my first digitally scaled 308 round - and im afraid to shoot it.

[silverlance]

the load:

• 150gr spitzer FMJ 308 diameter with crimp groove
• brass case is WOLF GOLD once fired, neck sized
• primer is WIN large rifle
• powder is WIN 748
• charge is 46.2 grains
• seated depth is 2.67, min. OAL for this starting load is 2.530
• rifle is Tikka T3 Tactical in 308 WIN
• loading kit is Lee Loader 308 WIN

this powder nearly fills up the entire case. I've weighed and triple checked against double charges and overall length (which I assume is from bullet tip to case head base).

my problem is that the bullet is seated so far down that the crimp almost entirely inside the case (a teeny line is all that's left showing). should it theoretically be safe for me to shoot this case? can i get into trouble for seating the round too deeply?

My Tikka T3 TAC is my new baby, and I'm afraid to try reloads on it.

 

[esheato]

I wouldn't do it. Once you start reloading, you don't have a choice but to live the reloaders life...scrounging brass, digging in dumpsters, concocting loads all night long.

LOL..just kidding.

Of course you should shoot it! The real question here is why you've only made one round? If you've double and triple checked the specs, get out to the range man!

Ed

 

[silverlance]

I've reloaded a bit (about 200 rounds) for my other Finnish sniper rifle - okay, it's a Finn M39 Mosin Nagant. Worked real well, but my most expensive m39 was all of $350. This Tikka setup is the most expensive piece of equipment Ive ever had.

This load is also the first one I've done using a scale, instead of simply sticking to the starting loads with the Lee dippers. I used an RCBS digital dispenser I bought used tuesday.

Well, I quad checked the OAL (its well over minimum), checked the powder weight, checked the total weight, and checked neck dimensions. I learned that not every brass case weighs the same - there is variation of as much as 2 grains.

I backed the die collars out a wee bit, so that now the lip of the case mouth is right in the middle of the crimping groove. Tomorrow I will shoot all of these 19 rounds (one get screwed up and will be discarded).

Speaking of dumpster diving - I spent a good hour trying my best to drag someone's old table back from six blocks away where I had stopped jogging with me dog to start hauling loot. I gave up at four blocks. I wish I owned a pickup truck.

thanks for the vote of confidence, esheato. ill post pics tomorrow.

some final questions (someone answer, please?)

1. is it wrong to fill a case too close to bullet base?
2. how many times can you reuse neck sized only brass?
3. can 30 carbine .308 dia 110gr bullets be used in 308 winchester chambers?

 

[huntershooter]

Why is your OAL so short? From memory .308 max OAL is around 2.810". Is the magazine box real short on the Tikka?

 

[trueblue1776]

Silverlance- in reloading there are two kinds of mistakes:
"Holy s$%#!" mistakes and "guess I won't do that again" mistakes, I don't think you have committed either. I'd go a little longer for OAL next time, but no biggie.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've loaded as high as 48gr of Win748 with no "issues"
It is prefereable for the powder to completely fill the case.....insures proper ignition.
Your accuracy is all that will be compromised with that load. The problem is with the bullet. Most FMJ's won't shoot anybetter than 1.5moa. Try some Nosler 150gr BalisticTips at 2.800" over that powder charge if you would like to see how accurate that rifle will shoot.

The 2gr +/- on case weight isn't really that much. You'll see 10gr or more variation between different makes of cases and mil-spec cases are significantly heavier than commercial brass.
I suggest you invest in 50rds of Nosler custom brass. This is "match" prepped and weighed. Will save you time and money on tools to do such.
Spend your money on better bullets and components.
In the early to mid '70's, I loaded thousands of rds with the Lee loaders. Except for the need to occasionally full length size the brass for easier chambering, I never "needed" a better set up. Now, I have a garage full of loading equipment...................

 

[Hutch]

1. is it wrong to fill a case too close to bullet base?
2. how many times can you reuse neck sized only brass?
3. can 30 carbine .308 dia 110gr bullets be used in 308 winchester chambers?

1. Nope, as long as the powder charge is safe. There are well documented, good loads that require special techniques just to get all the powder into the case without spilling. You may see references in manuals and books to "compressed charges". No biggie.
2. Depends on the load. I've been told by a benchrest shooter that expects to wear out the barrel of his 6mmPPC with the same lot of 100 cases he made when he bought the barrel. A BR's definition of "wear out" is much different that most shooters, but case life is determined by many different things, like peak pressure, brass thickness, chamber dimensions, et endless cetera.
3. Oh yeah. The .308 110gr round-nosed bullets are fine for cheap plinking, if that's what you're after. It's not likely to be the most accurate load you'll find, but if you can find some of those little pills at a good price, and you understand the limitations of the design, knock yourself out.

 

[Ol` Joe]

1. is it wrong to fill a case too close to bullet base?
2. how many times can you reuse neck sized only brass?
3. can 30 carbine .308 dia 110gr bullets be used in 308 winchester chambers?

1 - No,
last week I loaded for my 708 with IMR4007 and 140 gr Nosler BTs. The charge filled the case to the mouth and the bullet seated almost to the body/neck juction, crunching powder all the way. If the charge is from a reliable source (Speer, Nosler, Hodgdon, ect) the load will be fine as long as it was worked o properly with no warning signs.

2 - I have a habit of tossing my neck sized bottle neck cases after 10-12 loadings depending on the cartridge and chamber of my rifle. The necks will work harden after multiple fireing/sizeings and start cracking unless one anneals, I don`t.
I toss the brass simply to avoid this, no other reason. Knock on wood I have never had any brass failures over 40 years of reloading due to fatigue and figure at the price of cases early scrapping is worth it. JMO! Others will argue this I`m sure.

3 - My father loaded 110 gr "carbine" along with other light wgt bullets in his 308 as plinking ammo back in the mid 60s. The accuracy wasn`t always anything to brag about but recoil was perfect for training young shooters, and my younger brothers and I shot more then a couple of them when tagging along with him to the range. Here are a couple of the ones he used.http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/1Savage/DSC00943.jpg

 

[gyp_c2]

uhhhh...

...if you have any doubts, then just pull it out...
uhhh, the bullet dude, the bullet...