Opinions on FLS vs Neck for a single shot

[SJAdventures]

I always FLS because I was loading for nothing but bolt actions and my loads were hunting rounds and everyone knows you don't want to mess with sticky casings in the field while trying to chamber a follow up shot. I now have a TC Pro Hunter, would it be more optimum now if I switched to just neck sizing for it? The loads would still be for hunting and not bench.

[spaniel]

I'm not sure "everybody knows" to FL size bolt actions. I neck size for all my bolt guns and have never had feeding issues. You FL for semi autos because you don't have feel and control of the chambering round and bad things could happen if you are out-of-battery when the trigger is pulled.

For single shot I see no reason to FL size.

I try to neck or collet size everything I have. Your std dev will go down well over 20% in most cases, sometimes more. Your accuracy will tighten up, your brass life is longer.

Just before you hunt, try each round in the gun.

[SJAdventures]

Originally Posted by spaniel

I'm not sure "everybody knows" to FL size bolt actions. I neck size for all my bolt guns and have never had feeding issues. You FL for semi autos because you don't have feel and control of the chambering round and bad things could happen if you are out-of-battery when the trigger is pulled.

For single shot I see no reason to FL size.

That's not exactly what I said. I said "everyone knows you don't want to mess with sticky casings in the field while trying to chamber a follow up shot." I still appreciate you imput though. I also meant to ask, is there any issues of just neck sizing belted magnums? If you neck size a belted magnum then your head space is control by the belt? Is this good or bad?

[spaniel]

Originally Posted by SJAdventures

That's not exactly what I said. I said "everyone knows you don't want to mess with sticky casings in the field while trying to chamber a follow up shot." I still appreciate you imput though.

I was just following that you were FL sizing because the insinuation was that neck sizing would lead to sticky cases. I just meant to point out that plenty of people neck size without having sticky case issues. I've done thousands of rounds and never had one that would not chamber. I understood you even if I unintentionally misquoted you

[SJAdventures]

No offense taken and I do appreciate your response. I was thinking that especially with a single shot there would be no need to FLS for any reason and just neck sizing would extend my case life. Doesn't neck sizing tend to lead to better accuracy also?

[spaniel]

Originally Posted by SJAdventures

No offense taken and I do appreciate your response. I was thinking that especially with a single shot there would be no need to FLS for any reason and just neck sizing would extend my case life. Doesn't neck sizing tend to lead to better accuracy also?

Yes. Unless you KNOW the shoulder needs to be bumped back, all FL sizing does is wear your brass unnecessarily.

[Frank in the Laurel]

As long as you can get it in and get a fired one out it's ok not to full length size for your single shot...heck I'd even try half neck to really make it shoot as long as it functions the old in/out... I'd hate to think of what would happen if you "missed" which we know none of us ever does and that big ole' bear or whitetail just stops and watches you trying to get a stuck or stubborn fired cartridge out of the chamber!! I always full length size my big game cartridges, accuracy is not that critical, after all your shooting at a volleyball or larger sized heart lung and any full length worth beans will be able to hit that, now prairre doggin at 500 + is another story... also, you might try backing off a grain or two, that way it won't expand so much and will make it pop right on out, I don't think a heart or lung will notice the missing 50 fps !!

[skb2706]

My standard rule is to "never size any case more than it needs to be to function as required".

[harter66]

I have 3 30-06's that won't interchange cases. FL is the only answer thankfully each "likes" differant case brands and loads. So for my "hunter"(as opposed to general plinker) I half neck size without the expander ball as about half of the neck is all that is touching the btsp shank. The pump I have to FL every time or they just don't lock up right.

With all of that said I would suggest that you neck size and seat a bullet and drop the resultant dummy round (w/o powder or primer) and see how it works. You can use this option to set up the lands to bullet space (jump) at this time too.