.308 Reloading & Mixed Load Data

[EL_NinO619]

Also, you can always call or email bullet manufactures and/or powder manufacturers and ask if they have any load data for a certain bullet or powder. This is extremely important when loading non lead bullets like Barnes.

Yep, and as stated above COAL is what you should be concerned with. Bullet profiles are different even with the same weight and must be accounted for.

[EL_NinO619]

Good Morning Guys,

Well I went shooting yesterday with these reloads and have noticed a ring of carbon around the case neck. It's not consistent all around the neck, as it seems to be more noticeable around 75% of the neck. Is this indicative of some sort of adjustment that is needed? Is this normal for new brass that is fire forming in the chamber? I haven't noticed this on a single piece of brass fired in .223 from any of my AR's.

Here's the batch info on these reloads.

• New Lapua .308 Brass
• Winchester 9 1/2 Primers
• Hornady Interlock SP 150gr Bullets
• Both 44gr and 45.5gr of IMR 4064
• OAL: 2.800"

Nope that's normal. You can fire form them to your chamber and you won't see the blowback. That is a leak in the seal and carbon blowback into the chamber.

[knucklehead0202]

depending on the rifle too, some chambers are just larger than others so you'll see a little soot on the necks. that's nothing compared to my 8x56r steyr, lol. with my first handloads it looked like the cases spent a week in a diesel exhaust pipe. better now but they still come out a bit dirty, the chambers in those things are the size of texas. you're doin' fine, long as they shoot well don't change a thing.

[waxer]

Thanks guys. I kept all of the brass I shot so I can neck size only since they are now fire formed.

Thinking of how to organize the brass so I can keep track of how many times they are reloaded....

[EL_NinO619]

If its a bolt gun its easy, fire and put back in ammo box that has label. Get home tumble and use a baggy to write how many times fired etc. There are many ways but that's one. Batches or lot #'s in data book, labels etc will keep you organized. You can also sort by headstamp then you don't have to worry about mixing when tumbling, just keep good logs. I use a lyman book and Kingsoft spreedsheet (Like Excel but free) with sierra or Dillon labels. I like being able to go back and add Chrono data and notes etc. Hard to do if you don't have a method. I gave up on bulk 5.56, I just Choot it...

[NorCalFocus]

Thanks guys. I kept all of the brass I shot so I can neck size only since they are now fire formed.

Thinking of how to organize the brass so I can keep track of how many times they are reloaded....

I put mine back into the box and when the whole batch is shot I reload em. When I reload them I mark the label with the # of firings. Or if you put them in a zip lock just throw a note in with them.