I am learning alot here, but do have a question I understand that if you fire your new round in one gun it becomes fire forged to the chamber of that gun, Am I correct? and for that reason only neck sizing is required?, and the case length will stay within the tollarance of that barrel. am I still correct? so if I pirchased dies to use with my dillon 550 b I shoild find a neck sizing only die to replace the full lenghth die?

Sorry for being thick, and thanks for the lesson!

Hey Capt.,
Found this in Hand Loading section.

Pretty much covers it.

Thanks! I will look there in the future too!

Make sure you are still checking the case length and trimming when needed because the cases are still going to stretch somewhat.

Captain Bo,
a neck sizing die isn't required.
adjust your FLS die as normal so the mechanism cams over at the top of the stroke. tighten the locking ring and torque the set screw. remove the die from the press, install a 7/8" flat washer and reinstall the die. doing this, your die is set up for either full length or neck sizing. after sizing your first case, check to see that the neck is sized roughly 90% of the distance to the shoulder.
allways measure your cases and trim when needed.
also make sure to lube the inside of the case neck before any sizing operation.

Richard is right, but I'd still suggest you get a Lee collect neck die. they are inexpensive and the collet works the brass much less than pushing an expander button thru the neck and then partially sizing just the neck.

__________________
Bob from Idaho

Capt. Ditto on what Bob says. The Lee Collet neck size die works great. When adjusted per Lee instructions consistently resizes neck to .001 below caliber bullet diameter. Take your time and get a feel for the very last part of the ram stroke when the collet closes on the case neck. Once you feel it close your done. Salt

Capt...If you are not familiar with annealing case necks, you might want to obtain further information on this process. The following link will take you to a very comprehensive explanation of the process

http://www.lasc.us/CartridgeCaseAnnealing.htm

Especially note the discussion about temperatures and case colors. Generally, brass will anneal around 660 degrees F and the necks will display a bluish color. If you heat case necks until red as some have suggested, you have probably heated the necks to over 950 degrees F and have probably ruined the cases for further use. Also, at this high temperature you risk annealing the case body and head. These areas of the case must never be heated to annealing temperatures. Good luck on your case preparation.

Neck sizing doesn't work in every situation.

I tried neck-sizing in my AR, and the cartridges wouldn't fit, even in single shot loading.

I just started 30-30, and was told by a friend to full length size these as well.

I neck size just about any bolt action as long as the ammo made will only be used in the firearm it was formed in.

I've used Lee collet and RCBS X dies.

__________________
When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

Capt. Bo, before spending money on things that are nice to have, I would use a 'transional' die, that way you could neck, partial neck, full length, small base and custom size (for short chamber) with body support. Presses do not cam-over, an additional 1/4 turn is a .017 thousands bind placed on the press when sizing, the case is inside the die and bridged between the die and shell holder. When the shoulder moves out when fired, I leaver out (leaver policy).

A cam-over press can be used to 'bump', all the rest just lock up because the limit of travel has been reached.

F. Guffey