Smith & Wesson Forum

Advertise With Us Search
Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-01-2021, 05:18 PM
clauded56 clauded56 is offline
SWCA Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 144
Likes: 285
Liked 23 Times in 17 Posts
Default Bench rest brass

While digging through a box of odds and ends at the LGS I found some boxes of Remington BR unprimed brass. The guy at the store said it is benchrest brass. Is there anything special about this brass that I should know? Can you reload it to standard specs? Also, what is it worth. It is all NOS unprimed in the boxes.
It is all .308. Thanks
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #2  
Old 09-01-2021, 06:04 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is online now
Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Harlem, Ohio
Posts: 14,445
Likes: 23,493
Liked 26,356 Times in 9,136 Posts
Default

The Remington Bench Rest Brass should be in a Green and Orange box. It is a special run of brass shaped like 308 and annealed twice as far as normal 308 brass. IT HAS A SMALL PRIMER POCKET! The flash hole may or may not be drilled in!

While is CAN be used a 308 brass it is worth about double! If you find loading data for 308 Lapua Match, that is designed for the small primer and smaller flash hole.

The Remington cartridges 22, 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm BR are a half inch shorter and the are a few variations that are a few thousandths of an inch different (like the 6 XC) and BR Norma cases are the same but use "No Turn" neck thickness of .015 (BR Remington case use .010 neck walls)

I had a friend that had a full case of that brass without flash holes, and had them drilled for .035" diameter and formed them to 6mm BR Norma and shot them out of a Rem 700 that had been tuned and sleeved. At 600 yards that gun would stack 5 rounds in the same bullet hole!

I would offer to buy them but I already have a lifetime supply for my 22 BR!

Ivan
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #3  
Old 09-01-2021, 06:30 PM
clauded56 clauded56 is offline
SWCA Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 144
Likes: 285
Liked 23 Times in 17 Posts
Default

Good info. The brass is in the green and orange box. And I did notice the end label said for use with a small rifle primer. I think they are drilled for a flash hole but I’m not sure. If they are not, what size hole, and can I drill them on my homeowner drill press? Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-01-2021, 08:33 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is online now
Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Harlem, Ohio
Posts: 14,445
Likes: 23,493
Liked 26,356 Times in 9,136 Posts
Default

Try .035", or take a regular 223 brass and see what drill bit fits the small primer flash hole. The BR guys use a Lathe, to get the hole centered (kind of important!)! I've never done it, but if you had an opposing chuck, it should work. Good luck.

Ivan
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 09-01-2021, 09:58 PM
clauded56 clauded56 is offline
SWCA Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 144
Likes: 285
Liked 23 Times in 17 Posts
Default

Good info. Can’t find any data on the 308 Lapua match. Going to take a second look at the brass. Thinking about going for it. Thanks for the info.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-02-2021, 11:21 AM
Just another 22 shooter's Avatar
Just another 22 shooter Just another 22 shooter is offline
Member
Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass Bench rest brass  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: midwest
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 4,746
Liked 2,712 Times in 909 Posts
Default

I used some of the Rem 308 BR brass back in the day.
The "new" stuff can be had from Starline, when in stock. Starline recommends Rem 7 1/2 primers. I also used CCI 450 primers.
What Starline says:

The .308 Match is our small primer version of the .308 Winchester case. Many competitive shooters prefer the consistent velocities produced by small rifle primers. Like all of our other small primer rifle cases, we utilize our standard .080" flash hole diameter, as we feel it gives better ignition with slower burning and harder to ignite powders, making it more user friendly than many of the small primer/small flash hole versions of this caliber*.

For the Large Rifle Primer version, please see our .308 Win.

*As with all types of cases this large with small primer pockets, it will require care in powder and primer selection in cooler temperatures to prevent hang fires. Single-based propellents are generally easier to ignite and a quality primer such as the Remington 7 1/2 BR are recommended.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
Reply


Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
500 Mag Bench Rest Suggestions DonD S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 6 04-01-2017 03:44 PM
Looking for a bench rest bag bushmaster1313 The Lounge 16 02-09-2016 11:20 AM
What pistol bench rest do you use? flyrobb Reloading 19 11-02-2015 08:33 PM
S&W BENCH REST FOR SALE 4barrel Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 1 04-20-2013 11:25 PM
Bench Rest for 15-22 with 25 round mag parratt1 Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 7 02-14-2013 03:38 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:30 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)