How many times can you neck size?

[Texas42]

I had some 7mm rem mag that I loaded up. On its 4th loading.

Anyway, I have been just neck sizing them (lee collet,) I hadn't had a problem. Just a little harder to put in the chamber. Anyway, this last time, there were several rounds that I could not close the bolt on. I figured they just needed to be full length sized. . . .but I wanted to check with yall.

Thanks.

The brass looks good, though I really only wanted to put 4, maybe 5 loading on the brass.

 

[bryonbush]

a fella with lots of reloading history told me this once... you can reload the shells as long as you keep the length the length its supposed to be. he also told me how to check to see if your case head is begining to seperate from the rest of the case. as long as your not seeing pressure cracks in the case, then your good. to check for cracks inside the case, take a paper clip and put a little angle (L) on the clip and pull it up and down inside the case, running it alog the wall of the case to see if there is any case head seperation happening. ive reloaded some .223 cases about 6 times before i started seeing cracks in the case. some people might say this is the ultimate sin, but if the case is holding up, why throw it away?

 

[ROGER4314]

If you can't close the bolt that should be sounding alarm bells! No foolin', that's a serious warning sign. Check the brass overall length and trim as needed. Please don't fire any more rounds until you find the cause. Check back & tell us what you found!

As to how many times to size, I use a batch of brass and when several start to show cracks, I condemn the whole batch. Your 7mm mag is is a high performance round and is probably going to be tough on brass. It is also tough on barrels. The fact that it is a belted case and should headspace on the belt, the forward end is jammed up into the barrel throat. That spells high pressure! Are the primers showing pressure signs?

Flash

 

[Texas1911]

You may need to bump size it, and for that you'll need a FL die. That way you aren't working the entire case.

Check all the lengths, and are you turning your necks?

 

[TrooperKbC]

Anyway, I have been just neck sizing them (lee collet,) I hadn't had a problem. Just a little harder to put in the chamber. Anyway, this last time, there were several rounds that I could not close the bolt on.

That is not a shoulder issue because you have already fired these cases in your rifle; it is almost definately a COL issue. Each time you fire it the neck expands to release the bullet and gets elongated due to the pressure on the brass causing the metal to flow along the path of least resistance(head and neck). It is normal for brass to get longer as it is used. Get a lee case trimmer for about $5 made for that caliber and trim to the correct length. That's the cheapest and most likely route. A full lenth sizer would cost 3 times as much and could degrade your accuracy.

The neck die helps with unevenness and diameter to an extent. Turning your necks is more for when they are too thick or uneven in diameter, not length. Yours, on the other hand sound like they are becoming too thin. Also, most reloaders don't neck turn and that suggests it is not necessary unless you are competition shooting or wildcatting. Plus, neck turners cost more than the trimmer or the die.

Now to answer your original question: "How many times can you neck size?"
Well, it depends on the brass and load. Some people claim to get 15 loads from their more consistent and heavier Lapua brass, while people using cheapo brass may claim to only get a few reloads. Obviously, magnum loads will wear out the brass faster than lighter calibers.

 

[Pappy]

Don't forget to anneal the case necks when they begin to crack. Firing and sizing back will work harden the necks.

 

[Texas42]

I'll make sure and check the length of the brass, maybe tomorrow, when I have time. I already own a Full length sizer. I have trimmed this brass once.

 

[cconn]

From my experience you can neck size 4 to 6 times before you will need to bump the shoulder back a bit to get the cartridges to chamber without using a cheater pipe on the bolt handle.

 

[Fisherman777]

I saw the title "How many times can you neck size" and thought you were talking about some kind of new workout or something. LOL

 

[AusTex]

Depending on the chamber you are going to get a lot of growth. As these cases are belted mag cases I wouldn't push it myself on number of reloads. You can anneal as someone mentioned but I wouldn't do that "after" the cases split? I would not be surprised if Over all length is your problem mixed with a little bit of bump back.

This aside how awesome are the lee collet dies for the price? They keep things pretty dang straight. I wouldn't neck turn unless you are shooting comp which you are not.

Again though my two cents is don't push the reloads too many times.. 4 - 5 is pretty good imho. Its not like you are using Lapua brass.

jcm

 

[guy lemmond]

get someone to teach you the proper method of annealing brass.
there are lots of wrong ways.

 

[Pappy]

...You can anneal as someone mentioned but I wouldn't do that "after" the cases split?
jcm

If you have a quantity of cases from the same lot # and some start to neck crack, then it's time to anneal the rest of them. Just want to clarify...

 

[AusTex]

Gotcha.

 

[happy1]

All Brass will stretch the first time it is fired and after it's full length sized. Neck sizing only sizes the mouth of the case to put enough tension to hold the bullet.

Paul

 

[Dawico]

It is normal for neck sized brass to start to get hard to chamber. Run it through the full length sizer once and you are good to go again.

Do be sure to check for head seperation and all that too. A high performance round like yours is hard on brass if you are loading them heavy.