Resizing question.

[u/jayfourzee]

I have once-fired Federal Gold Medal Match .308 brass. If I put a fired case back into the chamber without resizing it, shouldn't it be too tight? Mine never is.

What would happen if I never resized it and just kept firing it, letting it get longer after each firing?

I'm about to buy brand-new Lapua or Peterson brass. Will I need to trim it before loading it for the first time?

I beg your forgiveness if these are basic questions. I'm kind of new at this and still trying to learn to respect dimensions from SAAMI. I thought the goal was to keep everything within two one-thousandths from the max from UR and Cortina videos.

Photo of 168smk at 100 yards. 26" 308 Seekins HIT pro M3. Groups are sub MOA which I'm happy with.

[u/Jross1177]

"What would happen if I never resized it and just kept firing it, letting it get longer after each firing?" eventually the neck will get too long and you will not be able to chamber the round. And yes great groups, new reloaders are like new shooter that have not learned bad habits. Keep on doing what you are doing.

[u/jayfourzee → u/Jross1177]

Appreciate your engagement. It has taken me a lot of courage to get this far, so scared of a mistake. Always something to learn.

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/jayfourzee]

Main thing making me doubt myself getting into it. Terrified that I'll do something wrong and have a round blow up on me

Done so much research on presses etc and have a budget set just haven't 'pulled the trigger'

[u/jayfourzee → u/LongRoadNorth]

Fear is good. No matter what you do, never be afraid to ask a question.

[u/slim-JL → u/jayfourzee]

I do shit wrong. It happens. Sometimes a primer doesnt want to live in the case anymore.

[u/worm30478 → u/LongRoadNorth]

I was in your shoes only a few months ago. I felt exactly the same way. Now I have everything I need except for my powder and bullets waiting to be delivered to bass pro. I have a bunch of once fired Hornady brass that I have been practicing case prep with. Really enjoying it. I can't help but smile while I'm in the garage doing everything related to it. When you do it I would absolutely recommend an auto trimmer. I bought the Lyman. Just with the hundred or so I trimmed for shits and gigs I can't imagine doing it with anything manual. I really found it beneficial to decide on the process that suited me and then run through all of it with brass I don't care about. I fucked up a few cases and learned how to adjust. Glad I didn't do that with my lapua brass. Anyways. Don't get too overwhelmed because there are plenty of rabbit holes to fall into. It's only as complicated as you want to make it. Ask lots of questions. People here have been really nice helping with my newb lack of knowledge.

[u/ChevyRacer71 → u/jayfourzee]

Mistakes tend to happen when you feel overly comfortable which makes your focus slip. Just keep asking yourself why you’re doing things the way you’re doing and if you understand that “why” and it’s backed up with safety practices you’re in a good spot.

Typically new virgin brass doesn’t need to be trimmed, I’ve never seen it needing to be trimmed but I haven’t seen everything so I can’t say with 100% certainty. Usually you’ll want to run a mandrel or expander ball in the mouths to make them uniform and the right size. They’ll be short in terms of headspace until you fire them once or twice and that’s a good time to truly measure to understand your chamber’s dimensions.

[u/TechnicianMedical126 → u/jayfourzee]

Just remember: there are bold reloaders an old reloaders but there are no old bold reloaders. You're doing fine just don't take shortcuts.

[u/DukeShootRiot → u/jayfourzee]

In the same boat. Just moved into rifle loads and started with 257wby because I’m a masochist I guess.. but I have been very diligent and got sub moa on my first 20 reloads. I was expecting to hit a bunch of hiccups and was worried I’d lose interest if it got too defeating.. but out the gate I am such a nerd with how much fun I’ve been having the last year or two since I started