Once fired military 308 processing HELP

[alfred1222]

I have loads upon loads of .308 that has been tumbled and deprimed and sized. However, when I check the brass with a headspace gauge, it doesn't sit flush. When I try to feed it, the rifle either won't go into battery, OR it will but it won't extract the brass and I have to use a brass rod and tap it out.


The dies are correctly calibrated, I don't know what I'm doing wrong

[maxx03]

Keep turning in your sizing die 1/4 of a turn at a time until the cases fit into the case gauge. Also make sure the cases are trimmed to spec.

[alfred1222]

Keep turning in your sizing die 1/4 of a turn at a time until the cases fit into the case gauge. Also make sure the cases are trimmed to spec.

Done it, doesn't work. Every measurement is perfectly in spec with what my hornady load manual says it should be, but it still doesn't work

[maxx03]

Done it, doesn't work. Every measurement is perfectly in spec with what my hornady load manual says it should be, but it still doesn't work

Is the die touching the shell plate?

[gunboat]

all brass or just the milt brass -

Try resizing with the expander plug removed - sometimes plug can slightly stretch case a bit when coming out.
Try resizing by pressing case into a bare die using a vise or tapping with a plastic mallet. - need a bit of rod to tap case back out --
Try a different shellholder.
Last resort, grind a bit off the top of the shellholder.
my tuppence

[baih777]

What press are you using ?
What is the headstamp on the brass ?

[slopoke]

You might have to use a small base die.

[jtake]

What type of resizing die are you using? If it is not a small base die, that could be your problem.

[Divernhunter]

^^^ We have a winner.
Often the brass was fired full auto. Then the small base die really shines. Also can expect to toss some brass as it will not size without sticking.

Another thing is you may think your die is adjusted and you are getting correct measurements but I have seen too many that a bit more tweaking and things start working ok.

My 2 Cents............without seeing the set-up

[alfred1222]

Is the die touching the shell plate?

It's actually camming over, the shell is going in as far as it will go

You might have to use a small base die.

Maybe, I'll try that next. I have the dies

[ar15barrels]

Keep turning in your sizing die 1/4 of a turn at a time until the cases fit into the case gauge. Also make sure the cases are trimmed to spec.

1/4 of a turn is a HUGE adjustment.
1/4 turn moves the die down 0.018"
1/16 of a turn is much more appropriate adjustment as it moves the die down just over 0.004".

[pacrat]

What type of rifle? Have you used this setup before with commercial brass without issues?

Problem could be need of SB sizer. [common with mil-surp brass] Or could be tolerance stacking. If you have a minimal chamber, a liberal die, and a deep shell holder. You could be a bit long on headspace. If that is the issue. A SB sizer won't help. You need to diagnose which is the problem, lenght or diameter, before you can correct it

Use some good old fashioned Po-Boy dykem [aka-magic marker] around the web and front of shoulder of a few cases after sizing, then chamber them. Check circumference of web and shoulder. Look for scratches, pressure scuffs, and hard rub marks.

Once the shell holder and die firmly meet in the press. No further adjustment of case headspace is possible. Further turning in of the die will not change mechanical measurement relationship between base of shell holder and datum in the die.

JM2c

[ar15barrels]

It's actually camming over, the shell is going in as far as it will go

My guess is that you don't fully grasp HOW MUCH "camming over" is actually necessary to eliminate all the press frame stretch and move the case shoulder downwards.
Even though a press is "camming over", that does not mean that you can't adjust the die down farther and get cases to size down farther.

For fun, put a flashlight behind your press ram and look between the shellholder and the bottom of the die WHILE you are sizing an unsized case.
I bet you find that there is light in there with your current die setting.
That means that there IS room to adjust the die down more and get the cases to size more.

[bsumoba]

SMALL BASE DIE.....

[ar15barrels]

SMALL BASE DIE.....

...won't make a difference to headspace if it is not adjusted right.