New barrel, new brass?

[copperking81]

How often do you have you had to toss your brass (or at least get new brass) following rebarreling a rifle? As in, your old fired brass would not chamber in your new barrel. I ask because I'm thinking about buying a significant amount of Lapua brass for a rifle that will probably get rebarreled with regularity. I'd hate to invest a bunch of money on brass, only to be fired a handful of times and which may not chamber in the next barrel.

 

[Steve Donlon]

Just don't reload all of it if you might not fire it. I have had reloaded ammo that would not chamber in a new barrel due to tighter head space. I ran it through a Redding body die and moved the shoulders back some to fit the new barrel but I also had to push the bullets a little deeper too. It would have been better not to have to do this IMO.

 

[xswanted]

I start with new brass on any new barrel.

I’ve always gone on the premises that if I’m spending the money to start with a fresh barrel, new brass isn’t a big deal.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

No need in having 300 for that barrel if all you do is shoot it 20 times a trip. Had a guy trying to sell me a 22-250ai a few years ago. Told him it was a bit high and he said thats because it came with 1500pcs of fireformed lapua brass. He made it worthless just getting brass ready

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Just use the same reamer and give the smith 2-3 pieces of brass that are fired (and maybe neck sized only for the last 1-2 firings?).

I've got 308 brass that probably has 30 firings on it. It'll chamber in all my barrels off the same reamer.

 

[Sniper338]

Just buy less brass... or buy brass, but tuck away new boxs till you need them... new brass for every new barrel.

Imo..

 

[Martin52]

...your old fired brass would not chamber in your new barrel. ......which may not chamber in the next barrel.

For

How often do you have you had to toss your brass (or at least get new brass) following rebarreling a rifle? As in, your old fired brass would not chamber in your new barrel. .

I'd only buy enough new brass for that particular barrel based on remaining round expectancy and x firing expectations, but if you know the reamer and can use the same spec's in future barrels then that should be fine. Aside from headspace, the case diameter just above the extractor ring can be problematic. I have one FTR 0.308 rifle that will only chamber at 0.4685, so a little tight, another that is OK at 0.4700. I keep the cases separate.

A body or ring die might assist if you want to use fired brass from one barrel to another.

 

[dgeesaman]

If you have a rifle that you plan on shooting enough to burn some barrels, get your own reamer. Not only will it make the chambers practically identical, it will allow you to get custom sizing die to go with it.

 

[1shot]

I buy enough brass to complete a national match, with plenty of sighters. (200) I have my own reamers for all my comp. rifles so if the brass is still good at the end of the bbl. life, I'll keep it. Generally, the brass starts going south about the same time as the barrel.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[Ned Ludd]

...I'd hate to invest a bunch of money on brass, only to be fired a handful of times and which may not chamber in the next barrel.

Why would it not chamber in the next barrel? Unless you decide to go with the same bolt face but switch to a different cartridge, the brass can always be sized to fit the new chamber if it's bit tight. It won't damage the brass. Alternatively, use the same reamer as Mike suggested and you won't have any issues. Finally, if you buy Lapua brass in quantity like a case at a time, you can always prep a smaller total number cases and use them more often, until the barrel needs to be replaced. Then you can start in on a new box (or two) when the new barrel is in place. In other words, although convenient, it is not always necessary to have four or five hundred pieces of brass prepped for a single rifle/chamber.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have between 2-3000 6xc cases so I can load in the winter and shoot all summer. Some of those cases have been through 8 different barrels. If your ammo doesn't fit after re-barreling, one of your barrels is messed up or your reloading is. JMO

 

[DaveTooley]

Get your own reamer and Go gage. Then you can hold your gunsmiths feet to the fire.

 

[searcher]

Get your own reamer and Go gage. Then you can hold your gunsmiths feet to the fire.

This is the way to go. Same reamer from barrel to barrel and great care on the gunsmith to keep shoulder position very close will prevent the problems you typically hear about. Ironically - I just received a new .22 Nosler reamer from Dave for this same reason.

 

[searcher]

That was reamer and gauges from Pacific tool & Die. I have brass that has been fired in three different tubes and north of 35 firings. The gold standard is just get new brass for each barrel - but you don't have to, depending on your chamber differences. Using the same reamer and getting the depth of cut within a few .000 usually requires a shoulder bump at worst. But is a smith is merely intent on getting it within SAAMI specs and using a different reamer each time - all bets are off.