Neck resizing and the R93

[Gun Barrel Ecologist]

I seem to recall a post on here discussing the connection between only neck resizing brass and the annoying "click" that R93 owners experience intermittantly.

Now given the best case life is gained by minimal resizing - ie rather than following the dies instructions and winding the die to meet the shellholder, instead setting the dies to just touch the shoulder of fired brass - and the easiest way to minimise overworking brass is to neck size only, are many R93 owners only neck sizing???

[skeetshot]

My experience has been that if I only neck size, I experience small resistance in closing the bolt, and if I am a little lax in closing the bolt firmly enough, I would risk experiencing the DREADED CLICK.

I use a Lee Collet Neck sizer and a Redding shoulder bump die. I measure the headspace with an RCBS precision mike. I do not bump my shoulders to zero headspace, but maintain about 3 thou of headspace. There is hardly any resistance felt, and I feel my cases have been sized adequately for max accuracy.

The problem is,[ I think,] under max pressure of firing, the bolt head pushes back against the collet which locks tighter.

Thus the bolt head has moved back a small amount thereby increasing the headspace. This small increase has to be compensated for by more firmly closing the bolt if one opts only to neck size. I dont like to slam my bolt too much unnecessarily, so opt to slightly set the shoulder back that I can close the bolt in a more genteel manner so that I am able to prevent that DREADED CLICK.

Of course, after firing, my case shoulder will set back a small amount, and I reset it back during reloading with the shoulder bump die. The same can be done with a standard die as Gun Barrel Ecologist describes.

[Gun Barrel Ecologist]

Thanks Skeetshot, I'm glad the connection wasn't just a figment of my imagination.

Have to admit, I started this thread after only neck resizing 50 pieces of .375H&H brass - I'm sick of trimming the bloody stuff!!!
Whilst my RCBS neck sizer appears to only size to within 2mm of the shoulder I measured some fired brass and some full length resized brass and couldn't discern any difference in shoulder position with the tools I had available

Will have to see if there is any more resistance when closing the bolt on this batch

[Explorer]

Like skeetshot I also use Lee collet dies for neck resizing, no need to lube the case and the inside of the neck is perfectly aligned with the case, I've modified the spindle in my collet die by grinding it with find sand paper in my lathe, then I get the perfect neck tension.
I’ve used neck sizing for my 243w, 6.5x55 and 300wm and like skeetshot state there is a small resistance in closing the bolt, I always slam the bolt like it was an old mauser 98 and no problems so far