To neck size only?

[KMA]

About to buy some dies for a older 243 parker hale.For hunting only.Should i go for the collett dies that necksize only or a full lenght resizing die.Its my only 243 so brass would be reused in the same rifle.?

[bladeracer]

About to buy some dies for a older 243 parker hale.For hunting only.Should i go for the collett dies that necksize only or a full lenght resizing die.Its my only 243 so brass would be reused in the same rifle.?

I use the collet die for everything I can, but you will eventually need to bump the shoulders still.

[flutch]

Depends on your gun my 270 won't chamber with my own spent brass if I don't full size

[KMA]

Ok thanks for that.I will buy the collet die initially

[bladeracer]

Ok thanks for that.I will buy the collet die initially

The Four-Die Ultimate set comes with the FLS die as well.
https://www.rebelgunworks.com.au/collections/dies/products/lee-ultimate-4-die-set-243-winchester

[Sergeant Hartman]

I was going to agree with blade. Get the deluxe kit. Otherwise you have to pay postage twice

[JimTom]

Mate as Bladeracer has already eluded to, you will eventually have to full length size your brass. I find I am FLS around every fifth reload.

[Oldbloke]

I think to some degree your ammo use should dictate. If its pretty low just get the 2 die set. (Lee RGB) Then if you want to neck size a few just screw the FLS die out about half to 1 turn. That will size about half the neck. Not ideal but works.

If you plan on shooting off a fair bit. Dont stuff around get the 3 dies.

Personnally I have until recently only FLS cases for hunting. You dont want a stuck case in the field.

[marksman]

if you dont neck turn the Lee collet die set is the best way to reload straight concentric rounds, it is the cadillac
but if you dont neck turn you need bushing dies for best results
Oldbloke's idea has been around for a long time and does work if you use wobble dies like the RCBS type that crimp when seating
the idea is to keep part of the neck the same diameter as when fired but this theory can backfire resulting in bent necks and crooked rounds
IMHO l would stay away from them and go for the set Blade has posted up about

[KMA]

Ok i will go with the majority & buy the deluxe set will probably be the cheapest in the long run & gives me all the options.Thanks for your input.

[Oldbloke]

if you dont neck turn the Lee collet die set is the best way to reload straight concentric rounds, it is the cadillac
but if you dont neck turn you need bushing dies for best results
Oldbloke's idea has been around for a long time and does work if you use wobble dies like the RCBS type that crimp when seating
the idea is to keep part of the neck the same diameter as when fired but this theory can backfire resulting in bent necks and crooked rounds
IMHO l would stay away from them and go for the set Blade has posted up about

I havent experienced that issue yet. But then i dont load 100s of rounds. Will keep my eyes peeled. Yes agree, if you loading a lot, best get a neck/collet die.

[KMA]

Bought the lee ultimate 4 die set online ,on special it was only $27 more than the collet 2 die set,so i will be able to necksize & resize when necessary.

[SCJ429]

Be gentle with your collet dies, ham fisted operators can break them. Do a bit of reading before you size with them, sizing is done with a light touch.

[GQshayne]

Depends on what hunting you are doing too in my opinion. If game is dangerous, or fast moving like pigs, or conditions dirty or dusty, then I full length resize each time. A lever action would be another reason to FLS each time. With the .243, I have cases that have had many FLS reloads, so I would not be concerned about case life. Sometimes the benefits of neck sizing are less than the benefits of full length sizing. My view anyway.

[KMA]

The 243 i take out when i am chasing wild dogs,though last time i did this i dropped to pigs.Cant help myself if doing the dawn or dusk stakeout on a dam.If i didnt no better i reckon the dogs wait & let a pig go 1st.But noted your point about dirt & dust& now mud.

[Oldbloke]

Think of it this way. (Some will disagree)

Neck size for best accuracy & longer case life.
FLS for reliability.

I have always FLS, untill recently. But my hunting style has changed from walking a lot to waiting a lot.

Also after loading ammo it all goes through the chamber to ensure there are no feeding issues.

[KMA]

I think that sentence'' neck size for accuracy & longer case life FLS for reliability'', is a good summary of the Question thanks.

[Bill]

I think that sentence'' neck size for accuracy & longer case life FLS for reliability'', is a good summary of the Question thanks.

Is this reality thou mate?

I recently saw a video and every single champion shooter in the states was FLS, obviously they run tighter tolerances.

I've recently gone back to FLS and to be honest I didnt noticed a decrease in accuracy.

[Sergeant Hartman]

I agree with you Bill... but i target not confuse him to much hehe

[straightshooter]

Your Parker Hale will likely be built on a quite strong M98 action but nevertheless the answer to your question will as always contain the word "depends".
In your case hot loads, largish headspace or soft brass might mean the need to FLS.
If and when you do only necksize then test chamber by feeding your reloads from the magazine before going on your hunting trip to ensure there will be no problems.
You can safely do that by removing the cocking piece and firing assembly which is easily done without tools. If you don't know how then there are likely plenty of youtube videos showing how it's done.
DON'T BE TEMPTED TO DO IT ANY OTHER WAY.

[Oldbloke]

Seems I have been corrected. Cant say I have personnally tested the accuracy side of it.

[Gamerancher]

Bill wrote, "I recently saw a video and every single champion shooter in the states was FLS, obviously they run tighter tolerances."

Really? Every champion shooter? Please put up a link to this video.
I only ask as the U.S National Champions that I personally know and shoot with over there, don't!

[SCJ429]

Seems I have been corrected. Cant say I have personnally tested the accuracy side of it.

I don't think that you are wrong, the problem with FLS is there are more possibilities to get things wrong because you are moving more brass. If you use quality dies, there is no reason that you cannot produce very straight and accurate ammo but no better than the best neck sized ammo. To many people FLS mean using cheap dies with expander mandrels which may bend the neck producing runout.

I neck sized some brass twelve times before using a small base body die to size the web of the case. The rifle had a tight chamber and the cases only had to be trimmed once. I also reloaded some 7mm Rem Mag brass four times without using any sort of sizing die because I was waiting for the dies to arrive from the US. The brass was cheap Barnes headstamped and had no issues in feeding through a factory cut chamber.

[bladeracer]

Seems I have been corrected. Cant say I have personnally tested the accuracy side of it.

I haven't noticed any difference in accuracy, but I do see a significant increase in velocity with FLS brass due to their reduced volume, and I only FLS enough to allow them to chamber, just bumping the shoulder back. If you were loading within a narrow accuracy mode, the velocity difference could certainly push the bumped loads out of it.

I run the batch of brass through the chamber before sizing, setting aside any that are starting to resist. Those get bumped just enough to chamber nicely. When there are enough tight cases I'll bump them and load them up. I don't try to track how many times a case has been fired, I just separate them into those that still chamber and those that are getting tight.

After bumping, the cases or rounds go into a separate ammo box, the ones that don't need bumping go back into the first boxes. When I start shooting the bumped ones they go back into the first boxes. I have shot them together, but haven't seen any significant change at the target.

[Stix]

Is this reality thou mate?

I recently saw a video and every single champion shooter in the states was FLS, obviously they run tighter tolerances.

I've recently gone back to FLS and to be honest I not noticed a decrease in accurcay

Maybe the dies they were using were exact replicas of the given rifles chamber, so any sizing had negligable/no changes to case volume.

Out of curiosity Bill, if you've got not shift either way in accuracy, ehy continue to FLSize...?

I just ask because to me, the least amount of work at the bench the better, & FL sizing means more cleaning drying & annealing brass...not to mention the case life reduction from FL sizing.

So im curious why you'd continue to fl size & not neck size if you getting the same accuracy.?

[Stix]

Ok i will go with the majority & buy the deluxe set will probably be the cheapest in the long run & gives me all the options.Thanks for your input.

Thats the way to go mate...whether you need the FLSizing die for a while, or ever, atleast you have it.
You can also learn with it for the time you do need it.

The only thing ill add the great info you've already got, is in my opinion, dont neck size before you test chamber the cases.
I cant see how the case neck can be of a wider diameter than that in the chamber after theyve been fired, so test them for tighness before you re-size them in any way...
That way, if you need to FL size them, you havnt wasted time neck sizing first, & not unnecessarily working the brass.

Also, im not a fan of test feeding empty cases ftom the magazine...i think you're better served to place each case in the ejection port & tip the rifle so the case falls part way into the chamber, then close the bolt.

Although feeding empties from the mag is more fun, you'll run the risk of damaging the necks when feeding that way...so be careful if you do it.

[Bill]

Stix I don't mind wringing all the speed possible out of my handloads, I guess atleast I know cases will chamber everytime.

Gamerancher I'll see if I can locate the video later

[KMA]

If what you are doing works, keep on doing it.Like a lot of things to do with shooting it probably depends on what you do .Hunt or target shoot.I have ordered online the 4 die set in 243.Just for interest i will reload some fls & some neck sized& see if i can spot a difference.The rifle is 40 years old &does have some minor pitting in the barrel but still shoots osa ammo under 30mm group.

[marksman]

Is this reality thou mate?

I recently saw a video and every single champion shooter in the states was FLS, obviously they run tighter tolerances.

I've recently gone back to FLS and to be honest I not noticed a decrease in accurcay

believe me Bill l'm not having a crack at you
but the problem with making statements like this is the full story isn't being told
the average reloader will not get better shooting precision with the off the shelf type FLS wobble die, ever, and that's not a theory
the average reloader will not pay the price for the FLSing dies needed for this precision, do the extra work involved or have the other tools necessary
the average reloader shooter will not have a precision made firearm to see the difference
l have done a post a while ago on this subject showing how to do this but it was a while ago and l dont have time to find it
l do not 100% agree with this guy and actually think he is a bit full on but anyway l think this is the link you are looking for

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... is-better/

edit: l forgot to add the methods these comp shooters are using will not make your FLS cases any more reliable with less feeding problems
the idea is for you reloads to be more consistent

[Bill]

Bill wrote, "I recently saw a video and every single champion shooter in the states was FLS, obviously they run tighter tolerances."

Really? Every champion shooter? Please put up a link to this video.
I only ask as the U.S National Champions that I personally know and shoot with over there, don't!

Hey I was in the just bump as little as possible camp like you as that was what the guys at the range recommended to get best the best accuracy and brass life, Ive since changed my ways after watching this video only last year

https://youtu.be/lLG2kSrD40g

https://youtu.be/vaqg4sJvg24

Marksman I see that you found Erik Cortina, like I said they all FLS