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 10 Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass (Read 5224 times)
Playapat
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Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Apr 1st, 2019 at 1:58am
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I’ve always followed the rule of full-length sizing new unfired brass. But as I intend to only do partial full-length sizing for the life of the brass, absent any huge dents or something, is there any reason not to just partial full length size right from the start?

  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #1 - Apr 1st, 2019 at 3:48am
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I have partially 'neck sized' new brass in loading it for the first time, with good results.

I did check to make sure the partially sized cases would fit into the Krag's chamber and allow the bolt to close.

I also trim case length with a Lee .30-40 case trimmer, before loading. This makes for nice uniformity and precise Case Mouths.

I often neck-size my Krag Brass using a Lee Collet Die for 7.5mm Swiss. This only Sizes part of the Neck and is very easy on the Brass. (No pull of an 'expander-ball' through the sized neck).
  
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Playapat
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #2 - Apr 1st, 2019 at 12:56pm
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Thanks, Butlersranger, checking to make sure they chamber is important. I’ll make sure I do that. The 7.5 Swiss collet die trick hadn’t occurred to me. I’ll look into that. I appreciate the advice.
  
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madsenshooter
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #3 - Apr 1st, 2019 at 1:34pm
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I always neck size new brass just because a few of the necks are dented or a bit out of round.  I bought some BCC 30-40 Krag brass from Grafs that was a bit long to the shoulder and could have have stood a partial sizing.  I simply used my tightest chambered rifle to do.
  
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psteinmayer
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #4 - Apr 1st, 2019 at 6:40pm
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If you do neck-size... remember to keep your brass assigned to the rifle it was shot in.  I always FL size new brass, and then neck size only afterward.  I also anneal often.  I've achieved more than 20 reloads on some of my older R-P brass... but I am occasionally getting neck cracks (at which point they go into the scrap can).

Remember... take care of your brass and it will take care of you!
  
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Playapat
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #5 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 2:40am
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Madsen, I found the same thing with the Captech/BCC brass. It was a little long in the shoulder, but the overall length was shorter than other brands.

Paul, I only have one Krag.....so far....so this should work for now. But when another Krag follows me home......
  
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Playapat
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #6 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 2:41am
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Paul, how often do you anneal? After how many firings, typically? My brass is still pretty new, but I'm thinking ahead. I keep my loads as light as I can. No reason to beat up my rifle or my shoulder.

  
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psteinmayer
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #7 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 1:11pm
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Playapat... beware:  Krags tend to multiply in dark places when no one's looking!

Annealing is very simple, but there are several methods that people talk about.  The simplest way I know is to put the brass in a drill using a trim holder (LEE trimmer shell holders work excellent for this).  Rotate the brass slowly and heat the neck and shoulder area carefully using a butane torch until the brass starts to change color (remember, never to blue or glowing!).  Then I just drop them into a metal bowl and let 'em cool.  I've been doing it this way for years!

I typically try to anneal every 4 to 5 firings... or if I see a few cracked necks after a match.  The necks WILL eventually start to crack, but with annealing, it will happen way less frequent and brass will last much longer than if you don't.
  
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Baltimoreed
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #8 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 3:57pm
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Paul, I’m neck sizing my brass using a .308 Win die with a larger expander. I use 303 Brit for my krag scout build and real 30-40 for the Constabulary but my new 30 in rifle won’t chamber the Constabulary loads so I’ve broken into my new hornady brass for it. Only shot it a little with full length sized but have loaded a handfull of neck sized brass [after firing in the long bbl rifle] which chamber fine. Looks like I’ll have to keep my brass segregated between the two rifles. Do I still need to anneal if only neck sizing? Thx, Ed
  
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psteinmayer
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #9 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 4:40pm
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It's still a good idea to anneal, even if only neck sizing (I always neck size after initial firing).  New brass comes annealed, so you could get a few firings in before you'd need to.
  
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #10 - Apr 2nd, 2019 at 6:57pm
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psteinmayer wrote on Apr 2nd, 2019 at 1:11pm:
. . .The simplest way I know is to put the brass in a drill using a trim holder (LEE trimmer shell holders work excellent for this).  Rotate the brass slowly and heat the neck and shoulder area carefully using a butane torch until the brass starts to change color (remember, never to blue or glowing!).  Then I just drop them into a metal bowl and let 'em cool.  I've been doing it this way for years! . . .

My way is still simpler (as am I). Just hold case in fingers. If you smell meat cooking, you're getting 'em too hot! Embarrassed
  
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Clcustom1911
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #11 - Jun 24th, 2019 at 6:26am
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Playapat wrote on Apr 2nd, 2019 at 2:41am:
Paul, how often do you anneal? After how many firings, typically? My brass is still pretty new, but I'm thinking ahead. I keep my loads as light as I can. No reason to beat up my rifle or my shoulder.



I do molten salt bath annealing via the " Ballistic Recreations " setup. Salt bath consists of 60% Sodium nitrate and 40% potassium nitrate in a Lee lead melter pot and a steel jig to hold the brass pieces at the correct depth in the liquid hot magma...er... Salt bath Smiley

Heat to 950*f  immerse the neck/shoulder for 7-8 seconds. Pull out, toss into water bucket (beware of steam popping).

I anneal every firing on rifle brass designated for long range accuracy (7mm RemMag and 6.5 creedmoor). Anneal every 3rd firing for other rifle brass.
  
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Griff557
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #12 - Jul 2nd, 2019 at 1:29am
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butlersrangers wrote on Apr 1st, 2019 at 3:48am:
I have partially 'neck sized' new brass in loading it for the first time, with good results.

I did check to make sure the partially sized cases would fit into the Krag's chamber and allow the bolt to close.

I also trim case length with a Lee .30-40 case trimmer, before loading. This makes for nice uniformity and precise Case Mouths.

I often neck-size my Krag Brass using a Lee Collet Die for 7.5mm Swiss. This only Sizes part of the Neck and is very easy on the Brass. (No pull of an 'expander-ball' through the sized neck).



I use a Lee collet die for my .303 British with good results. I also load 7.5 Swiss but I full length size them and have thought about getting a collet die instead. I emailed Lee today asking if the 7.5 die would work for the Krag and they told me no. So iam wondering how you’re doing or what kinda results you get
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Partial Full Length Sizing New Brass
Reply #13 - Jul 2nd, 2019 at 2:43am
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'Griff557' - Howdy!

I suspect the person at "Lee" did not understand that you meant 'Neck-Sizing' and not 'Full-Length Sizing' and did not give your question the consideration it deserved.

To answer your question, I took a Fired W-W .30-40 Cartridge Case, that has been fired several times. (The inside diameter of the 'fired' case-neck measured .310").

I put it in my .30-40 shell-holder and ran it into my 7.5mm Swiss Collet-Die. The Die was adjusted to De-cap the .30-40 Case, (no lube was needed).
There was no 'ball' pulling through the sized case-neck on the way out of the Die.

Most of the Case-Neck was reformed & the Case was de-capped. The rest of the Case Body made no contact with the Die. (The inside diameter of the Neck now measured .3055" to .306"). The Case-Mouth has a slight 'bell' to aid bullet seating. Easy Peasy!

I took a new W-W Case and 'smoked' the Neck in a candle flame. I ran that case into the Swiss Collet-Die with the same result.

Attached photo shows 'Die Action' (rub spots) on slightly tarnished 'Fired Case', Die Marks on 'Smoked Case', and recently loaded 'Neck-Sized' Case, (180 grain RN Sierra - OAL 3.086").

p.s. - I am blessed that my neck-sized ammo fits most of my Krag chambers, regardless of which one it was fired in.

Note - The photo makes the two 'empty' case-necks look larger than the loaded case. This is an illusion.
« Last Edit: Jul 3rd, 2019 at 3:22am by butlersrangers »  
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