308 sizing help using bulk machine gun brass

[P1ZombieKiller]

JUST BUY A MACHINE GUN

problem solved

And THATS why I follow you!!!! You solve all my problems.

 

[lb-ft]

1) Royal Case Lube is your friend
2) Small base die (should only need for the first sizing, when turning machine gun brass into bolt action brass)
3) When you run the brass all the way into cam-over in the small base die, allow it to dwell for several seconds rammed up in that die. You're also dealing with some springback in the brass that you can effectively cancel out by allowing it to dwell in the constrained state for several seconds.

 

[Doom]

I bought 500 308 one fired cases back in 2012 and a lot was MG brass. The following procedure will work:

Remove primer and crimp.
Clean brass (your method)
Use a bullet to round out any deformed case necks
Lube case with a good paste lube (Unique or Imperial) One Shot insures a stuck case.
Resize with Small Base Die.
Measure length and trim (i found lengths of 2.025”)
Verify fit in your gun. Or case gauge. If it doesn’t fit adjust die and repeat lube and sizing.

Two things of note. It’s a good idea to cut a couple of cases in two to check for stretching at the web. It’s possible that some cases cannot be resized adaquately.

I used the brass in my Rem 700 and was totally happy with it.

 

[D2x shooter]

This is an age old issue. IF I get any MG brass, and I do not look for it as an addition to my supplies, First, I clean them in corncob, then I size the bases with my Case Pro, Then I re-size, decap,demil the primer pocket and trim and chamfer. Next I try them in a Sheridan cutaway die. I will do this for a few cases and load one (bullet, no powder) to see if it fits in my rifle. If the case is difficult to chamber, I quit and scrap the MG cases. Hopefully, you are getting the MG brass for free.
Go with the opinions of the reloading sages and buy some decent 308 brass on this forum.

 

[lb-ft]

Doom, you are absolutely correct. OneShot is a guaranteed way to a stuck case when working with 1xMG fired brass!!

 

[711rollerdog]

Bob3700 is spot on in my opinion. Even the bases were chewed up on a 500 pack i bought from Amazon a few years ago. I have a tool to check the inside of the case for case head separation, Almost half had an indication head separation has started. I ended up throwing those out to start, Then the rest soon after.
Save your dies, and your components while you still can..

 

[old codger]

I bet your brass is long from the base to the datum point on the shoulder. Buy an RCBS Cartridge Mic in 308. It will let you see exactly what you are dealing with. A small base die may help.

 

[kiwijohn]

Once upon a time I went down this route to make .260 brass ( even neck turned it )
I CRACKED an RCBS trim die resizing with it. Brass would become so stuck in my Die that I would kneel down and put the press arm over my shoulder .... then gently stand up to perform the up stroke, while holding the bench down with my hands.
RCBS were pretty good and even posted out a new die!
I wouldnt do it again unless I was VERY desperate.It was a great testament to the Redding BB2 as well.
I would size it back to .308 and then in two steps go down ( half way in press on first size ) to 260 and anneal in between.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I was given (as in FREE) 2 five gallon buckets of machine gun brass. I quickly found that the shoulders had been blown out 0.060, the bases were oversize, crimped primers, needed to trim .040+ on each one. I took it to the recycler and got $100 per bucket.

 

[Big_Daddy]

Scrap brass shell casing are currently selling for $1.90 per lb.
This is a national average. Prices in your area may vary, sometimes wildly...

 

[hpshooter]

look for some IMI 308 brass. It is strong like LC and is made for the abuse an autoloader will give it. Just my .02.

Good stuff if you can find it in light of current component shortages.

 

[mousegunner]

Roller sizer.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Heres your first aid kit for MG brass. Always keep these incase of emergency

 

[Bob3700]

One last thing to consider. AR10s have a firing pin that is spring loaded away from the bolt face. That does not mean it wont move forward into the primer if you are trying to clear a jammed live round with the rod down the bbl method. Be careful with the decisions you make, some only let you make the mistake once.

 

[Woofie]

Interesting string.
I think the cautions about "stretched" MG brass and case head separations are valid, but a relatively cheap Teslong borescope (which I happen to think everyone should own) will let you make an internal examination of some sample of cases to see if that is a latent issue.
Otherwise Dusty has it about right... I use a Dillon carbide die, and such a thing will make resizing these cases a lot easier. However, as budget seems to be an issue, I understand that spend might not be on your radar.
BTW, check your rim diameters too if you're having cambering problems. For example, ZQI (Turkish) NATO brass, otherwise good, grows rim diameter for me after 2-3 loads when other cases don't.
Oh, and a Wilson case gauge might be a good investment.

 

[Barman54]

How I remedy MG Brass.

Run them Through a 30.06 Sizing Die, to set the base, and Deprime them, keeping them Lubed, when I get enough.
I run them through my RCBS Sml Base .308 Die, to set the Shoulder, and the Base a wee bit more.
Trim on my Gracey.

Works in my M1A SM with a Tight Chambered Satern Barrel.

Makes it a WHOLE lot easier

Barman54
Out

 

[Doom]

As I noted I used a mix of MG and Semi Auto brass for years, mostly LC05. But having put the time into it, I would not do it again. The time invested just isn’t worth it. Shooting mid range pressure loads in a bolt gun and annealing every so often this brass will last a long time. It has been replaced by new Lapua and used Lapua gifted from a Cast Bullet shooter.

In my AR15, I have had rounds stuck in the camber at the range. Now if it doesn’t fit a case gauge that brass is scrap.

 

[Twicepop]

Like what Dusty Stevens said, use a small base die. Several years back I purchased a large quantity of 7.62X51 brass that I'm pretty sure was fired in a machine gun. I used a small base die and several of them still wouldn't check out when measured with a Wilson case gauge and a depth micrometer. I then turned the case 180 degrees in the shell holder and sized them again and these most all gauged/checked alright after the double resizing.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Anyone got a lead on 1000 pieces of brass? even once fired NON MACHINE GUN brass?
If I could find that, and calculate the costs, I may be able to swing him that way.

I have Hornandy once fired .308 bolt gun brass, from a police. sniper unit. some of it is dirty from suppressors, some is clean. I have about 1000rds. I bag them in 100 rds a bag. $25.00 a bag +shipping.

 

[gsardokla]

The last year or so I have a buddy that bought a few AR10's, and then bought bulk machine gun brass to reload.
I ran the brass through my normal 308 sizing die, trimmed it to length (to 2.005), and it is still does not chamber in his rifles.
Factory rounds do. I measured the base of the cases that I had resized, and they all measure .468 (same as my new factory Lapua brass).

If you have had experience with before, can you point me in the right direction?

Will a small base die size the bottom of the case a few thousands more? I have never used one before, so not sure what to expect.

I am loading 168grn amax to OAL of 2.800

Years ago I owned and reloaded for an M1A. Sometime I had some brass that had been fired in an M60. I used small-base dies and had no problems. My worst problem with that M1A was my selling it.