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Likely a Stupid Question

DeadEyeDick45

OK; so I bought some brass for my .308; it's once fired LC brass; It's headstamped LC 87 (I think that's the date) and I can't hardly close the bolt on this brass. I've run it through my FL sizing die and for some reason it doesn't set back the shoulder. I resize on my T-7 with a bit of overcam hoping it will set the shoulder back, but no go.
What am I screwing up; or is the brass not .308 brass?
 
In trying to help a Navy shooter process some LC 7.62 brass he finally confessed that it had come out of an M-60 (he was in SEAL training at the time). Did get it going but boy was it ever NOT worth it!
 
a member just last week proposed that lc brass, being thicker and tougher than commercial, requires a certain 'dwell time' in the sizing die. 5 to 10 seconds at the top of the stroke. i have no personal opinion on that.

you don't mention having a comparator. if one is not available you are flying blind. in an emergency you can make one by drilling a 0.400 hole in some 1/2" stock or a 1" hex nut, or maybe even using a .357 empty cartridge. check the datum in relation to your other brass that has an easy bolt close.

as mentioned, overall length could also be a concern.
 
oh, and if the bolt gun happens to be a savage mdl 12, mine was headspaced tight, right at the edge of the go gauge.

absent any means to make measurements, to see where in relation to your 'good' brass this stuff is you can add tape to cart head of what works, until it doesn't work like the lc stuff doesn't.

i assume you are working with unloaded brass, btw.
 
Last edited:
chop house said:
a member just last week proposed that lc brass, being thicker and tougher than commercial, requires a certain 'dwell time' in the sizing die. 5 to 10 seconds at the top of the stroke. i have no personal opinion on that.

you don't mention having a comparator. if one is not available you are flying blind. in an emergency you can make one by drilling a 0.400 hole in some 1/2" stock or a 1" hex nut, or maybe even using a .357 empty cartridge. check the datum in relation to your other brass that has an easy bolt close.

as mentioned, overall length could also be a concern.
Click to expand...

Actually I do have a comparator (hornady), I didn't think to use it, thanks for the reminder.
 
Do what chop house mentioned...

Hold the brass in the die at the top of the press stroke for 10 seconds and see what happens.
 
You may have a press problem. If you have another one, preferably an "O" type, try your die in it. I found the T-7 has just enough slop in the turret to cause it to not size completely down the body. I've modified mine so I can tighten it down solid and achieve zero slop. Having said that, I've found that trying to get max precision out of LC brass is an exercise in futility.
 
hogpatrol said:
You may have a press problem. If you have another one, preferably an "O" type, try your die in it. I found the T-7 has just enough slop in the turret to cause it to not size completely down the body. I've modified mine so I can tighten it down solid and achieve zero slop. Having said that, I've found that trying to get max precision out of LC brass is an exercise in futility.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of RCBS RockChuckers that I'll try sizing on tomorrow. BTW, not trying to get "max precision" out of the brass, I just need them to headspace a little easier.
 
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