Full Length Resizing vs Neck Resizing

      Handloading rifle calibers can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.   Deciding on the best reloading technique usually depends on the type of rifle and the particular caliber you’re reloading.   The main goal for most reloaders is to make the most accurate handloads, and that often leads shooters to see what the benchrest shooters are doing.   After all, who gets better accuracy than benchrest shooters?

      One common problem for reloaders is deciding whether to Neck Size (NK) or Full Length (FL) resize their cases.   You can learn a lot from the way benchrest shooters reload.   However, it’s not always a good idea to just copy everything they do.   Many benchrest handloading techniques are very helpful to anyone that reloads.   Some reloading techniques can be a huge waste of time and money especially when reloading for a hunting rifle.

      Neck sizing has been especially popular among varmint shooters for decades, because it reduces chamber clearance.   That extends the case life by not over-working your brass.   Shooters often figure that the tighter their loads fit the chamber – the more accurate they'll shoot.   However, shooters that neck size still need to occasionally bump their case shoulder back to ensure that their rounds will still chamber.   Benchrest shooters want all their rounds to be 100% alike in every dimension.   They know that handloads should fit without being able to "feel" a round chamber - not even a little bit.

      Reloading equipment and techniques evolve over time, and technology is always improving.   Today most benchrest shooters are using full length resizing dies.   They use expensive custom FL resizing dies made specifically for their chamber.   This allows them to make handloads that always fit perfectly.   Most shooters don’t want to spend that kind of money on every set of dies, and it’s not necessary.

      I believe that full length resizing is by far the best way to resize for most situations.   When full length resizing is done properly, it delivers the very best accuracy, improved case life, easier chambering and extraction.   Your handloads fit your chamber with 100% reliability.   So, how can you resize accurately with an ordinary full length resizing die?

      Actual case measurements alone are worthless unless you can also measure your particular chamber at the shoulder.   Accurate full length resizing means having - .001” to - .002” clearance at the shoulder (and no more).   This requires "measuring" the clearance that YOUR handloads have in YOUR particular rifle.   Then you can set your FL resizing die to "accurately" bump your case shoulder just like expensive custom benchrest dies.   Your FL die can also resize the neck while the case is completely supported (and aligned) inside one die, and in one operation.   Case run-out is reduced, accuracy is improved, and your handloads will always chamber properly.

      Saving a fired case is like having a perfect casting of your chamber.   Just zero the gauge on the shoulder of your fired case.   That calibrates the gauge to YOUR rifle.   Next, replace your fired case with the first case when you begin resizing.   Our gauge then displays the exact clearance (at the shoulder) that this case will have in your particular chamber.   Then you'll know how much to raise or lower your Full Length resizing die to make perfect fitting handloads.