Loading .308 in 7.62 brass

[Thatguy80]

Hello Gents,

I have been reloading pistol (45 ACP and 9mm) for some time and have decided to start making some .308/7.62 x 51. (Just picked up a springfield M1a)

I feel comfortable making rifle rounds, I have made .223 rem in the past and stayed away from 5.56 brass.

I have a friend that gave me 400 .308 boat tail bulletts (not sure of the weight yet).

And I'm sitting on a ammo can full of 7.62 x 51 stamped LC72.

I know .308 and 7.62 are supposed to be "identical" but wanted to reach out and get more info from all you knowledgable fellows before I did anything.

Any advice is much appreciated.

[Jonathan Doe]

I prefer to load my match loads in LC (7.62) brass. My M-1A shot best with my handloads:

Sierra 168 grain BTHP
IMR 4064 41.8 grains
Wolf Large rifle primers/ Federal large rifle match primers
LC match brass or Surplus LC 7.62 brass

If you can get a hold of LC brass that were fired in rifles, not machineguns, use them. You will have to swage the primer pocket to remove the crimp. The reason I prefer the LC match brass is that you don't have to swage the primer pocket.

[E_Shaw90]

7.62 brass is gtg its the same external specs as a 308 case....just make sure you adjust your loads to account for the thicker case wall (smaller internal volume)....start on the low end and work your way up until you find a load that gives you the results you are looking for. Ask your friend what the MFG of the bullets are he gave you hopefully they are all the same...Unless you know the specs on the bullets...you are wasting your time developing a charge for them

[crazychinaman]

Hello Gents,

I have been reloading pistol (45 ACP and 9mm) for some time and have decided to start making some .308/7.62 x 51. (Just picked up a springfield M1a)

I feel comfortable making rifle rounds, I have made .223 rem in the past and stayed away from 5.56 brass.

I have a friend that gave me 400 .308 boat tail bulletts (not sure of the weight yet).

And I'm sitting on a ammo can full of 7.62 x 51 stamped LC72.

I know .308 and 7.62 are supposed to be "identical" but wanted to reach out and get more info from all you knowledgable fellows before I did anything.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Just make sure the primer is set back correctly for M-1A's. You might get slam fire.
I use sierra 168 and 177 grain JHP ,federal match primer ,what ever brass I have around ,Mostly fed and win. cases. Cannot remember which powder.

[Thatguy80]

7.62 brass is gtg its the same external specs as a 308 case....just make sure you adjust your loads to account for the thicker case wall (smaller internal volume)....start on the low end and work your way up until you find a load that gives you the results you are looking for. Ask your friend what the MFG of the bullets are he gave you hopefully they are all the same...Unless you know the specs on the bullets...you are wasting your time developing a charge for them

All great info thanks guys. I believe the brass was fired from an MG, will that make a diffference?

The bullets are in 4 unmarked clear plastic bags so i was going to get the specs with my trusty caliper and scale.

[pdq_wizzard]

All great info thanks guys. I believe the brass was fired from an MG, will that make a diffference?

The bullets are in 4 unmarked clear plastic bags so i was going to get the specs with my trusty caliper and scale.

the problem with brass fired from a MG is with the loose chambers in MG's. just make sure you do a full resize, turn the die down 1/8 to 1/4 turn more when it hits the shell holder. Also make sure you use enough lube and go slow you might have to push the handle down a little at a time (push down pull up then down ....)and make sure you trim the casses.

I would bet the case life on them will not be great, and I would load on the low end to start.

[Jonathan Doe]

One time in the past, I bought about 500 rounds of LC brass and discovered that they were fired in a machinegun. I could not properly resize them to my chamber. I discarded all of them. That is why I prefer Federal match bras or LC match brass. Becasue, I know for sure they are usually fired in a good rifle.

[30Cal]

MG brass will probably need to get resized in a small base die. You should definitely have a case gage or comparitor and a thorough understanding of slamfire if you're loading for a semiauto.