Brass prep question

[Brad in Idaho]

I am loading ammo for hunting season (rifle). I am using new Winchester brass. This is the first time I have used new brass in my short reloading experience.
What do I need to do to process this brass? I plan to deburr the flash holes, and check case length with a gauge, are there any other steps I need to take?
TIA, Brad

[k stein]

always full length size new brass, then trim to lenght if necessary. At least, neck size due to out of round case mouths. Just my 2 cents. Ken

[da gimp]

I always run new cases through my tumbler before sizing them. There is an oil/lube or something on the new cases that (even using carbide or titanium dies) increases drag/friction when you run them thru a sizing die. After running them thru the tumbler they size just as easy as can be, rifle (lubed before sizing) or pistol. On rifle cases I chamfer the inside of mouths on all new brass slightly, as it eases the seating of bullets & makes it easier for the expander ball to run thru.

On long range ammo, I always weigh my brass (and bullets), even new cases & sort accordingly. Generally Lapula & Norma brass, bullets show less variance than any other brand, foreign or domestic made that I've run into.

There are guys that post here, Maury included that can give you better instructions sir.

Sir I urge you to get a case gauge for each rifle calibre you load, I use Wilson's, but it'll show you exactly if the shoulder is set enough & if you're over length, I paid I think $12.00 each for mine years ago, MidwayUSA carries most calibres that Wilson makes. Read the instructions & go by them, easy & nearly fool proof, but clean the lube off the case before you drop it into the guage each time.

da gimp

[Maury Krupp]

I'm not sure Winchester's lawyers would let it out the door if anything *really* needed to be done to it

That said, generally if you treat new brass the same as old brass you won't go far wrong.

I tumble, lube, size, wash, deburr the flash hole, swage then uniform the primer pocket, trim (inc chamfer & deburr), and finally tumble with polish. This is all geared toward either safety in an M1 or target accuracy.

Some or all of that may not be necessary for bolt action hunting ammo.

I'd tumble clean and gauge it (headspace and OAL) as a minimum.

Maury

[Sunray]

All new brass needs to be FL resized, checked for length and trimmed as required. Nothing else is necessary. Don't forget to chamfer and deburr the case mouths.

[USSR]

The only thing brand new brass needs, is to pull an expander ball thru the neck. The brass itself is already at small base die dimensions, but the necks tend to be quite tight.

Don

[Brad in Idaho]

After reading all the responses, I decided to process the brass the same as if it had been fired. I FL sized it, turned out I didn't have to trim it as it was already at where I would have trimmed it (I measured), deburred the flash holes, chamferred the case necks, and even uniformed the primer pockets (which it seems it didn't need), and polished it before charging with powder. Since I have more time than anything else, I figured why not? Anyhow as a result, I have 50 rds. ready to go, and will load 50 more today because I have the components all together and everything is already set up. Yeah, I know that'll last a lot of seasons, even with sight in sessions, but if some is good, more is better...

Thanks for the help.