Two eyed Jack, there is no such thing, around here, as the case whipping a press, there is a chance the case is tougher than the press as in its ability to resist sizing exceed the ability of the press to size. Even then I can increase the ability of the press to reduce the length of the case from the head of the case to its shoulder .012” without grinding anything.
Anything that can be gained by grinding the shell holder (reduce deck height) or grinding the bottom of the die can be accomplished with a feeler gage, I form cases for short chambers, some would wonder where does a short chamber come from? I cut short chambers.
I do not know what press your are using, all of my presses can be checked for its ability to size a case, or, if a case whips one of my presses I can measure ‘by how much’.
An understanding of minimum length when compared to full length sized requires an understanding of ‘measured from’. The 308 Winchester family of cartridges use a round hole/circle that is .400” (2/5”).
If you are using Lee dies all bets are off.
Again, I have Lee dies, that does not mean I use them and I do not suggest a new to reloading reloader start with collet dies. I am the fan of the versatile die, the full length sizer die, I form cases for short chambers, I form cases for long chambers and everything in-between with one die, the full length sizer die.
Grinding the shell holder? Not necessary. Grinding the base of the full length sizer die? Not necessary. Purchasing Redding competition shell holders? Not necessary. In my opinion the reloader should be able to determine if the press whipped the case or if the the case whipped the press. Do not count on ‘cam over’ most reloaders do not have a clue when it comes to their press and cam over. I have 4 Rock Chuckers, I do not have a RCBS Rock Chucker that cams over, my Rock Chuckers jam, cram, bind or lock-up, but if my Rock Chuckers cammed over, I would adjust them differently than I do my presses that do cam over.
The ability of a reloader to measure the length of the case from the head of the case to its shoulder demonstrates the ability of the reloader to understand what is going on. Number one, the reloader must understand the meaning of minimum length, shorter than minimum length increases case travel (some actions), longer than minimum length decreases case travel and can cause increase difficulty in bolt closing. Then there is the chamber, I measure the length of the chamber first from the bolt face to the shoulder of the chamber. Back to nice to have and it looks good on a resume, “I have head space gages, all three in fact” I don't, I do not shoot gages, I shoot ammo, I have a press, die and shell holder, ammo I shoot is sized in my press. Knowing the length of my chambers allows me to adjust my die to (or off) the shell holder, again, I am the fan of cutting down on all that case travel.
Back to your question, 308W to 7mm-08, in the RCBS Special Order Catalog forming 7mm-08 from 308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) is listed as foot note #1:
#1. Case forming dies not required. Use full length sizer die in final caliber for forming.
Page #9
http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/2010_SpecialOrder.pdf
Machine gun fired? Back to the ability of a reloader to measure the length of the case from the head of the case to its shoulder etc.. With the minimum of tools there is no excuse for mysteries like “fired in a machine gun?”.
Again, I sent a rifle back to Winchester with the ugliest/largest chamber I have ever seen, they informed me they were going to polish, hone and or ream the chamber, and I had to remind them the chamber was too large before they start, then I ask them “How was any part of the remedy going to make the chamber smaller?” I informed them I wanted a chamber that would fit my dies or a set of Winchester dies that fit their chamber. And their smith in the Dallas area said “You are correct, the chamber did not clean up or get smaller, so we sent the rifle back to Winchester”. Point? Sizing cases fired in the Model 70 Winchester 300 Win Mag was a work out for the strongest press, I have an Arbor Dake press converted for heavy work as in press in and hammer out, back to s set of Winchester dies that fit their chamber, my full length sizer dies, small base dies and BMG dies reduced the dimensions of the case.
F. Guffey
No issues with the once fired 7-08 or 06 but the 308 has a bunch of PPU 7.62x51 brass in it which is HARD AS HELL to resize.
befor you grind anything try another brand of holder if you have one on hand I have, lee, rcbs, redding, and pacific, that will hold a 7mm-08 case, I found out useing a rcbs holder and a redding die would push the sholder back to far on my 7wsm , can you get another die from a friend to try?
