Posted: 1/12/2016 10:55:36 PM EDT
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Hy friends.
I reload 9mm 38 357 mag 223 for many years. I do compete in benchrest wit 223 but am new to 308. Purchased my first 308 rifle and will start reloading. Here it is very difficult to find shells, so I might have to reuse the ones I have many times. I have seen some 308 competitors in whose rifles the bottom of the case splitted and the case remained stucked in the chamber. I saw the shooters having great difficulties solving this issue. This is why I am asking on advice on how to care the shells and asking how many times I can use the ones I have. Thank you. |
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Brass can last a very long time if fired in a fixed-breech (bolt action usually) gun.
If fired in a semi-auto, don't rely on brass to last more than three firings. Often it will last longer, but reliability becomes questionable after three firings. If you reload .308, the first tool you need to buy is a CASE GAGE. |
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Consider annealing the case necks.
I anneal my Lapua brass every three firings, and have seen 14-16 cycles before the webbings get thin. I typically get 9 or 10 cycles out of Winchester brass (much thinner walled) I agree on the case gauge, or a comparator would be even better. If you bump the shoulder a minimum amount (.001-.002) your brass will last much longer |
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I shoot a LR308 platform. I like Lapua brass. I've never annealed it, as some have mentioned. (I may want to learn more about this) I've got some loads on the bench and it's their 5th time through. Still looks and performs like new.
I've used Winchester brass as well. It's of good quality. |
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Quoted:
I have seen some 308 competitors in whose rifles the bottom of the case splitted and the case remained stucked in the chamber. I saw the shooters having great difficulties solving this issue. This is why I am asking on advice on how to care the shells and asking how many times I can use the ones I have. Thank you. Resize as little as possible is about all you can do. This is case head separation, it comes from too much case head space(not chamber head space). In a bolt action rifle you can size the case just barely enough to close the bolt and get many firings before it happens. On a semiauto rifle you need to size a bit more to ensure reliable function, this extra sizing causes the case to stretch more when fired, when the case stretches it gets thinner in one spot (generally in front of the case web) finally it will come apart. Here are some of mine that I cut open. They are ready to come apart after 15 or so firings out of my bolt action. With my .308 case I can shine a light in the case and see the step where it is getting thin, you can also see the line on the outside of the case after sizing or firing like in the bottom photo. 
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Sometimes but not always you can see a shiny ring around the outside of the case just about the web. Some brass will do it the first time your size it so know your brass, dies and chamber. I wire pick can be stuck in the case and feel for the stretched spot also.
My .308WIN AR, I use the brass 3 times and throw it out. It gets beat up by the cycling of rounds and ARs are not normally happy with neck sizing only. I full length resize my AR brass and my bolt action WSM loads. My .243WIN bolt gun I just neck size. |
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Quoted:
Resize as little as possible is about all you can do. This is case head separation, it comes from too much case head space(not chamber head space). In a bolt action rifle you can size the case just barely enough to close the bolt and get many firings before it happens. On a semiauto rifle you need to size a bit more to ensure reliable function, this extra sizing causes the case to stretch more when fired, when the case stretches it gets thinner in one spot (generally in front of the case web) finally it will come apart. Here are some of mine that I cut open. They are ready to come apart after 15 or so firings out of my bolt action. With my .308 case I can shine a light in the case and see the step where it is getting thin, you can also see the line on the outside of the case after sizing or firing like in the bottom photo. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1855_zpscf0d9af0.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1850_zps360d0e0d.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1844_zpsef3ded36.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1846_zps847051bb.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG2369_zpsmbkv1ufa.jpg Quoted:
Quoted:
I have seen some 308 competitors in whose rifles the bottom of the case splitted and the case remained stucked in the chamber. I saw the shooters having great difficulties solving this issue. This is why I am asking on advice on how to care the shells and asking how many times I can use the ones I have. Thank you. Resize as little as possible is about all you can do. This is case head separation, it comes from too much case head space(not chamber head space). In a bolt action rifle you can size the case just barely enough to close the bolt and get many firings before it happens. On a semiauto rifle you need to size a bit more to ensure reliable function, this extra sizing causes the case to stretch more when fired, when the case stretches it gets thinner in one spot (generally in front of the case web) finally it will come apart. Here are some of mine that I cut open. They are ready to come apart after 15 or so firings out of my bolt action. With my .308 case I can shine a light in the case and see the step where it is getting thin, you can also see the line on the outside of the case after sizing or firing like in the bottom photo. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1855_zpscf0d9af0.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1850_zps360d0e0d.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1844_zpsef3ded36.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG1846_zps847051bb.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/glock2027/CIMG2369_zpsmbkv1ufa.jpg Best example I have ever seen. Thanks for taking the time to show this popnfresh. |
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Thank you, thank you very much for your posts.
I finally have allmos all of my equipment ready, just the neck sizing die is missing. I hope Ill be visiting the US in October, where I will purchsase it. I have a lot of experience with handguns and .223, new for 308, so please be patient if I have more quedtions to ask. |
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Other than the size of everything it's a lot like a .223. They even like the same powders. All of the things you do for super accurate .223's works for .308's and all of the same rules apply. When you get a case head separation take a phosphor bronze 20ga shotgun bore brush and stuff it in from the back until the bristles get into the barrel an inch or two. Then pull back. It should bring the front half of the case back out with it. Fast and easy way of fixing it on the line. It's happened to me a couple times. |
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Quoted:
I shoot a LR308 platform. I like Lapua brass. I've never annealed it, as some have mentioned. (I may want to learn more about this) I've got some loads on the bench and it's their 5th time through. Still looks and performs like new. I've used Winchester brass as well. It's of good quality. You should definitely look into it. Another option is to send it to someone and have it done In my experience you'll start to get inconsistent neck tension which will affect accuracy |