Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Body sizing dies?

Is there a consensus or at least what are your experiences with using a body sizing die between neck (say Lee collet die) sizings?

Or, is it feasible to simply take the decapping pin/mandrel out of a FL die and use that as a body die?

Before anyone asks "why not just use the FL die as intended", because I'd like to avoid dragging a sizing button back out through case necks.

Removing decapping mandrel from a full length sizing die will still result in sizing down the neck. All you've done is remove the expanding element after the neck is sized down.

See the above about not dragging a sizing mandrel back UP through the neck. A Lee collet die does not do this.

But yes, I admit it still works the neck of course. Its also free if i already have it.

If you are using a bushing sizing die, then yes, you can simply remove the decapping pin/sizing button and bushing and it will function the same as a body die. If you are using a traditional sizing die like an RCBS or Lee, then no, it is not the same. A body die only sizes the body, it does not touch the neck. A Lee or other traditional sizing die will size the neck down dramatically and you'll have to use an expander mandrel to achieve the neck tension you want (when you remove the decapping pin/sizing button). A Lee Collet neck sizing die will not work to open the neck back up as the neck will be sized down so far, it won't go around the LCD decapping pin.

Igloo, if you are willing to take the extra step, you can: 1. remove the expander and size the case 2. replace the expander and push it down into the die to decap and expand the neck so the bullet can be seated but without pulling the neck off-center as sometimes happens.

Having said that, I have almost completely switched to Redding body dies and Lee collets, it just simply works great.

Depending on your inventory you may have "body dies" already. For example, a 7mm08 FL sizer works fine as a body die for 243 Winchester. (Expander removed of course.)

You can remove your expander from a FL die, but you WILL be sizing the outside of the neck. Depending on the cartridge and what I'm using it for, I sometimes use a Redding Type-S FL die without a bushing or expander--essentially it is a body die in this configuration.

I choose to do this on progressive presses or for competition ammunition where I want the brass fully prepped minus the intended neck-sizing. I find prepping brass ahead of time, there will be different degrees of spring-back.

Thanks y'all!

Torque, understood! I was unaware that it would end up sized down too far for the Lee Collet die to fix.

Really good info though, everyone. Appreciate it!

Thanks for passing that along. THink I'll just go the same way, with Redding body dies and Lee collets.

Well mathman and I agree for once.

For a body die for my 260 Rem, I just take the spindle out of a 7/08 or 308 FL Die and I have a body die.

Use a 260 die for a body die for the 243, and an 06 die for a 270 die ( although I don't run it down as low, as its a little longer than an 06 case. )

Figured this out after buying a couple of Redding body dies for $30 each...

Use my 6 x 45 FL die as a body die for my 223 cases now... which is a small base die.

I size most of my cases with a "body die" as above and then use a Hornady neck sizer or a Lee Neck sizing die.

I've also been annealing most of my brass after each shot the last couple of years.

Interesting. So a Whelen die would work as a body die for a 30-06? Or am I not figuring this right.

You got it right.

Because the Whelen has a larger neck diameter the neck of the 06 will never touch the neck of the Whelen die.

I still buy Redding body dies because they seem to produce less spring back when bumping the shoulders.

But…LCD’s generally don’t like to size a neck UP. Puts a lot of pressure upward on the mandrel and the cap.

Yeah it all makes sense, just one of those things that somebody had to prod my thinker with. Too busy figuring everything else sometimes and never gave it a thought. I suppose because body dies were never something I used or felt I needed, but it's a good trick to know. Thanks.

I don't shoot a 35 Whelen, but I do shoot a 338/06.

I use that as a body die for the 06 brass...and it works out just fine.

it is a Redding Die Set.

That was indeed the part I was unaware of! Didn't know the Lee FL die would reduce the diameter of a neck so much that the LCD shouldn't be used.

For you guys using body dies (or the appropriate FL die to act as a body die) what regimen do you follow for how often to use it? Every time? Every so many firings?

Just me, I bump shoulders every time. .0015-.003 depending on the cartridge, but I have gotten to like not worrying about how a cartridge chambers, they always go in the same.

An honest question. Why not just full length size with a bushing FL die to set the shoulder back .002 and set neck tension at .002+/_? Cortina did a coupleYoutube videos where he asked the question of BR shooters including at least one BR Hall of Fame shooter and all recommend FL sizing for every loading. If you don't agree with full length sizing I can see the use for a body die.

I'm asking this to learn, not provoke.

Thanks.

Frank

I am that guy, set my FL dies, both bushing and normal for a small shoulder set back each time. Works for me.

Some folks like neck sizing since you don't have to really lube anything and it can be faster maybe?