Full length resizing .308 Brass - ?

[dmftoy1]

Ok, so to date I've reloaded for .45 acp, .223, .50 S&W and 45-70. For the .223 .50 S&W and .45-70 I've always lubed the cases with Hornady One-Shot.

So . . .today I started my first attempt at .308 and I have to say that I now understand why everyone stresses how "solid" the bench top is . . . it took alot more effort to resize those cases than anything I've done before. The brass I have is once fired LC 7.62 that was fed through an M-60.

The question I have is whether it's always significantly harder to full-length resize .308 brass or could it be caused by the fact that this brass was fed through an automatic weapon or ?? I would've thought that full-length resizing .45-70 would've been tougher than .308.

Just curious what your experiences are.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[The Bushmaster]

One of the things that I've found is that not all rifle cases work well with One Shot. I use One shot on some of my rifle cases and RCBS lube pad on the rest. I did find that One Shot is good for squeeky rockin' chairs though...

 

[michael_aos]

I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax when I'm full-length resizing.

The once-fired 308 I bought from MidwayUSA came with a note recommending an initial resize with a small-base sizing die.

I use a multi-stage press, so I can resize the neck with one die while resizing the base with another die in the same toolhead.

Mike

 

[Steve in PA]

The chambers of machineguns, actual machineguns like the M60 will have slightly larger chambers than say rifles, which would lead the brass to being slightly larger after firing. This of course would lead to the extra effort to resize the brass.

 

[Walkalong]

I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax when I'm full-length resizing.

Ditto, works great.

 

[Mark whiz]

I also favor the Imperial Sizing wax.
One other thing to consider with the LC brass is that it is thicker than regular commercial brass - so it will be harder to work thru the die even under the best of circumstances.

But even using the Imperial wax, I did manage to break a Lee Hand loader in half with my bare hands sizing .308s.

 

[jeepmor]

What SteveinPA said.

This variation is mentioned in my Speer 13 manual in the 223 section. The chambers are larger because ammo may be dirty or dinged and not working is not an option like at the range.

 

[dmftoy1]

Thanks guys! I've added Imperial Wax to my next list for an order from midway.

I have to say I like working with this .308 brass alot better than the .223 . .my fingers don't cramp up as bad when chamfering/deburring, etc. I might even get ambitious and uniform/deburr the flashholes!!

 

[USSR]

dmftoy1,

In addition to the problem you are having resizing MG fired brass, if you intend to shoot this ammo in a rifle without a "generous" chamber, you may need to resize it using a small base die. The web get's greatly expanded on MG fired brass.

Don

 

[tbtrout]

I buy surplus .308 brass from Scharch. It comes resized already. After that I neck size only. The rounds only see action in one rifle.

 

[dmftoy1]

That's my plan as well.

 

[Jimbo1]

I notice the same thing with all the military brass I use for .308. Even the stuff I fired through my rifle is still hard to resize.