Partial Sizing of Bottle-Neck Cases?

[Rocky Raab]

Partial sizing works, but as some of the guys above have said, you MUST at least touch the shoulder. If you stop before you size all of the neck and also bump the shoulder, you leave a bit of space between the die and the shoulder. Then, because you are squeezing all the OTHER brass of that case, the brass expands into the only place left - and that causes the shoulder to move forward. You may well end up with a lot of loaded ammo that won't chamber. Don't ask how I know that, OK?

To set up, adjust the die full down against the shellholder, and then back it off a full turn. Size a case. It probably won't chamber. Screw the die down a tiny bit at a time, trying each case in the rifle until the slight amount of resistance you feel when closing the bolt just disappears. (Use a fresh case each time or the gun test won't work.) Then come down a final very small amount (perhaps 1/16th turn of the die) and lock it. Resize and test all the brass again; the bolt should close with only a whisper of "feel." Test again after firing and sizing those cases. If the "feel" is the same after the firing/sizing, the die is set.

[PJgunner]

This is how I set up my sizing die for bottleneck cartridges.

1. Take a once fired factory round and blacken the neck and shoulders with a Magic Marker or Sharpee pen. Some people like to smoke the neck and shoulder, but I find the Magic Marker/Sharpee pen a bit better.

2. Carefully lubricate the case.

3. Loosen the lock ring on the sizing die and back off about two turns from when the die is set to touch the shell holder.

4. Size the case. Note where the marks are on the case and turn the die down about a half a turn and size again. Turn down some more, and resize again. What you are looking for is the marks on the blackening just touching the shoulder.

5. Clean the lube from the case and try it in the rifle. It may chamber just a bit on the snug side. If so, turn the die down ever so slightly, lube and size again. Wipe off the lube and try in the rifle. If it slides in as easily as a factory round, you should be good to go. If not, usually one more very slight adjustment should fix the problem.

6. Tighten the locking ring for the die and you're done. You have just set your sizing die up for a custom fit to your specific rifle, rather than a generic one size fits all guns.

Paul B.