I'm considering trying neck sizing for two calibers I load a lot for, .270 Win & WSM. Currently I PFLRS, but have thought about giving neck sizing a try. I'm looking for advice/recommendations on dies, or whether or not there is something to be gained or not over PFLRS.

Thanks--Don

Try a Lee collet die. I have them for 3 cartridges and like them. The next choice would be Redding.

Hey Fish

You will be able to Neck Size for a few loadings with the 270 win but I doubt you will be able to with the WSM. IME, the WSM have such a straight body that the cases almost immediately on the first firing will grow to the walls and the case body will have to be resized to make chambering easier.

With the 270 win I recommend the Lee Collet Neck Sizer and you should be able to only Neck Size till about the 4th or 5th reloading until the shoulder moves too far and you will have to push it back. For example I kept track of a recent batch of 30-06 cases from new to the 5th firing with the Stoney Point Head & Shoulders Gauge as follows:

new cases - 4.0400" (the measurement doesn't matter, only the relationship to the other measurements)
once fired - 4.0485"
twice fired - 4.0500"
3 times fired - 4. 0510" (starting to get resistance from chambering case)
4 times fired - 4. 0515" (crush fit)

Now I break out my Redding Body Die and push the shoulder back to 4.0505" to 4.0510" for PFLR (very slight crush fit, just enough to confirm contact between bolt-face/case-head and chamber-shoulder/case-shoulder). That will have to be done on each subsequent firing as the cases will redevelop a crush fit each time.

But definitely I would recommend the Lee Collet Neck Sizer over all others, even the Redding Type S Bushing Neck Sizer. JMHO

Thanks guys, I'm also looking at neck sizing on a new rifle I just got in 6.5 x 284. I guess I'll try a Lee collet. Do ya'll think it's worth doing over PFLRS ??

Thanks---Don

Do you mean is worth resizing the necks of previously PFLR'ed cases with the Lee Collet? I think it would be worth it because the Lee Collet yields low runout and it might straighten necks you have jerked around with a regular expander ball type die. I would make sure and clean the inside of necks first so you don't get lube on the collet of the Lee Collet die.

To tell you the truth, I am going to forego just neck sizing on my next batch of new cases and start PFLR sizing on the once fired brass on. If I size the case body with the Redding Body Die it should push the shoulder far enough forward so that it will reach the 4.0510" for a slight crush fit from the first sizing. Sounds a little confusing I know, but that way all my loadings will be formed exactly the same from the get go.

Hornady actually has some neck sizing dies that I think are pretty slick... I have the Lee Neck Collet dies in my Lee calibers...

HOwever, I picked up a couple of Hornady's Neck dies that are adjustable for the caliber.. like their 6.5 die can neck size a 260, or 6.5x 55, or a 6.5 Rem Mag, or a 6.5 Win Mag...it is adjusted to just size the neck...

They worked so well, I picked them up in 22 cal, 6mm, 6.5 mm and 30 caliber short...their cost is real reasonable also!

Does the Lee Collet adjust itself for neck thickness? Is this the same as changing out bushings in .001" increments?

Thanks.

Buliwyf

Lee's do not adjust for thickness . The mandrell inside the neck is supplied with some predetermined diameter .If the tension on the bullet is not enough than the mandrell has to be turned down .This can be done with an electric drill and some embry cloth.Lee will also make you what ever diameter you want . Good Dies in my opinion .

quote:

Originally posted by V. Smith:
Lee's do not adjust for thickness . The mandrell inside the neck is supplied with some predetermined diameter .If the tension on the bullet is not enough than the mandrell has to be turned down .This can be done with an electric drill and some embry cloth.Lee will also make you what ever diameter you want . Good Dies in my opinion .

If you make the mandrell smaller you will increase tension not decrease it.

I think that is what he said.

Another solution would be to get a Lee Factory Crimp. They are easy to use and generally slightly increase velocity and decrease group size. Then you wouldn't have to worry about a light hold on the bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:
...I guess I'll try a Lee collet. Do ya'll think it's worth doing over PFLRS ??

Hey Don, For me the answer would be "No".

However, since I see Woods is a HUGE fan of those thingys, there "might be" some merit to their existance.

The only way to find out is to buy " 1 "(not two) and see if it shrinks groups for you. If it does, good for you.

If it doesn't, there will be at least " 1 " person out here who won't be surprised.

For dies, I like Forster first then Redding then RCBS. I've pretty well gotten out of neck sizing but I do PFLR all the time.
Bear in Fairbanks

Woods, and Hot Core, yeah, I'm trying to figure if there is value in neck sizing instead of PFLRS--either in terms of case life (although that's not THAT significant to me) or of course accuracy.

My rifles shoot well with PFLR brass, was just wondering if neck sizing would help squeeze any more accuracy out of them.

Thanks guys--Don

Fish

I'm coming to the conclusion that even if a batch of brass gave good accuracy if neck sized after being once fired, the cases would not be the same dimensions if neck sized after the next firing. Would it make a difference, maybe.

In the example above it you neck sized once fired brass the shoulder would be .0025" from PFLR, after 2 firings the shoulder would be .0010", after 3 you develop a slight crush fit which is the dimension of PFLR.

So, IMO, it would be better to PFLR (slight crush fit) the cases from the beginning and deal with what accuracy you get. At least your sizing will be consistant.

For now, that's my opinion. But my research is ongoing because I have new-fangled type equipment (like Stoney Points) and can experiment and learn (not stuck in a rut like some)

quote:

I guess I'll try a Lee collet. Do ya'll think it's worth doing over PFLRS ??

To me the Lee Collet is worth every dime and I would probably pay 3 times as much for one because of the no lube inside the neck and the more consistant and smaller runout they produce. In conjunction with the Redding Body Die it is easy to produce a very consistant resized case without that expander ball. The 2 of them cost about the same as a FL die anyway. Try the Lee Collet but make sure and follow the instructions and not set it so the press cams over, you might pop the cap.

Bob, that makes sense, I don't really have case life issues now, so I may just stick with the PFLRS, depending on how bad this winter is...may need to tinker needlessly and try some neck sizing. The other thing I've been considering trying is a Lee factory crimp die--don't need the additinal grip for any of my rigs, I've just seen a lot of data that says that it will help with consistent velocities & accuracy a wee bit.