.308 resizing question

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

Before my hiatus, I loaded up 1200 rounds of .308 for a semi auto. I used a rock chucker and a small base sizing die. Came up with a good load that works well. I acquired a inexpensive .308 bolt due to bouncing 223 rounds off a pigs head in texas. I tried the Semi auto rounds I made---they wouldn't chamber. The base is .468. Factory rounds are .465. I have more brass prepped and re-ran them through the sizing die (after an adjustment)and was able to get them down to .466. The question is---would a full length sizing die be better for a bolt action rifle? And--FYI---I case gage check every round I load and the .468's case gage correctly. TIA

[baih777]

Small base sizing die should have worked. I use FL sizing die.for 308.
Sounds like you didnt check your brass to see if it would chamber after sizing.
I use a case guage. I would pick one up and check your reloads.
Sounds like you didnt have your die adjusted correctly.

If they dont pass the case guage. Have fun taking them apart.
You can press the primers out. Wear a face shield.

[cz74]

Full length resize them for bolt gun. My M1A and Remington 700 have Very different chamber sizes and I make sure to separate the brass.

[G-forceJunkie]

Yes, always run a full length die, adjusted properly, if your going to shoot mixed brass shot of of different bolt and semi auto guns.
The issue here is you improperly sized the case on those 1200 rounds but got away with it in a sloppy semiauto chamber.

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

Small base sizing die should have worked. I use FL sizing die.for 308.
Sounds like you didnt check your brass to see if it would chamber after sizing.
I use a case guage. I would pick one up and check your reloads.
Sounds like you didnt have your die adjusted correctly.

If they dont pass the case guage. Have fun taking them apart.
You can press the primers out. Wear a face shield.

Per my post---I case gauge 100% of all my loads---rifle and pistol. They shoot perfectly in the Semi. I loaded for the semi then purchased a bolt. They still case gauge but the bolt wouldn't close. Nothing to take apart as I have 800 more to load but will re-size the brass first. The question is the difference between full length and small base dies and if t makes a difference.

Thanks

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

Small base sizing die should have worked. I use FL sizing die.for 308.
Sounds like you didnt check your brass to see if it would chamber after sizing.
I use a case guage. I would pick one up and check your reloads.
Sounds like you didnt have your die adjusted correctly.

If they dont pass the case guage. Have fun taking them apart.
You can press the primers out. Wear a face shield.

Yes, always run a full length die, adjusted properly, if your going to shoot mixed brass shot of of different bolt and semi auto guns.
The issue here is you improperly sized the case on those 1200 rounds but got away with it in a sloppy semiauto chamber.

I am guessing you are correct. They were mixed brass. Most lake city and some commercial thrown in. I have access to a full length die I may borrow to see if there is a difference. Thanks for the reply

[bohoki]

the lee rgb dies work good enough for my m1a

is this a case of machine gun brass problem?

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

humm---being lake city brass it very well could be M60 brass. I seem to recall previous discussions on that from a few years back. I'll resize this batch with the samll base die but next time I do .308 I may have to do some more homework.

[bohoki]

did you trim them ?

sometimes i can get away with not trimming 223 but i always need to trim 308

[pacrat]

Before my hiatus, I loaded up 1200 rounds of .308 for a semi auto. I used a rock chucker and a small base sizing die. Came up with a good load that works well. I acquired a inexpensive .308 bolt due to bouncing 223 rounds off a pigs head in texas. I tried the Semi auto rounds I made---they wouldn't chamber. The base is .468. Factory rounds are .465. I have more brass prepped and re-ran them through the sizing die (after an adjustment)and was able to get them down to .466. The question is---would a full length sizing die be better for a bolt action rifle? And--FYI---I case gage check every round I load and the .468's case gage correctly. TIA

SMALL BASE sizers, ARE FULL LENGTH sizers. To work properly, they should be adjusted to [cam over] on your RC.

Other than dropping them in a case gage. Did you ascertain WHY THEY FAILED TO CHAMBER in the bolt gun?

If not, I suggest you do so, by using a black marker pen, to cover a case then chamber it. Any binding will scrape off the ink. And pinpoint you area binding.

Your SB dies appear, according to your measurements, to be working as designed. Because SAAMI standard base size for 308 is .4704. And chamber base spec is .4714. And your measurements are notably under size.

Scroll to page 110 of this pdf for .308 specs.... https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads...sting-Copy.pdf

BTW, typically, factory fodder is made slightly undersize from SAAMI specs. In order to assure it chambers, and goes bang in all factory chambers.

[sigstroker]

Do you run them all the way into the die? As in shellholder against the bottom of the die?

BTW, what kind of .223 load bounces off a pig's head? What range was it?

[stevec223]

If your old loads case guage,, check the OAL of the loads..
Maybe your new bolt action has a shorter chamber.. If so you might only need to seat the bullets a little deeper.. Black out the old loads and find out why they won?t chamber in your new rifle..
Also LC brass is notorious for being way to long after the first firing and needs to be trimmed..
So long brass or long bullet seating is where I?d look..
Have fun,, be safe..
Cheers?

[baih777]

If your old loads case guage,, check the OAL of the loads..
Maybe your new bolt action has a shorter chamber.. If so you might only need to seat the bullets a little deeper.. Black out the old loads and find out why they won?t chamber in your new rifle..
Also LC brass is notorious for being way to long after the first firing and needs to be trimmed..
So long brass or long bullet seating is where I?d look..
Have fun,, be safe..
Cheers?

^^^^^^^^^
Take a sharpie marker and blackout the bullet. See if its hitting.

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

Pig was walking straight towards me--bout 45 yards out. Was a good shoot----scooted him backwards a ways then he turned and ran off. Was hunting a ranch in Texas--they weren't real happy I was using a 223 as they frequently have problems with people using that caliber. They lose to many with a 223. The first one I got went 150 yards before it keeled over---straight through lung shot. Second was an eyeball shot straight in and shattered the neck. Third I never found and the fourth was the forehead shot. Was a good time!

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

Lots of good suggestions.
Too answer a few questions
Yes--all were trimmed
All case gauged
Reloads were a spec shorter than factory. (OAL)
After mic'ing everything out it was just 10 thousandth at the base
It appears the issue was an adjustment with depth on the sizing die. There was room for 1/3 turn running the die farther down to get me to .466.
This seems to have fixed the issue.

I just didn't know if there was a difference between full length and small base dies. Which---would be irrelevant in this application cause the adjustment resolved the matter.

Thanks for the input!!