I use a $24 RCBS full length die set for a couple of calibers because they produce straight ammo. I always buy a RCBS full length set, if for nothing else to straighten out necks of new brass. Sometimes, that is what I continue to use. If the set doesn't produce straight ammo, or I need more neck tension....
"What die do you use when FL sizing without touching the neck and what die for neck sizing? "
I'll get a Redding S bushing neck die and follow it with a Body die. I always full length, (shoulder bump) and never anneal.
IMHO, neck sizing only has merit for the little 100yd bughole shooters but don't do much for 500 and beyond. Not real sure how much straight ammo does for it either, but I still strive for it anyway. Gives me warm fuzzies. I got a 25-06 that would make most of you nauseous if you rolled the cases on a table but the thing sure likes to shoot. It's a Savage, I don't know if the bolt head flops around or what but there are visible lumps on the sides of the case bases. Did spin them on the casemaster once and after the first one rolled about a .007 out of round, I put the casemaster up and decided I really didn't want to know. It doesn't seem to mind and still likes to shoot 2 to 3 inches most of the time at 500.
My brass usually lasts about 7 firings and then I work up a new set for matches/big game. I don't throw the old ones away but transfer them to a bucket marked(Woodchucks)and as I am seating primers, if they go in real easy, I mark the case head with a sharpie and after that firing they go in the trash. I also measure last leg 300wby brass for the case walls thinning. .010 thinner than new is my cut off and they also go in the trash.
One test I did was take two cases, fire, measure everything on each. FL one and neck size one. Measure for case thinning, length, concentricity, etc. By seven rounds with a 300 Wby, both cases had thinned in front of the belt by .009. I know from previous experience .013 is one shot away from case head seperation. The two things the neck size gave me was, slightly less trimming, and harder bolt lift, really bad by the 7th shot.
On the 30-378 I got to 10 times fired FL sized case and got bored with the test. No thinning but primers starting to seat easier.
I may try annealing some time if I ever have a case that isn't spent by 15 firings due to wall thinning or primers loosening. Until then, in a 300 rum, 300 wby, and 30-378. I haven't found a reason to anneal.
Just some of my findings and opinions,
HPA