Help needed on 308s

[Skeet 028]

When I went back east I visited with the friend who was having the problem. I also took my Dillon case gauge. What we finally found out was when seating the bullets the shoulder was being squashed a bit. This was enough to keep the rounds from seating correctly. We set the small bse dies up...a little differently than he had. We got everything set correctly and did a chamfer on the inide of the case neck...and voila'...no more problems. Oh some of the rounds he had were evidently fired in machine guns. As someone else stated I too also size cases with a wait on the 2nd sizing when using military brass....to reduce springback. Yeah it takes time...but usually worthwhile. Now days I only use match brass in 30-06 and 7.62/308. Most is all very good stuff. I al at present sizing and taking primer crimps from about 10,000 5.56 brass I am going to be loading on my Dillon 650. I want no or little problems when loading all that ammo. Should last me for a long time. I have loaded about 500 rounds for initial set-up and have experienced no problems shooting some in 2 semi autos, a bolt gun and a Contender. I figure loaded ammo takes up less room than the components do and I do have all the powder primers and bullets laying around anyway. Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I left him the Dillon case guage. He has had no problems after getting everything set up correctly. He IS one of the most diligent reloaders I know(I taught him to shoot and reload) and would have finally gotten it right anyway...but he was somewhat stymied at the time. Thanks

 

[rockquarry]

Make sure neck diameter of loaded cartridge doesn't exceed specs. Turning case necks is no fun, but sometimes it's necessary.

I use a JP Enterprises case gauge and don't know anything about other such gauges. Checking brass with the JP for several years has allowed for 100% chambering, even when using mixed and military brass.

I've yet to find a need for a small base sizing die, but I realize there are exceptions.

 

[gmerkt]

common problem if cartridge OAL length is loaded to 7.62X51 specs - the NATO chambers are longer then .308 commercial ones -

This. I resize both .308 and 7.62 NATO brass. I have to adjust the sizing die down a few thou. when I switch from .308 to 7.62 NATO. If I don't make this adjustment, the 7.62 NATO will be overlength. It's well known that NATO brass is thicker; I believe the extra thickness of the brass causes the shoulder to be slightly farther forward, hence the need to push it a bit further back than the .308.

 

[Skeet 028]

Well surprise surprise. I guess I am going to have to do some 308 loading. Just picked up a nice little Kimber lightweight rifle at the(very small) Greybull gun show on Saturday in a trade deal. I've never been a fan of the 308. But I might have to give this one a try. It has a plastic stock and with the scope(a Burris E1 30MM) and a loaded mag it weighs under 7 pounds. Going to have to see how it shoots at the very least. Prepping cases etc today so once I figure out what loads to use I will report back on the darn thing. Just when I figured I was done messing around with hunting loads and rifles. Going to have to get the tractor out and mow my rifle range so I can shoot it. We've had a lot of rain this last 4 weeks.... 6 inches.....more than we usually get in a whole year. Even the dry ground is growing by leaps and bound

 

[scotthickoryky]

Do not over crimp...it will make an almost imperceptible bulge at the shoulder and the case will not chamber.

Seat a few bullets...no crimp and see if they will chamber.

This gave me fits in a 30-06 . After backing off the crimp every one would chamber .
Gary

i have been loading fora long time and never heard of that but sounds very logical,,,,the lee crimp die it takes upward force to crimp so that does put downward force on the shoulder,,,,, i always say your never to old to learn something,,,LOL