Which is a better for our modern powder and guns? I shoot a Remington 700.
I separate cases by head stamps. I separate cases into groups of 20, most of my boxes/case holders hold 20 cases. When I load I load cases in groups of 20, logic, when I return from the range I tumble the cases, I have enough different head stamps that allowed me to sort the cases and get them back into the same box they were removed from.
Difference and more safer?. The military case is said to be heavier and therefore, thicker, that is only half truth, the case body is heavier and the case head is thinner from the bottom of the cup to case head.
I know, SO!? The R-P case head is thicker than the military case head by .060" but the case body is thinner than the military case body. Back to safet7y and difference. The powder column for the military case is longer and smaller in diameter than the powder column for the R-P case, the powder column for the R-P case is shorter and larger in diameter than the military 30/06 powder column. To most, who cares.
My opinion, the thick cases head of the R-P case increases case head support. I had rather the case head be stuffed into the chamber an additional .060" if there is any risk. The Remington has the three rings of steel but does not have the ability to prevent the case from running forward when avoiding the firing pin strike. Meaning, I size cases in the push feed rifle to fit the chamber in an effort to avoid case travel.
That leaves the question no one ever ask. WHY? Why reduce case travel by increasing the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head on a Remington type push feed rifle. for me? It is simple, when the case attempts to out run the firing pin the case moves forward, leaving a gap between the case head and bolt face. This gap allows the case body to lock onto the chamber when fired and the case head to move back to the bolt face, and that is the beginning of case head separation.
Who measures case head thickness and how does it make a difference? The 308 W has little trouble keeping up with the 30/06 with light bullets, the powder colum in the 30/06 case is longer and smaller in diameter than the 308 W powder column that is larger in diameter and shorter. My opinion, it makes a difference.
Then there are old friends, they sorted cases, their favorite cases came from WCC with Winchester type head stamps, WRA, WWC, WIN. etc.. More powder!
F. Guffey
