Headspacing a Savage on Unsized Brass (Lapua)

[telecaster1981]

Hey guys,

I've heard lots of glowing reports about Lapua brass. Some even say it's so consistent that it doesn't need to be prepped or FL sized before loading. I'm currently building a Savage in .308, Shilen Select Match Bull barrel. My question is, would it be feasible to headspace using a Lapua casing as it comes from the factory if I plan on using mostly Lapua brass in this rifle? Thanks for any input!

Ben

 

[R.W.Dale]

You won't be able to get a reliable headspacing on an unfired case because after that first firing your reloading dies are going to be what determines the EXACT case dimensions be they smaller or larger than the unfired cases original size.

You can set headspace on a FIRED and resized in your dies case. The route I took on my 223 BTW but next time I'm going to have a headspace gauge handy

 

[Zeke/PA]

Why not just use a headspace gauge?
Zeke

 

[BBBBill]

Ditto what Zeke said. It is the only way that really makes sense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'59 ES355, '61 Les Paul Custom (SG style), '64 Jazz bass, '79 Ibanez Artist

 

[koginam]

I won't say that using a unfired case for head spacing is a myth but it is dumb,
A few thousandths in head space can increase recoil, decrease case life, and cause other damage to the gun and shooter. You spent all the money on a great barrel and then your going to pinch a penny on something as important as head space? That would be like using a Simmons 4 power 22 scope for the optics.

 

[moosehunt]

Mr. krochus--I suggest to you that your method is not real good. By doing that, you are only setting your headspace in accordance to that particular Full Length sizing die. It may be correct, but it may be overly long or overly short, and you don't know. If you use quality gauges, then you know that you have a correct chamber, and if you then neck size your brass, you will always have a correct fit.

 

[rcmodel]

I would never do it, because:

You most likely will not be the last & final owner of this rifle.

People move on in life, and you could be building a big problem for the rifles next owner that doesn't happen to reload, or use new Lapua brass.

In the grand scheme of building a custom rifle, a headspace guage is a very small investment to insure the rifle is correct with any factory .308 ammo.

rcmodel

 

[Seafarer12]

Spend 25 bucks on a headspace gauge

 

[Jim Watson]

Agreed, a headspace gauge is not a big expense in addition to a new barrel and tools to install it.
A friend and I replaced the barrels on our Savages because we did not get the ones the gunwriters do. So we ordered Pac-Nor 28" and put them on. We screwed the new barrels down against a Go gauge, tightened the nut, and went shooting.

 

[telecaster1981]

Ok, guys. I get the point. Headspacing guage it is. I wasn't trying to pinch pennies, though. Just trying to set headspace at a minimum for the brass I would be using. I'll just go with SAMMI minimum...sound reasonable?

 

[EShell]

Yes, remove your (spring loaded) ejector, just use your "Go" gauge and stop at the moment that the bolt will close on it. This will be "minimum headspace".

Once you're there, you'll adjust your sizing die to provide just enough sizing/shoulder bump to enable chambering without resistance.

FWIW, I have found new brass from most manufacturers to be slightly undersize, and only run them through the die before their first loading to remove dents to straighten the necks for a proper chamfer. Because of this, and because brass, especially hollow brass of a few thousandths of an inch thickness, doesn't make good gauge material, using the proper tool for the job makes for the best results.