IMI "T Z 80" headstamp brass - newbie question

[LlanoEstacado]

I have some once-fired brass from some Israili .308 surplus that I shot a few years ago. I never had a problem with the 63 or so rounds I shot through my Savage bolt action. Now that I am starting to reload and live in a state that allows centerfire high power rifles for hunting, I tumbled the cases and have neck-sized a few with the idea of reloading them. I can find no flaws in the brass. Before loading, it occurred to me to try to check out the brass online, since I'm a newbie. I found a lot of information about concerns that certain lots of this loaded ammo was bad, susceptable to splitting, being so hot that it would seize in the chamber, etc. Could not find out which lots on any of these posts on different websites.

I just did a search on the brass from these lots and it looks like my lot number - 6 80 - is not mentioned as one of the problem lots:confused. One of the complaints I heard about the bad lots was "soft brass". I have checked, the empties with resized necks fit perfectly in my rifle's chamber and extract easily. I still need to check the OAL of the brass - should have probably done that BEFORE tumbling and resizing.

My question is: if the OAL is within normal limits, is there anything else to check...would it be safe to go ahead and load this brass?

 

[rcmodel]

Well, if you shot them without a problem to make them empty, there is no reason to think there is going to be a problem after you reload them.

If they were too hot or whatever, they would cause those problems you mentioned when they were fired with the too hot factory load, not your safe pressure reloads.

rc

 

[jonnyc]

Ditto. As far as I know, the problems would have been apparent at the first shooting. Load a few, on the lightish side, and look for any issues.

 

[bfoosh006]

Given the history of that specific brass,to me, it would not be worth the risk involved. I've investigated the TZ 80 brass a lot ( as I am sitting on two OEM .50 cal cans of it, and it is beautiful looking brass.. )..... it does not seem to be one specific "lot" , after much debating with myself, I finally decided not to fire it. It just isn't worth it to me to risk damage to me... or more importantly ... my gun.