Haven't reloaded in a long time...need details again.

Loading for my hunting rifle 30/06 WW brass...

Should I run these NEW brass through my Lee FL Die or Lee Collet die?

Should I only be concerned with getting the NECK sized...thinking some may be out of round?

How do you folks handle NEW brass?

Thanks!

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How do you folks handle NEW brass?

Depends on the the brass. Lapua, Norma Nosler I find ready to go. R-P WW I normal run through the die just to make sure.

Winchester bass is property sized from the factory, however you can expect some of the necks to be dented in shipping. I usually just run the necks over the sizing ball. The last batch of Winchester brass I purchased had erratic length, so I'd also check them for length, and trim before loading.

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I usually just run the necks over the sizing ball.

Yup, goes for me also.

A case neck brush with graphite powder will assist the process and be alot less squeaky on your ears, too.

For new brass in '06 I will load them as they came from the factory for first firing. Afterwards, use Moe's gauge(or Sinclair device) to determine "picture" of the chamber and then full length resize to duplicate, or very nearly, my chamber and go from there. I always full length resize and seems to work for me. In my bolt guns, Mannlicher Shoenauer '52, Browning 95 and Springfield '03 the case stretch is not a problem, but for the M1 Garand, I do trim for that action is harsh on brass. I separate the brass used for the Garand and won't reload it more than 3-4 times for fear of ruptured case. Probably could get a few more loadings out of it, but not worth it to me. Glad to see you are getting back into reloading, favorite "in door " sport for me in the Winter. You lucky dog, you don't have to worry about the Winter. Good for you.

I FLS new brass....it takes no more time so why skip it

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Originally posted by ted thorn:
I FLS new brass....it takes no more time so why skip it

X 2 roger

I agree that it depends on the make of the brass.

With bulk American-made brass which usually has dented necks, I just load the first time with boattailed bullets. That pretty well straightens out any dents I've encountered.

Thanks for the replies gents...

I always FL resize new brass. As mentioned above, it doesn't take any more time to FL size as it does to run 'em up to the neck to take out the dents.
Bear in Fairbanks

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I always FL resize new brass.

Another one of those "why they have horse races" subjects.

Some favor one pony, some another.

I never re-size new brass unles I absolutely have to. Working brass is something which shortens its life, whether a little bit or a lot, it still shortens brass life some iota or so...or at least shortens the time until one has to anneal it.

Even if the length is uneven, I will not full length size it before the first sizing unless the necks ar so badly dented I can't get a boattail bullet to seat properly.

I will trim it to length, chamfer, etc., if that is required...(I almost always chamfer new brass, but I have almost never found more than trimming and chamfering to be needed...at least not needed to the point one can tell any statistically valid increase or decrease in accuracy.

I don't even full length resize brass for my .30-BR benchrest rifles...ever. First load or 20th load, I didn't even (and still don't) own a full length sizing die for that chamber.

Guess I'm just lazy, though I prefer to call myself practical.

It doesn't take me as much time to bump the sizer ball thru the neck as it does to F/L resize 'cause I don't have to lube the cases nor clean them after doing it.
Has anyone mentioned that you do need to chamfer the case mouth? Unless you're using BT bullets and it still doesn't hurt even if you are.

I once bought some new .264 magnum brass with necks so tight that I couldn't seat the bullet. Ever since that time I've always neck-sized new brass, no matter the manufacturer.

Load it shoot it. If it will go in the gun itll fireform and fit the chamber next time. Itll blow the shoulders out to fit.

I just opened a bag of 257 Roberts brass. It all went through the sizer die. It only took one time of not sizing to get loose bullets in the case.

I trim to length and chamfer new brass and only size if the necks are dented. Then after the first firing I resize, trim to length and chamfer. After that, PFL or neck size only until they need to be trimmed again.

Check a few to see if they chamber. If the do, i bump the case mouth with the expander to make it round. Seat boatail bullets, has the neck expanded on seating by .001" or more? Your good to go.