I have in mind an evil experiment

PowderDriver · March 11, 2007, 13:42

I'm think about shooting a box or so of .308 through my DSA FAL with the gas system off. Then neck sizing the empty cases, and using them for turtle/praire dog loads with the hornady A Max bullet. If I blow myself up, I'll report back.

ftierson · March 11, 2007, 15:31

I'm assuming that you're talking about reshooting (the neck sized cases) this reloaded ammo in the same FAL...

Keeping in mind the slamfire caveat below, there's no reason to worry about blowing yourself up unless you overload the cases. Neck sizing won't help that...

Using a case that's been fired with the gas system turned off compared to using a case that has been ejected by the rifle shouldn't gain you much. The cartridge case expands when the cartridge goes off, and the bolt should be completely locked whether the gas is on or off...

One danger you do have to worry about is the very real possibility of slamfires if the case is very tight in the chamber (which neck sizing will accomplish for you, whether using cases fired with the gas system turned on or off).

I think that you'll find that neck sizing cases for use in a FAL is a poor idea...

Forrest

PowderDriver · March 11, 2007, 16:36

I didn't think of that. Being new to reloading, I much to learn.

Thanks.

bill3542 · March 11, 2007, 19:57

i use .308 small base dies for sizing brass and loading, found it works better for me in semi-auto rifles and my savage 99c deer rifle. a few thousands makes a big difference. trimming all cases after sizing helps a lot too,

doubletap · March 11, 2007, 22:25

You might want to peruse the match loading data over at Jouster.com and see what match shooters do to gain the best accuracy with Garands, M1A's, and AR's. What you are planning on doing is not a "good thing" with a semi action. This isn't loading for your bolt gun. Slam fires can and do occur, and FN's don't handle slam fires all that well. M1A's and Garands handle them much better from what I've seen.
Ditto for seating bullets into the lands, using soft match primers, partial sizing of brass, not trimming brass. If you're gonna use the brass in the same rifle full length size it with one of the RCBS X dies, trim and load, after which you won't need to trim again.
Plan on saying Sayonara to your brass after 3 rounds or so. Semi's aren't tolerant of slightly oversized bases (which FL dies do not size completely, you'd need a push through die to be completely sized).
Don't try and gain velocity by using a slow powder either. Even with an adjustable gas system semi's have a particular niche for burn rate they prefer. At least an FN doesn't bend an op rod like a Garand with slower burning powder.
Having said all that I'm gonna doubt you'd see much improvement with the 155 A max over a decent soft point. These aren't match rifles and don't have a throat cut for the A max or Palma bullet from Sierra. Been there done that, ditto with Garands in both 7.62 and .30, and my M1A's with match chambers cut for the 168 gr. But if you've got 'em, burn 'em.

March 11, 2007, 13:42	#1
PowderDriver Registered FALaholic #: 11706 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 863	I have in mind an evil experiment I'm think about shooting a box or so of .308 through my DSA FAL with the gas system off. Then neck sizing the empty cases, and using them for turtle/praire dog loads with the hornady A Max bullet. If I blow myself up, I'll report back. __________________ Old truckers never die, they just get new Peterbilts.

March 11, 2007, 16:36	#3
PowderDriver Registered FALaholic #: 11706 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 863	I didn't think of that. Being new to reloading, I much to learn. Thanks. __________________ Old truckers never die, they just get new Peterbilts.

March 11, 2007, 19:57	#4
bill3542 Registered FALaholic #: 5675 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Indiana Co.PA Posts: 1,716	i use .308 small base dies for sizing brass and loading, found it works better for me in semi-auto rifles and my savage 99c deer rifle. a few thousands makes a big difference. trimming all cases after sizing helps a lot too, __________________ BILL H

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March 11, 2007, 15:31	#2
ftierson Registered FALaholic #: 13827 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 11,053	I'm assuming that you're talking about reshooting (the neck sized cases) this reloaded ammo in the same FAL... Keeping in mind the slamfire caveat below, there's no reason to worry about blowing yourself up unless you overload the cases. Neck sizing won't help that... Using a case that's been fired with the gas system turned off compared to using a case that has been ejected by the rifle shouldn't gain you much. The cartridge case expands when the cartridge goes off, and the bolt should be completely locked whether the gas is on or off... One danger you do have to worry about is the very real possibility of slamfires if the case is very tight in the chamber (which neck sizing will accomplish for you, whether using cases fired with the gas system turned on or off). I think that you'll find that neck sizing cases for use in a FAL is a poor idea... Forrest

March 11, 2007, 22:25	#5
doubletap Registered FALaholic #: 1426 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Northern Taiga-land Posts: 829	You might want to peruse the match loading data over at Jouster.com and see what match shooters do to gain the best accuracy with Garands, M1A's, and AR's. What you are planning on doing is not a "good thing" with a semi action. This isn't loading for your bolt gun. Slam fires can and do occur, and FN's don't handle slam fires all that well. M1A's and Garands handle them much better from what I've seen. Ditto for seating bullets into the lands, using soft match primers, partial sizing of brass, not trimming brass. If you're gonna use the brass in the same rifle full length size it with one of the RCBS X dies, trim and load, after which you won't need to trim again. Plan on saying Sayonara to your brass after 3 rounds or so. Semi's aren't tolerant of slightly oversized bases (which FL dies do not size completely, you'd need a push through die to be completely sized). Don't try and gain velocity by using a slow powder either. Even with an adjustable gas system semi's have a particular niche for burn rate they prefer. At least an FN doesn't bend an op rod like a Garand with slower burning powder. Having said all that I'm gonna doubt you'd see much improvement with the 155 A max over a decent soft point. These aren't match rifles and don't have a throat cut for the A max or Palma bullet from Sierra. Been there done that, ditto with Garands in both 7.62 and .30, and my M1A's with match chambers cut for the 168 gr. But if you've got 'em, burn 'em.