Does anyone know if rifle case length gauges work if you only neck size the brass? I will be loading for .308.

If you are reloading for a bolt action with a tight chamber it should work just fine. If it is a worn bolt action or has a loose chamber the brass may not fir the case guage too well. If you are reloading for any auto loader (AKA semi auto) you should really do a full length resize. Just neck sizing for a semi auto is not advised, especially an M1A. For a bolt gun it is completely acceptable as long as you are only reloading for one gun.

Ken

NJKen is correct, but there is more to the topic. Like is there any point to neck sizing only? Like ken said, ifyou do that, the ammo is only really good for that one specific gun more or less. Does it provide any advantage? It potentially adds consistency, and that is about it. Are you sorting your brass by case volume? No? Then there is no point.Sorting your cases comes somewhere after Are you guarnateeing the orientation of the cartridge when loaded in the chamber? Unless you had your action squared and trued by someone good at doing that, there's no point. Will it make your cartridges last longer? Not unless you are annealing case necks it wont. Without annealing, you are work hardening the thinnest portion of the case most likely to split first anyway.

 

It's one of those things where when you are chasing the last teensy bit of precision, it's worth trying. IMO if you don't have access to 300 yards of range at a minimum AND you are chasing 1/2MOA or less groups at that range, I don't know that it is worth bothering with. It might not even be then. That's not an absolute, just the extent of my experience. It might be irrelevant well past those thresholds.

Everyone has mentioned very good points. But let me just say this....neck sizing or full length sizing it doesn't matter. YOU CHECK OVERALL LENGTH PERIOD

 

A long case extending into the throat of the chamber will cause excess pressure. That throat and lead combination is there to allow a pressure drop and a long case reduces that space/pressure drop.

If you are interested in Bench Rest Shooting then every step in reloading is trying to achieve consistency and accuracy in every shot. Same everything. Working the brass to exact tolerances. Old School is correct, case length and OAL is primary. You want each round to camber on the shoulder the same way, at the same length. Some long range hunters will do this to ensure accuracy for extreme long range hunts. It takes a lot of patience and time working up loads and getting the most out of them. BR shooters will go to extremes you would not believe. Searching for componets from vendors by lot number, DOM, etc.

 

L E Wilson makes a fine set of case gauges that you can use. It will check OAL, Neck length.

If you are interested in Bench Rest Shooting then every step in reloading is trying to achieve consistency and accuracy in every shot. Same everything. Working the brass to exact tolerances. Old School is correct, case length and OAL is primary. You want each round to camber on the shoulder the same way, at the same length. Some long range hunters will do this to ensure accuracy for extreme long range hunts. It takes a lot of patience and time working up loads and getting the most out of them. BR shooters will go to extremes you would not believe. Searching for componets from vendors by lot number, DOM, etc.

 

L E Wilson makes a fine set of case gauges that you can use. It will check OAL, Neck length.

 

I use the Wilson style gauges exclusively. (my .223Rem is Dillon, same thing) these gauges help you set your dies, and measure your cases from datum line to case head and datum line to case mouth.

 

They are a must. You can even take a fired case put it in the gauge and get an idea what your chamber is like.

 

http://www.brownells.com/reloading/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/wilson-case-gauge-prod33287.aspx

Thanks for all of the replies. You are a big help.