Hi everyone! I had some questions about .308 win.

[WoodchuckII]

I have been around reloading since I was a child, but have only been reloading (.308 Win) myself for less than a year. I seem to have found the solution before I have figured out my problem. Was wondering if you folks could help me. When i first started reloading for my Savage 10fcp sr, I started with fire formed brass from that rifle. I neck sized all of my brass and prepped all cases to spec. When I got around to loading, I had a hard time chambering (cases trimmed to 2.008, C.O.L. 2.800 with 175 SMK's). my projectiles were also getting scratched up, along with pressure signs very early.

The problem was remedied by full length sizing my cases. I have a couple of loads now that are doing great (.5 moa), but I never figured out why I was having problems with fire formed ammo. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any responses
-Ed

 

[rcmodel]

Yes.

Case stretch and brass hardness (or softness) can make neck sizing problematic in some guns after the first firing.

The initial fire-form and neck sizing may not allow easy bolt closure until they have been FL sized the first time.

Then, they will need to be FL sized again every few reloading's.

It's also possible your rifles chamber is not perfectly round, or concentric with the bolt face either.

Nothing too unusual here.

rc

 

[WoodchuckII]

Thanks for the info rc. What specifically was causing the ( what seemed to be) head spacing problems? If the T.L. And C.O.L. Are spec. How could it be jamming into the lands like that? Just trying to wrap my head around what was going on in there. There was significant marking on the projectiles. I also mocked up some 178 gr. hornady hpbt's and 200 gr. smk's with the same result.

 

[TNBilly]

If you were holding to correct lengths like you stated then you really are not "jamming" the bullets into the lands if, and the key is full length resize fixed the problem. The problem would be as RC stated an out of round chamber (not uncommon) of a angular problem with the loaded round (case and or bullet not straight to "centerline). I've for a long while now instead of neck sizing taken to "bump" sizing with a full length die. I usually size a couple thou shorter than my measured chamber size. This usually puts an end to all those "irregularities" due to sizing and I've not really noticed any difference in case life.

 

[WoodchuckII]

Thanks billy. Can I bump size with a redding f.l. Die?

 

[TNBilly]

I've done bump sizing with all my rifle calibers now..... brand of dies varies. The only thing I would mention is it's important to have an accurate means of measuring. Personally I use the Hornady system.... mainly as it's reasonable priced. It works well on a vernier caliper. I use a Hornady COAL bullet seating system as well but I've since changed that to a common thread on the "special cases" as Hornady dropped the ball providing modified case for us to use.