machine-gun fired .308 brass worth reloading?

[grywlfbg]

Hey guys. Just ordered my first .308 and I'm looking into reloading them. I found a source of "machine-gun" once-fired brass. Is this stuff able to be reloaded into a semi-auto (AR10 clone)? I've heard that machine guns tend to do a lot more damage to brass than closed-bolt guns - just curious if anyone's used it in their semi-auto.

[CSACANNONEER]

You probably won't get as long of a lifespan from it and you will definately want to full size it. I haven't tried to load MG .308 before but I know with 50BMG MG fired brass there can be problems if the MGs headspacing is out of spec. (this is all to common). You need to inspect the brass both inside and out for signs of streching. If you send me 5000 samples, and enough primers, powder and projectiles, I will test them for you and provide you with a written report.

[tombkeeper]

There shouldn't be a difference between that brass and brass fired from a semi-auto. Even an open-bolt mg is mechanically locked when the round is fired, the actual operation lasts as long as a semi-auto. The only difference is the gun "keeps going" either by firing open bolt without being stopped, or closed bolt by the carrier tripping the auto sear.

If there are any flaws in the brass its from: feeding in a gun with "ledges" of steel that it has to pass over to get to the chamber, firing in an oversized chamber (or excessive headspace), or from hitting the side of the receiver after having been ejected. Previously linked ammo may have grooves from being violently removed from the harder steel links. All brass should be inspected for imperfections anyway.

[phish]

mgs have waaaay more loosey-goosey chambers than rifles

caveat emptor on brass that was sent through a M240.

[4 Brigada]

just in case you need to validate CSACANNONEER's test. I volunteer to conduct an independent test, send 5000 cases, primers, powder and bullets, just to be sure

[tombkeeper]

I just checked a 5.56 mm cartridge in a M249 barrel, its not loosy-goosy. It's dangerous to have the chamber much larger than the cartridge feeding into it. Brass needs to obturate and seal the chamber walls so the burning gases don't come backwards into the firing mechanism.

[ivanimal]

I have 2000 rounds of that brass and it all needs to be trimmed. Otherwise it is like any other brass.

[grywlfbg]

Cool, thanks all. I full-length size my .223 brass currently (and would plan to do that w/ the .308) so sounds like as long as I get a .308 adapter for my Giraud trimmer I should be fine.

[Gunsrruss]

Make sure ....

Cool, thanks all. I full-length size my .223 brass currently (and would plan to do that w/ the .308) so sounds like as long as I get a .308 adapter for my Giraud trimmer I should be fine.

You use a small base die on your .308. Enjoy the brass

[-hanko]

You use a small base die on your .308. Enjoy the brass

I wouldn't use a small base sizer unless a full length sizing die (correctly adjusted) won't do the job. Brass life will be shorter with the small base die.

-hanko

[M. Sage]

I just checked a 5.56 mm cartridge in a M249 barrel, its not loosy-goosy. It's dangerous to have the chamber much larger than the cartridge feeding into it. Brass needs to obturate and seal the chamber walls so the burning gases don't come backwards into the firing mechanism.

+1, it's not the MG chambers that are loose, it's the barrels.

[FMJBT]

Be careful to check all the brass for deep abrasions and chunks of foriegn matter. I don't know if this is standard practice for all units fielding the M240, but the guys in my unit consistently just let the linked rounds drag across the dirt as they cycle through the weapon. The 240 is a great gun, it digests all the weeds, small pebbles, bugs, tweety birds, etc. without a hiccup of any kind. The chambers are hard chromed, so I know all that junk that gets ingested with the rounds is not hurting the chamber at all. Likely it is getting embedded into the side of the brass.

Again, check the brass very thoroughly.

[Ravenslair]

I wouldn't use a small base sizer unless a full length sizing die (correctly adjusted) won't do the job. Brass life will be shorter with the small base die.

-hanko

Would using a small base sizing die the first time, then a normal sizing die there after be of much advantage to case life? I have 3000 machine gun cases that need to be inspected, sized and trimmed and was initially told the small base die was the way to go. Any insight is appreciated.

[ivanimal]

I use a small base die if I am going to be using the rounds in a semi auto. I have had feeding failures and a stuck case end my day of shooting prior to me using these dies exclusively for semi's. I use regular dies for all my bolt actions and leverguns.

[Gunsrruss]

To all Simi-auto shooters.....

I use a small base die if I am going to be using the rounds in a semi auto. I have had feeding failures and a stuck case end my day of shooting prior to me using these dies exclusively for semi's. I use regular dies for all my bolt actions and leverguns.

What is said here is good information. All semi-autos need small base dies. If you elect to not use them and you start having battery problems then it's your own fault