Question about case sizing

[Joshboyfutre]

I loaded up some 308 reloads for my bolt action rifle that I had already fired out of that rifle. When reloading these rounds I just size the neck. Now I want to shoot them out of a semi automatic 308 that I have (century arms c-308/HK&PTR knockoff). Will I be able to fire these rounds out of that rifle without full case sizing if not can I resize them while loaded if I do it carefully? Thanks for any advice.

 

[witchhunter]

You may be able to fire them, depending on their final size and the size of your auto's chamber. Maybe not though. You can resize live ammo with a body die.

 

[bangswitch]

Try single-loading by hand a few selected rounds from the batch and see if they chamber without binding at the case head. If they drop into the chamber without pushing them, you should be good to go.

 

[rcmodel]

You cannot resize loaded rounds with a standard resizing die.

Think about it.

The die sizes the neck smaller then bullet diameter, then the expander plug is pulled back through it to open it back up to just under bullet diameter.

What do you suppose would happen to the bullet if you squished it that far under sized in a FL sizing die??

rc

 

[readyeddy]

Getting a round stuck in the chamber out of battery is not fun. I would either shoot them from the gun it fire formed or pull the bullets.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

I dropped a couple of rounds in the chamber and they dropped right in so I think I'll b ok. It's a roller lock rifle with AK type specs(loose) and a "ribbed/grooved" chamber too. When that thing slams home it does it with some authority lol, it even killed my cheap utg scope from the forward jerk of it going into battery. Any other rifle I wouldn't risk it but this is a beast. Kills brass tho. Gonna try it tue I'll let u guys lnow how it go's if I can remember.

 

[noylj]

I have a question: everything I have read about neck-sizing has always said it was for bolt action rifles only and was only for the rifle that fire-formed the cases. So, why the question? The only possible answer is " no, unless the semi-auto chamber is large enough that these rounds will chamber."
What other answer can there be?

 

[Joshboyfutre]

That you could full-length resize them

 

[Blue68f100]

You can use a Body die to size the loaded rounds. These dies do not touch the neck, shoulder on back is what touched. These dies can be purchased from Redding with or without the neck sizing parts, FL Type S sizer.

Some guns with min spec can be neck sized to fit other chambers. My 223R Min spec AR brass will fit my Wydle chamber spec AR. I run adj gas block and have it set to minimal flow to keep from over stretching the brass. This is also impacted by how hot the loads are. With a bolt gun you remove the brass with ZERO pressure. With a simi-auto your extracting the spent cartridge while its under some pressure.

 

[mr wack]

I would shoot them in the rifle you intended them to be used in , then start from the get-go and load for your semi.
That's just me though , I guess I like reloading as much as shooting .

 

[entropy]

I would shoot them in the rifle you intended them to be used in , then start from the get-go and load for your semi.
That's just me though , I guess I like reloading as much as shooting .

+1. Then buy a small base sizing die for the semi-auto loads. I use SB for all my .223 loads, because they might be fired from my bolt, or my son's AR.

 

[Nature Boy]

It might be that your bolt action chamber is tighter than your auto by design for safer and more consistent feeding

I know that's true with my FN SPR that has a headspace of 1.624 and my M1A that is 1.631

Shooting rounds I size for my bolt gun in my auto work fine, but I'm getting a lot more case stretch which would reduce the life of the case, therefore, I don't do it

 

[gwpercle]

Just buy some new brass for the semi , 308 brass is cheap and you will be better served with segregated brass. have one batch for the bolt and the other for the semi, life will be a whole lot easier.
Gary

 

[mr wack]

gwpercle,,,,,,

Just buy some new brass for the semi , 308 brass is cheap and you will be better served with segregated brass. have one batch for the bolt and the other for the semi, life will be a whole lot easier.
Gary.....

This'll work too.......

 

[IWAC]

RCBS makes/used to make what they called "Small Base Dies", designed for proper operation of reloads in semi-automatic firearms. If you are not trying to make your semi auto into a bench gun, these would probably be a good thing to have, and as mentioned, with segregated brass, by manufacturer. new."Once Fired"(?) 308 is very available. Don't indulge in the ballistic proctology of "neck sizing only" brass for a semi auto. Set the dies for minimum sizing, that will still work reliably. Buy lots of brass!

 

[crashdummy]

After I "stuck" a few loaded rounds in my DPMS 308 AR I started using a RCBS small base die. This works great in the AR-10 rifles. I separate the brass by head stamp so only the normal FL sized brass goes to my bolt actions.