Armory Sponsor
Posted: 3/30/2013 12:46:14 PM EDT
|
My father who was into loading match .308 years ago, in the 1970's just gave me all of his stuff. I don't know what to do with it, but I have two options of either reloading it or getting rid of it, he really doesn't care what I do with it. First and foremost excuse my lack of knowledge and terminology. My question is, I have a ton of 168 grain Sierra International HP from the time period, are they still good or not? I also have probably 15 or 20 boxes on new and once fired LC .308 casings, I assume there are also good to use? I know the powder is no good at this point, and there are some primers mixed in, about five small boxes of large primers which I'm going to assume are also no good. In the mix he also gave me a RCBS single (non progressive) loader which I bump into everyday since it is sitting in my garage and all of the associated equipment that goes along with it.
So, my question is are the Sierra projectiles still good? There are also some other grain weight which I can't remember off the top of my head. I can take pictures, but the box says: 100 Sierra Rifle Bullets .30 CAL 2200 Competition 168 gr. International HP MODS THIS IS NOT A FOR SALE AD, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I HAVE AND NEED ASSISTANCE. |
| Gotcha, I guess I should have searched this before getting on ARF. According to what I can find these are the same thing as the Matchking bullets, but called International due to Palma matches. These had also been produced in California which from what I can find they had not been called Matchking until Sierra moved to Missouri? |
|
Macth shooter, likely stored it correctly; primers I would store in a dry space
6 months and I'd use them. Powder I'd check to see if it smells like solvents, if it smells like anmonia and has red dust in it then it' bad. Check the home forms and see if you can find a reloader with knowledge to help you inspect it. With products in a short way it would be a good find for someone who needs it. Wish you be close, I have need. sdshooter.......... |
|
The powder and primers should be ok. I've used WWII surplus powder and primers from the 50's and never had a problem as long as it was stored properly. Set it all up and find someone who handloads to help you determine if the powder is ok. Then prime half a dozen cases and fire them without powder to make sure the primers are good.
Have fun |
|
The bullets are still made by Sierra, maybe one of the most popular they sell.
The primers and gunpowder are most likely still okay. It's easy enough to find out. Where are you located? If you're reasonably close I can come by to see what you have, then show you how to load it if you want. |
|
Thanks everyone for the solid advise. I IM'ed AeroE, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of this stuff. Going through it I found some 30-40 Kraig brass, Sierra 45-70 bullets, 6mm/.243 bullets and brass along with .308 and .243 RCBS die sets. One interesting thing I found and I'll have to ask my father what he was doing, but there had been four or five .308 pieces of brass that had been necked down, to what caliber I have no idea. He was into silhouette shooting many years ago when we lived in Arizona so it could have been some kind of wildcat round thing he was playing around with. He's 73 now, so who knows if he will remember.
|
|
Quoted:
Probably 7-08, a factory round that started as a wildcat. That would make sense, the only rifle that is left from that time period is the 7mm-08 HB Remington that I have that he gave to me. I didn't realize that it was a necked down .308 case. Interesting..... |
Armory Sponsor