me up to three. With the headspace fixed and a Lee collet die added to the collection, I have brass that's made six loadings so far!
There should be less stretching of the brass in any chamber, which means you probably won't need to trim your brass as often, might not need to anneal it (as often or even at all?) and overall you should get more loadings from a case than you did before, though that last benefit is NOT guaranteed. And there MAY be a touch of an increase in accuracy. There's only one way to know that: shoot some groups loaded with the full size approach, and some loaded with the neck sizing only (obviously everything else is identical) and see what your rifle does. If accuracy's improved, call it a bonus!
So give it a try and see if, like they say in the TV pill commercials, it's "right for you!" Which is the long way around the barn of saying "Yup, you're gonna have to experiment, and YMMV."
Rick C
