Neck sizing for lever gun loads?

[Jason]

I'm gearing up to shoot the cowboy lever action matches a bit more this year and was tweaking on the gun yesterday, making sure it fed properly. It's a fairly old Marlin 336 and the chamber isn't exactly a tight match chamber. I've always heard that you had to full length size brass used in lever guns, but most of those saying that only shot 20-30 rounds per year sighting in and hunting. I think I might get a bit more consisten fit in the chamber if I only neck size instead of full length size every time. What are your thoughts on only neck sizing for 30-30 loads for cowboy lever action matches? What about neck sizing with the expander button removed to minimize stress on the brass? What dies do you use? I'm using an old hand-me-down RCBS 2-die set now, so if I'm going to buy a neck die I might go ahead and buy a good 3-die set or something.

Thanks,

Jason

[the ex pom]

Jason I fired over 2000 rounds out of my 30-30 last over the last 12 months and i only ever neck size. Just as long as you only use the cases in 1 gun there shouldn't be a problem. It hard to beat RCBS dies for what we do they have served me well over 15 years.

[Ramslammer]

G'day Jason
I only neck my 25/20's and they've been loaded a heap with no worries!
Juddy

[glen ring]

Jason
You really got me thinking about this neck sizing in my 30-30. Yesterday I examined my fired cases against new/factory cases and I noticed that the shoulder looked much sharper after the case had been fired compared to the gentle slop of the factory/new case.
I neck sized the cases, loaded the same bullets and powder, and was rewarded with better overall groups. The function of the gun was great. I think I'll just neck size from here on out. Thanks for posting this topic.