FL sizing small calibres,necessary,or not?

[Woodlander]

I shoot .222 and .204. I FL size my .222,because those are the dies I bought early on and neck size the .204,as that is what I was recommended,as .204 unlikely to need the shoulders bumping back.

Should I FL size after every firing or just neck size or neck size and FL size after every 3-4 firings?

I'd really just like to keep it simple,although I do anneal after 3-4 firings.

Any advice? Cheers

[TONY R]

In all my rifles from .22250 to 7mm stw i only full length size new cases, after that i load in wilson dies, full lenght sizing is not something i would ever want to return to.

[rem708]

If your fired cases rechamber without any binding then there is no need to full length size. Even if you full length size then back the dies off until you size just sufficient to chamber easily. If you oversize then all you are doing is stretching the cases and the metal is drawn from an area about 1/4 the way up the case. The extruded metal elongates the case and you have to constantly trim them.

 

If you are annealing then the cases will last a long time so don’t risk case separation (which can right off a sizing die if it sticks bad).

 

I was a total neck resize only advocate until recently when I started reloading belted cases. In this case (no pun intended) you are somewhat forced to full length size and standard dies cannot get right down to the bottom of the case hence I then purchased a case collect die. The supplier of the die wrote an article on the benefits of full length sizing and reluctantly I have to agree but it has necessitated me spending MORE money with the supplier for a headspace gauge. I can now accurately adjust F/L dies to match the case to the chamber.

 

In your situation stick to neck sizing only! If you use a Lee collect die you don’t even need to lube!

[walshie]

No need to FL resize if they've only been fired in your own gun, IMO.

[Woodlander]

Thank you guys for your replies,that's just what I wanted to hear. Regards.

[Bewsher500]

.222, .243, 6mmBR, .270, .308 and 300wm

 

I ONLY neck size

if a case won't chamber after numerous firings I will body size it or at a push FL size it

BUT...my FL dies are set up at the point where a case will only just chamber with soft bolt close

 

you can only do that set up by chambering a sized case and adjusting the die 1/8-1/4 turn until it will chamber.

Lock it there and leave it alone

 

all this sizing, resizing, undersize and resize with an expander ball does nothing for your brass life OR your accuracy

 

my 270 and 222 brass is on over 10 firings without issue