LC 7.62x51 (308) resizing

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Sorry if this was addressed, I seen nothing in the search.

All right gentlemen, I have challenge which you may know how to fix, and I have not run into it before with any other brass. I have some current reloads with 7.62 x 51 LC, with some I started to process, and have run into an issue.

I used small base dies (both RCBS and Lee), but approximately 8% of the resized brass does not fit the Lyman case gauge (including after trimming to length). About the same % of previously loaded rounds were also confirmed to close hard/if it all on a bolt gun after failing the gauge.

I have read elsewhere that it is best to first run the brass through a .30-06 die, then back through the .308. Is this true? Or should I accept that M240's eat brass and just gauge each one prior to priming?
 
Haven't done either. I FL size with Redding full length dies and haven't had a problem...so far. I do run all my cases through the case gauge right after sizing and if any don't make it I run them through again on both 223 and 308. I also usually check all of them once more in case they grow in the bucket.:p:p:p
 
I had the opposite problem, i was using full size and tons would not fit the lyman guage so i bought a small base die. Then i got a L.E. Wilson guage and everything from both dies it in that sooo......IDK.
 
You need to identify where on the case the problem exists. You can cover the case with soot from a candle, or just mark it up with a sharpie all over. Insert in the case gauge with a little force, then extract the case to see where the soot/ink has been worn off. That will give you a better idea how to fix the problem.
 
try deburr even if u already did. I got some new FC 308 brass that would not chamber in match chamber. FL resize helped a lot but a good debur, some would say excessive made the problem go away.
 
I have to ask if you are pushing the shoulder back far enough? Are you putting some lube inside the necks when you size them.

I have a 223 that did not like the reloads that have been working in several 223 rifles for decades. I screwed the sizing die in just a very small tad and cured the problem.

I have had cases that stretched out a bit when I ran the expanding button through them without enough lube.

Take Toprudder's advice and find out where the problem is.
 
I have to ask if you are pushing the shoulder back far enough? Are you putting some lube inside the necks when you size them.

I have a 223 that did not like the reloads that have been working in several 223 rifles for decades. I screwed the sizing die in just a very small tad and cured the problem.

I have had cases that stretched out a bit when I ran the expanding button through them without enough lube.

Take Toprudder's advice and find out where the problem is.

Yep, what he said. Plus try a carbide sizing button.
 
I've had plenty of 308 which wouldn't fit in my tightest checker (I have another that almost everything undamaged passes).

After struggling like you did (different dies, shaved shellplates) I just assume the brass is worn out and will not take the shape of the die. It has no elasticity left. For the neck, I anneal it to resoften, but you cannot do this elsewhere on the case. Most of the ones which have failed were military brass (which is typically thicker).

The need to pass sizing was more for my AR10- for my bolt guns, they seem not to mind and I just use the 'easy' cartridge checker.
 
I have to ask if you are pushing the shoulder back far enough? Are you putting some lube inside the necks when you size them.

I have a 223 that did not like the reloads that have been working in several 223 rifles for decades. I screwed the sizing die in just a very small tad and cured the problem.

I have had cases that stretched out a bit when I ran the expanding button through them without enough lube.

Take Toprudder's advice and find out where the problem is.

Thanks gentlemen. I have incrementally screwed out the dies, but the result is the same. I will try to the smoke issue, as I it did not cross my mind to try that.

I do tend to agree that the shoulder is the issue, and the thickness of the LC makes it less malleable than commercial 308. We'll see...

A suggestion came up to use this device, but to me it just is not economically feasible (I can by quite a bit of commercial 308 for the cost of this!)

 
Thanks gentlemen. I have incrementally screwed out the dies, but the result is the same. I

I would think that you would screw in the dies rather than out in order to push back the shoulder a bit.

edit: Have you checked the rims to see whether there are burrs on them that would keep the cases from going all the way into the gauge? I run into that frequently. They generally do not keep the round from chambering in the rifle but do keep them from going all the way into the gauge. A stroke or two with a file solves that.
 
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I picked up some range brass several years ago that had been shot out of some autoloader with a fluted chamber. I think they were PMC cases. I processed them as normal and loaded some with my normal load. They chambered fine but would not eject from a bolt action. I tried several of them with no success. I would have thought that a round that could be chambered could be ejected once it was fired, but that was not what happened. A friend has a 30/06 700 Rem that was built for him by some of his Marine buddies who build and maintain target rifles. It shot wonderfully but would not extract cases from Remington factory rounds. It did fine with Winchester ammo, Federal ammo, and with my reloads, but refused the Remingtons. I reloaded the spent Remington cases and have shot them in several of my rifles with no problems. I have not figured this out yet.
 
Ok that rollsizer is thing is pretty cool! I didn't know something like this was on the market. They have a manual crank version for a few bucks less, but it's still out of my price range for shop toys.

https://www.rollsizer.com/product/manual-rollsizer/

I can't help with your original problem except to point out that 8% of your brass might not be a problem worth solving. Personally, I am incapable of making rational choices like that, but you might be.
 
Just as a follow up: I "smoked" a handful of the bad cases as you guys/gals suggested. Even after running through all three of my dies (RCBS SB, Lee and RCBS FL), it appears from the markings left by the gauge, there is a "bump" at the shoulder, the head/body is too far expanded, or in a couple of circumstances, both.

Educated guess: my particular lot of .mil brass has M240 or worse mixed in, and the LC thickness/composition is just to thick to overcome the fire forming that occurred in whatever chamber it was fired in.

Overall - I will chalk it up to learning lesson, and if I buy another bulk order, I'll expect 20% cull rate on the brass as worse case.

I will say as a bonus, this has ticked me off enough to look at another case trimmer, so I caught this on sale after many years of debating:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012719754?pid=628405
 
What do you mean by “bump at the shoulder”?
 
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