Danger Of Reloading Military Type .308?

[Chopper]

I was talking to one of the guys at Fulton Armory yesterday about my
Titan FAR and he gave me this long-winded warning about reloading
for military type .308's. He kept using the term "catastrophic failure"
and said reloading for these platforms was extremely dangerous and
open to serious accident.
I've never read or heard anything like this in any of these forums and I
am wondering if you guys have ever heard of such a thing. If so...what
are the exact problems and how do I avoid?
I've only been using handloads in this rifle since I got it. Lapua brass, Varget, BR2's...The only problems I've ever experienced was an occasional misfeed.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

PS...He's very big on CCI military primers.

[CSACANNONEER]

The military 7.62x51 round has lower pressures than the .308winchester cartridge. So, I think this is what he is talking about. NEVER shoot ammo loaded to .308win in a firearm designed to shoot 7.62x51 and you should be fine.

[Para45]

The military 7.62x51 round has lower pressures than the .308winchester cartridge. So, I think this is what he is talking about. NEVER shoot ammo loaded to .308win in a firearm designed to shoot 7.62x51 and you should be fine.

+1

[pdq_wizzard]

The military 7.62x51 round has lower pressures than the .308winchester cartridge. So, I think this is what he is talking about. NEVER shoot ammo loaded to .308win in a firearm designed to shoot 7.62x51 and you should be fine.

Same goes with the 30.06 M1 Grand.

[joelogic]

I hate FUD and misinformation. And I hate cci primers. I had between 1-3 misaligned anvils per 100 in two different 1k boxes.

[Rem222]

The military brass has less internal volume, so your powder charges need to be lowered. I have reloaded surplus .308 which had been de-primed and cleaned with no problems. I was using a bolt action rifle.

[30Cal]

Slamfire, case separations due to incorrectly sized brass, and the reduced volume of surplus brass are issues you should be very familiar with.

Fulton is... well whatever.

[Chopper]

7.62x51

But this rifle is chambered for .308. What am I missing?

[elrcastor]

Since it's chambered for .308 you are good to go.

[popeye4]

Since it's chambered for .308 you are good to go.

Not necessarily. The pressure difference between 7.62 NATO and .308 Win SAAMI is in the cartridge loading (50,000 psi vs. 62,000 psi). This makes a difference with the M14 and you also have to be concerned with the powder burn rate. 7.62 NATO chambers are cut a little more generously to ensure chambering under battlefield conditions, but that doesn't mean that if the chamber is .308 you're good to shoot SAAMI spec ammo (especially true with M14).

I'm not sure how this translates to the FA Titan, though, as I believe that is a Stoner-type design, is it not? Not sure what sensitivity that design has to powder burn rates, pressure, etc.

FWIW, Fulton Armory has ALWAYS had a policy to discourage reloading for the gas guns, even though almost everyone in the highpower game does it. I'm sure they've seen a few disastrous results from poor reloading practices, but I think it is more of a "CYA" thing with them. "Blow up your gun and it is your responsibility, don't say we didn't tell you so....."

[Chopper]

FUD?

Thanks, guys. Also...maybe someone could clear up JoeLogic's post
for me...what's a FUD? I can guess what the first word is.
Oh...wait...is that one of those things where...if you don't know what it is...you are one?

[Fjold]

FUD - Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt

[CSACANNONEER]

Since it's chambered for .308 you are good to go.

Not necessarily. The pressure difference between 7.62 NATO and .308 Win SAAMI is in the cartridge loading (50,000 psi vs. 62,000 psi). This makes a difference with the M14 and you also have to be concerned with the powder burn rate. 7.62 NATO chambers are cut a little more generously to ensure chambering under battlefield conditions, but that doesn't mean that if the chamber is .308 you're good to shoot SAAMI spec ammo (especially true with M14).

popeye4,

I think you're confused (or I am). I believe that elrcastor is right and if a rifle is chambered in .308 it can always take pressure of the lesser 7.62x51 round. While both rounds are similar in outside dimentions, the .308 win is actually hotter than it's military brother, the 7.62x51.

[popeye4]

popeye4,

I think you're confused (or I am). I believe that elrcastor is right and if a rifle is chambered in .308 it can always take pressure of the lesser 7.62x51 round. While both rounds are similar in outside dimentions, the .308 win is actually hotter than it's military brother, the 7.62x51.

My understanding is that there is a question of whether the lower NATO pressure spec applies to the FA Titan, or if any commercial (SAAMI) .308 Win ammo is acceptable. Chamber size designation does not determine that.

7.62 NATO and .308 Win are the same size cartridges. The 7.62 NATO round is loaded to a lower pressure spec (and with moderate rate powder) for use in the M14 (what it was designed for). The M14 gas system can't handle the higher port pressures using slow powder and heavy bullets.

If a rifle is chambered in .308 Win, that just specifies what the chamber size is. I have two M14s that are chambered with a .308 Win reamer, but I still have to observe the NATO pressure specs/characteristics or I could damage the gas system/op rod. Original mil-spec barrels have a slightly larger chamber (a little wider at the base with slightly longer headspace to ensure reliable chambering in dirty conditions, hence the 7.62 NATO designation), but you can fire the SAAMI dimensioned (but not SAAMI pressure spec) ammo in those without problems. So the chamber size doesn't affect the rifle action/gas system. You have to understand the system characteristics and limitations to determine that.

I'm not familiar enough with the FA Titan to make that call. If FA specifies using surplus/equivalent NATO ammo in their rifle, then I'd stick with that. If they say any commercial ammo will work, then I'd say you are safe with SAAMI spec ammo. FA will probably say reloading to either spec is unacceptable.

[Sheldon]

Fulton Armory isn't big on reloading period. http://www.fulton-armory.com/ReloadingThoughts.htm