Unfired Brass
 

Does new, unfired brass need to be full length sized when reloading for the first time? I'd like to just neck size because I'm shooting a bolt action rifle.

I'm ordering a .338 die set from Cabelas. It appears to me that the standard set (both dies) comes with a FL die and the neck sizer die comes alone. Is this a correct assumption? I'd rather not buy all three.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Yep, its usually separate item. I FL mine. The body doen'st get touched really with new brass, but straightens out the dented necks. Also measure to make sure you don't have to trim. I like to start fresh with trimmed deburred FL brass.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

You should not have to FL resize it. It should be ready to go as is.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Let me guess James, even your new remington brass comes perfect with no dented necks:D:D

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Thanks for the info guys. I will buy all 3 dies and be ready for anything.

Side note: I bought 225 gr. Hornady accubonds to load for my first Elk hunt this fall. I love hornady because they're cheap and real good.
I also purchased 250 gr. triple shocks and a barnes manual because I had some extra cabelas cash and I always wanted to try this bullet.

Does anyone have any imput on the triple shock? Thanks

RE: Unfired Brass
 

The only thing you need to do to new factory brass is true the necks, so all I do is run the sizing button through the case mouth. I have been advised to do this by both Remington, and Winchester. Good luck.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Can I give you a suggestion? I suggest lee collet die for truing necks.A neck sizer will do it, but the collet is cheaper andI believe does a better job. I also believe you will use it more.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Yep...been that way for 50 years. Regards, Rick.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

I've been doing it that way for over 30 years,and it works perfectly.

Drilling Man

RE: Unfired Brass
 

No My Remington Brass is often dented but like Handloader says I just run them in far enought to straighten the neck. I never buy Remington Brass unless I can't find Winchester. However they are usually dented too.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Well this is just my two cents, I full length size, trim, chamfer and debur all new brass. Can you get away with neck sizing, yes but the way some remington and winchester brass looks when you buy bulk, it's just a little insurance that don't take any longer in preparing, your already running the brass into the die.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Insurance against what???????

I've said it before and i'll say it again. NO brass is going to give it's best accuracy untill it's fire formed in your chamber, so why bother with anymore than running the expander ball through and chamfering the necks???

It just doesn't need anything more than that, so i don't see the need. No problem if you want to do the extra work though....

Drilling Man

RE: Unfired Brass
 

One thing I did find DM, it makes thing little more uniform than not. And most of us have FL sizers more than necks, at least I do. I measured shoulders on some new brass and then FL Sized and it made them very uniform compared to new. I get about the same accuracy out of new brass than I do second fire with most of my guns that way. There are a few exceptions like very large cases.

RE: Unfired Brass
 

First off I don't buy Winchester or Remington brass! I use Lapua because the quality is much higher. Plus I do full length size all new brass trim and camfer, cause I havn't found any reguardless of brand that was consistant in length. You can't trim accurately unless you size them first. After the first firing I use the Lee collet size die and never have to lube them again. Try this and you will like it. Besides draging the expander back thru the case neck stretches them more than firing ever could!

RE: Unfired Brass
 

To you pros, this may sound like a stupid question.
Will the Lee Collet die thread into an RCBS press properly?

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Yep

RE: Unfired Brass
 

Thanks a bunch.