Case Prep

[acasto]

Read all the info I could find here and elsewhere about reloading for more accuracy. Just finished the article by Jacob Gottfredson, and it left me with some questions.

I am reloading for a 308 and using some new brass.
The first step said to size all the brass.
Measuring once fired brass, I get 1.628 on my Hornady case guage. Zeroed the digital mic against the .400 insert.
New brass measures between 1.614 and 1.620 on a handful of test cases.

#1 So, do I pick the shortest case length and size them all to that dimension?
#2 Can I expect accuracy to be different when I bump the shoulder .001 on fired cases.

Thanks
Tony

 

[scout1]

acasto, you take a once fired case and set up your die for a .002 bump on the shoulder. The brass will spring back a little depending on how many times it has been fired. You will feel this bump on the bottom of the press stroke, cam over )
I full legth resize my .308 every time and anneal every fourth reloading. Keep an eye on your neck length as it is KEY in bullet release and pressures.

Good luck, Scout1

 

[fullersson]

Look in a reloading manual and it will tell you what the case trim length should be. You should trim your brass to this length. The brass that is too short just leave alone and after a couple times of being fired and re-sized it should have stretched enough where it can be trimmed to proper length.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Read all the info I could find here and elsewhere about reloading for more accuracy. Just finished the article by Jacob Gottfredson, and it left me with some questions.

I am reloading for a 308 and using some new brass.
The first step said to size all the brass.
Measuring once fired brass, I get 1.628 on my Hornady case guage. Zeroed the digital mic against the .400 insert.
New brass measures between 1.614 and 1.620 on a handful of test cases.

#1 So, do I pick the shortest case length and size them all to that dimension?
#2 Can I expect accuracy to be different when I bump the shoulder .001 on fired cases.

Thanks
Tony

Tony,

In the context of setting your sizing die up correctly, ignore the new brass length. You set the die to bump the shoulder back .001-.0015-.002,your preference really) from the fired brass' dimension. In this case, I would suggest 1.626 or so after sizing, based on your 1.628 fired dim, and the fact that I prefer .0015-.002 bump myself.

Yes, the accuracy might be different from your initial firing to the first sizing as you are blowing the shoulder forward from .1.614 to 1.628 with the first firing, but from then on it will be consistent, and you will be working the brass the least amount possible giving it the longest life.

Consistency is one of the names of the game...

 

[acasto]

Thanks for all the help. I was worried I did'nt articulate the question well, but you hit it on the head, Mark.

Started resizing and neck turning my once fired last night. Can't wait to reload and shoot them at the range. The range is set up for 300 yds, have not found a 600 yd range yet.

Mark, are you still going to be in Bastrop this weekend?

Thanks again

Tony

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

No problem, Tony. Happy to help!

Yep, headed to Bastrop tomorrow. For those who don't know, it is the TSRA State Midrange Championship this weekend @ Camp Swift.

Looks to be cool and windy...