Too Tight necks?

[Gnzrme]

Ok, I loaded up 100 rounds of 308 ammo and used a 338 neck bushing. I was adjusting my seating depth with a dummy round and I needed that bullet so I used my kenetic bullet puller to take it apart...now here's my concern...All the other times that I have loaded ammo I can usually separate components with 2 or 3 whacks on the floor...this one took 7-8, maybe as much as 10 whacks to separate...Did I make the necks too tight...is it safe to shoot? I used 42.0gr of RE15 weighed each charge and am using hornady 168gr soft point plinking bullets..what do you think?

btw, shooting these out of a bolt action rifle...

[J-cat]

What brand of brass? They all have different neck thicknesses.

[ar15barrels]

What does one of the loaded rounds measure at the neck?

[Gnzrme]

just went out and measured..... 0.338 at the neck and 2.744 OAL..to be shot out of a remmy 700. Oh, FGMM brass for 50 pieces and Nosler custom for another 50 pieces.

[ar15barrels]

Using a 0.338" bushing and having loaded neck diameter of 0.338" does not sound like the bushing is small enough.
Perhaps try measuring with micrometers for a more accurate measurement.

[Gnzrme]

Looked again and it was 336...sorry

[J-cat]

So your loaded neck diameter is .336"? Nosler brass is really hard. FC brass is pretty soft. Are you using bushing dies, and if so, what is the bushing diameter?

[Gnzrme]

no, bushing is 336...neck was 337 or 338...

[J-cat]

OK, got it.

A .002" constriction with Nosler brass will result in very hard seating. That brass is very, very hard. I bought 50 each in .308 and .22-250 and hate it!

When I had bushing dies, I found that bushing diameters were .0005" under what they spoecified and actually resulted in a .0005" constriction. My first bushing was .002" under, per Redding's instructions, but that resulted in hard seating, so I never did that again. I bought bushings at loaded neck diameter and .001" under for once the neck started to spring back more. That worked out well for me. Since then, however, I moved on to Lee Collet dies.

[Gnzrme]

ok, I shot those cases; both Federal and Nosler. I had some that were only neck sized and some that were full length sized...what a difference closing the bolt. Anyway, both shot well until my rings loosened up on me and Bill had to come over and tighten them with his torque wrench..(Thank You Bill).

Accuracy was acceptable, about .75MOA at 100. Pressure seemed fine. Wasn't using SMK's or the Lapua Scenar's...Will save those for something else...Once I get my case out of my FL die, then I will only use that. Will continue to experiment with different bushings...