‘Quit Neck Sizing’ — Cortina Explains Full-Length Sizing is Better
Our friend Erik Cortina is at Raton, NM this week at the F-Class Nationals. When he’s not shooting (or working) Erik produces YouTube videos. One of his most popular videos explained why you should full-length size cartridge brass. In no uncertain terms Erik says: “Quit Neck Sizing!!!” Watch the Video:
Why It’s Smart to Full-Length Size Your Brass
Commentary by Erik Cortina
Should You Full-Length Size Your Cartridge Brass?
Absolutely. Let Me Explain Why…
I have seen it time and time again, shooters on the line wrestling with their rifle trying to get the bolt closed while the wind is switching. They were too focused trying to get their bolt to close and getting their rifle settled back on the bags that they missed the wind switch. Bang… Eight! The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was at the 2017 Canadian Nationals. I was paired up with a young girl and she would try really hard to close the bolt on her rifle. The majority of the time she would get it to close, but often times she could not even get the round to chamber. She was focused on her rifle the entire time rather than on the conditions. When we completed our strings, she had five rounds that did not chamber our of 15! That is way too many!. I told her she needed to think about Full-length sizing with 0.002″ shoulder bump, or Controlled Full-length Sizing like I call it. I told her not to worry about losing accuracy. I told her that I full-length size all my rounds and asked if she noticed how smooth my bolt was and noticed my score. She said yes, they were both great!
Controlled Full-length Sizing Does NOT Harm Accuracy
I have found that Controlled Full-length Sizing does NOT hurt accuracy or shorten brass life. I find that I can focus much more on the conditions when I don’t have to think about chambering a round nor extracting it. It has become second nature. After firing, I keep my head welded to the stock, I open the bolt by placing my thumb on top of stock and rotating hand upwards. I reach in and retrieve spent case, place it back in ammo box, and pick up another loaded round and put in chamber. I verify conditions and when ready, I push the bolt in and close it with my index and middle finger.
With Controlled Full-length Sizing you “bump” the shoulder around .002″ for bolt guns.*
Image courtesy Sinclair International which carries a variety of Full-length dies.
Whidden Full-Length Sizing Dies
by AccurateShooter.com Editor
For proper Full-length sizing, you want a quality die that’s a very good match to your chamber. For our project rifles we usually turn to Whidden Gunworks which offers both bushing and non-bushing FL dies. And if you want the hot new option, check out Whidden’s patent-pending, click-adjustable FL-sizing die. This gives instant, precise control over shoulder bump. It works great.
*With gas guns, such as the AR10, you may want to increase shoulder bump to .003″ or more. With some benchrest cartridges, .0015″ bump may prove optimal. But .002″ is a good starting point.
Similar Posts:
- Quit Neck-Sizing — Why It’s Better to Full-Length Size Your Cases
- Quit Neck-Sizing — Why You Should Full-Length Size Your Cases
- Stop Neck Sizing! Why You Should Full-Length Size Your Brass
- TECH Tip: How to Adjust FL Dies for Correct Shoulder Bump
- Tech Tip: Shoulder Bump — How Much Is Enough?
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Tags: Case Sizing, Erik Cortina, F-Class, Neck Sizing, Neck Sizing Video, Reloading, Shoulder Bump
All of the above is applicable to oversize chambers and/or excess pressures.
Sensible loads in match chambers NEVER require fls or bumping. I don’t own a full length sizing die and neck-size only with a Wilson collet that barely touches the case neck. Neck clearance is .005″.
I replace my cases with each new barrel, and get over 100 firings in the 6mmBR. The bolt opens and closes like butter!
David.
Editor: Glad your system works for you. However, you talk about “Match Chamber”. That suggests tight tolerances. It IS wise to bump shoulders. About not owning a FL die — that’s highly unusual. We would say that 90+% of short-range, 600yd, and 100 0 yard Benchrest shooters full-length size all the time. With top F-Class shooters we’d say the number is approaching 99%. I don’t know ANY PRS shooter that neck sizes only for match loads. With any gas gun you MUST FL size.
Regarding the 6mmBR cartridge. I started this site as 6mmBR.com 15 years ago. I’ve shot that cartridge with just about every powder and bullet you can imagine. Accuracy was always “as good or better” with FL sizing, and ES/SD was better with full-length sizing. It is important to use the proper case lube and have a die that is a very good fit for your brass.
Erik is spot on. I think neck sizing was to a large extent an idea perpetuated by R. Lee.