Which brass for 7-08?

[Fordnutter]

While I'm waiting for my custom long range rifle in 7-08 Remington I'm putting together all my reloading components. Which is the the best, most consistent brass to use for match quality reloads? I'm thinking lapua 308 brass necked down then neck turned to suit. I've read mixed results on the Norma or nosler custom stuff - yet some people are having great results with ordinary old Winchester or Remington variety. I don't mind putting in prep work... I need consistency and long life.

 

[SAK0]

I'm thinking lapua 308 brass necked down then neck turned to suit.

Neck turning is sometimes not necessary, with my SAKO M591 for example.

 

[HillbillySniper]

A buddy of mine is putting together a 260AI and just bought nosler brass and it looks great all uniform chamfered already for the price it looked just as good as Lapua brass. I shoot all winchester brass outta my 223AI and 25WSM and they are both tack drivers I've had very good luck with just plain winny brass only gun I run Lapua brass in is my 6x47 Lapua. I've put thought into a 7mm08AI using 308 Palma brass I just have to find out how it'll act in the cold with the small primer.


Hillbilly

 

[louielouie]

I prefer to neck down Winchester 7-08 brass for my 260 Rem - still have to do the 'case prep 2-step' but easier to work with than Remington brand. Have not tried any other brand at this point.

 

[lurcher]

I use norma 7-08 brass seems very uniform from memory within 2 grain weight variation max over a batch of 100. The neck wall thickness variation measured with a ball mic was low. Some say norma brass is soft but I have had no problems with it. I get 2 or 3 firings between shoulder bump sizing with Lee collet neck die and redding body die. .308 lapua brass is cheaper and can be necked down but it might have donut issues if not carefully prepped and .308 has a slightly longer neck than 7mm-08

 

[jonbearman]

The way to neck 308 lapua or any other brand without this donut problem is to full length size it in a conventional die. The expander ball will extrude the dreaded donut you all have so much trouble with.I have never had the problem and have resized more cases than 10 guys in a lifetime.Try it,it works and once you fire form it then you can use a bushing die to just resize the neck. Make sure you use a high grade lube on the expander ball like imperial sizing wax or rcbs sticky gooey sizing lube and when you are done just wipe out the necks.

 

[280Ackleyrized]

I'm running Remington brass in my Borden built 7-08. Have no complaints at all.

 

[lloydx2]

Norma brass is great very consistant. I shot 708 a lot back in the 90s 4 bbls worth a lot was at 600. Shot about every make there was inc rem ubr (small primer) If you neck down 308 You will have a donut. The thing to do is fl size with exp ball moving the thicker brass to the outside of the neck then neck turn (clean-up). But I,d just go with norma. Theres lots of good brass out there. lot to lot norma cant be beat. Regards Lloyd

 

[dennisinaz]

I loaded thousands of rounds of 7mm-08 from Federal GMM brass (308). I had to neck turn them but I did NOT have donuts. Back when I was shooting a 708, W-W did not make brass and R-P brass was junk. It has been my experience that IF you neck DOWN you do not get donuts. Donuts are formed when you make part of the new neck from brass that was in the shoulder, which is typically thicker (i.e., necking up). If Norma and W-W are making 708 brass, I would go that route rather than forming it!

Another tip for necking down, always neck turn BEFORE you neck down.

 

[dennisinaz]

A buddy of mine is putting together a 260AI and just bought nosler brass and it looks great all uniform chamfered already for the price it looked just as good as Lapua brass. I shoot all winchester brass outta my 223AI and 25WSM and they are both tack drivers I've had very good luck with just plain winny brass only gun I run Lapua brass in is my 6x47 Lapua. I've put thought into a 7mm08AI using 308 Palma brass I just have to find out how it'll act in the cold with the small primer.


Hillbilly

HB- I bought 100 rounds of the Nosler brass myself. I found that it worked good out of the box but the necks were so thin that I could not resize it enough to hold bullets! I complained to Nosler and they told me to buy a small bushing. I told them I was using FL dies [Redding and Forster] They told me "oh well, our brass is not your problem."

I had to order a custom die from Forster to reload the Nosler stuff. A bushing die only resizes part of the neck and this doesn't cut it on a round loaded from the magazine.

Buyer beware!