.308 Reloading: Need Some Help!

Regal Beagal · July 08, 2001, 07:21

Okay, Went to the bench yesterday to start reloading some .308. Decided to break out some once fired shells to do my reloads. Lubed all of the shells and placed the first shell in the holder. Started the ram and about 3/4 of the way up the shell jams. I figure that I may have put to much lube on the shell so I wipe it down. Started the ram and same thing happened. So, I pull out another one and the same thing happened with that shell. I pull out a new case and lube it and place it in the holder and start the ram. No problem...!! All I can figure out is that the cases are bulged out a little about 3/4 of the way down. What could be causing this and what is there a fix? Could the chamber be slightly enlarged at the rear of the chamber and that's what's causing the problem? I also decided to try a 7.62x51 once fired case and the same thing happened with it. This case had been fired in my FAL where the other was fired through a .308 bolt rifle I built. It's got me a little baffeled any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, the press I'm using is an old Lyman Spartan and from past experience if I try to force the case there's a possibility that I'll break the ram handle. Would another press have enough force to actually form the case and take the bulge out but not cause any damage to the case or press? RB

[ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ]

Dano · July 08, 2001, 07:52

Regal,

After breaking a number of Lee presses resizing 308 brass, I broke down and purchased a RCBS Rock Chucker press.

I'm not familar with the Lyman press you have, but after aquiring the RCBS, my problem went away.

Regal Beagal · July 08, 2001, 08:02

Dano,

That's what I figured. The Lyman press is a lot like a Lee press and works fine on new cases or small cases like 25-06 but larger cases like the .308 and 7mm mag it has problems. Well, it looks like I'll be looking for a Rock Chucker. I figured that a bulkier press that can produce more torque will fix the problem. Thanks RB

TazmanFL · July 08, 2001, 08:52

You said they were once fired? By you or did you pick them up at the range or maybe someone gave them to you? Do you know for sure that they are boxer primed? They could be berdan. Just a thought. Taz

**okiefarmer** · July 08, 2001, 10:28

Been reading forum awhile but first post so I hope I can add something. Have read comments on other forums about 1x brass being especially hard to resize if it came from a MG. MG's are particularly hard on brass and do not provide the same support if barell changes were few and far between and allowed cases to expand too much in a worn chamber. Just my 2 cents. I have picked up quite a bit of 1x 308 brass and will soon be loading it for my STG 58. I guess I will watchout for this problem also. Good luck

Regal Beagal · July 08, 2001, 13:16

Taz,
These were loaded by me using brand new Winchester brass cases, so they are definitely boxer primed. A good point though, especially if someone was trying to reload once fired mil surp brass cases. RB

Oh, I also forgot to mention in my first post that the bolt rifle that I built has a Shilen Match Grade barrel on it that I lathe finished reamed. That's what has me baffeled about the last 3/4 of the shell bulging. The finish ream was very precise and everything checked out to spec.

[ July 08, 2001: Message edited by: Regal Beagal ]

Grinder · July 08, 2001, 14:22

REGAL BEAGLE, are your dies standard or small base? If standard dies,sounds like a leverage problem. I second the Rockchucker recommendation. Power to spare

Regal Beagal · July 08, 2001, 14:34

Grinder,
The dies I'm using are standard RCBS .308 dies. I'm in the same thinking as you and Dano. It has to be that the press doesn't have enough leverage. I was looking at a Rock Chucker and man the handle on that press must be 3 feet long, compared to the 12" handle my Lyman has. I thought about using a cheater bar but I'm afraid I'll break the handle. Plus, the whole mechaincs of the RC is quite impressive. Thanks RB

**K. Funk** · July 08, 2001, 17:58

You won't be dissappointed with the Rock Chucker. I have de-capped berdan cases by accident, not even realizing they were berdan until I inspected the cases afterwards. Plenty of power there. Good luck.

krf

racer766 · July 09, 2001, 13:34

I third the RCBS leverage claims. I have a "5" and I punched a hole in the bottom of a berdan primed case with it. Broke the decap pin in the process, but that's why they sell then 5 for $2 I guess. Now I double-check my brass before they sit on the press...

Tenderfoot · July 10, 2001, 21:16

Here's another vote for the RockChucker Haven't found anything yet that it chokes on!
TF

July 08, 2001, 07:21	#1
Regal Beagal Registered FALaholic #: 91 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Carolina-the beach Posts: 1,008	.308 Reloading: Need Some Help! Okay, Went to the bench yesterday to start reloading some .308. Decided to break out some once fired shells to do my reloads. Lubed all of the shells and placed the first shell in the holder. Started the ram and about 3/4 of the way up the shell jams. I figure that I may have put to much lube on the shell so I wipe it down. Started the ram and same thing happened. So, I pull out another one and the same thing happened with that shell. I pull out a new case and lube it and place it in the holder and start the ram. No problem...!! All I can figure out is that the cases are bulged out a little about 3/4 of the way down. What could be causing this and what is there a fix? Could the chamber be slightly enlarged at the rear of the chamber and that's what's causing the problem? I also decided to try a 7.62x51 once fired case and the same thing happened with it. This case had been fired in my FAL where the other was fired through a .308 bolt rifle I built. It's got me a little baffeled any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, the press I'm using is an old Lyman Spartan and from past experience if I try to force the case there's a possibility that I'll break the ram handle. Would another press have enough force to actually form the case and take the bulge out but not cause any damage to the case or press? RB [ August 10, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ] __________________ When the government fears the people there is Liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny- Thomas Jefferson

July 08, 2001, 07:52	#2
Dano Registered FALaholic #: 33 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 209	Regal, After breaking a number of Lee presses resizing 308 brass, I broke down and purchased a RCBS Rock Chucker press. I'm not familar with the Lyman press you have, but after aquiring the RCBS, my problem went away. __________________ If guns cause crime... matches cause arson.

July 08, 2001, 08:02	#3
Regal Beagal Registered FALaholic #: 91 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Carolina-the beach Posts: 1,008	Dano, That's what I figured. The Lyman press is a lot like a Lee press and works fine on new cases or small cases like 25-06 but larger cases like the .308 and 7mm mag it has problems. Well, it looks like I'll be looking for a Rock Chucker. I figured that a bulkier press that can produce more torque will fix the problem. Thanks RB __________________ When the government fears the people there is Liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny- Thomas Jefferson

July 08, 2001, 08:52	#4
TazmanFL Registered FALaholic #: 3376 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: S.W.FLA. Posts: 92	You said they were once fired? By you or did you pick them up at the range or maybe someone gave them to you? Do you know for sure that they are boxer primed? They could be berdan. Just a thought. Taz __________________ Dont fire until you see the blue of their helmets. It's not personal against anybody. I'm just pro-my people.

July 08, 2001, 10:28	#5
okiefarmer Veteran Member Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 3248 Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern Oklahoma/green country Posts: 1,313	Been reading forum awhile but first post so I hope I can add something. Have read comments on other forums about 1x brass being especially hard to resize if it came from a MG. MG's are particularly hard on brass and do not provide the same support if barell changes were few and far between and allowed cases to expand too much in a worn chamber. Just my 2 cents. I have picked up quite a bit of 1x 308 brass and will soon be loading it for my STG 58. I guess I will watchout for this problem also. Good luck __________________ "We are told not to judge Muslims based on the actions of a few. I suggest we give millions of responsible American gun owners that same courtesy."

July 08, 2001, 13:16	#6
Regal Beagal Registered FALaholic #: 91 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Carolina-the beach Posts: 1,008	Taz, These were loaded by me using brand new Winchester brass cases, so they are definitely boxer primed. A good point though, especially if someone was trying to reload once fired mil surp brass cases. RB Oh, I also forgot to mention in my first post that the bolt rifle that I built has a Shilen Match Grade barrel on it that I lathe finished reamed. That's what has me baffeled about the last 3/4 of the shell bulging. The finish ream was very precise and everything checked out to spec. [ July 08, 2001: Message edited by: Regal Beagal ] __________________ When the government fears the people there is Liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny- Thomas Jefferson

July 08, 2001, 14:22	#7
Grinder Registered FALaholic #: 3407 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 606	REGAL BEAGLE, are your dies standard or small base? If standard dies,sounds like a leverage problem. I second the Rockchucker recommendation. Power to spare

July 08, 2001, 14:34	#8
Regal Beagal Registered FALaholic #: 91 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Carolina-the beach Posts: 1,008	Grinder, The dies I'm using are standard RCBS .308 dies. I'm in the same thinking as you and Dano. It has to be that the press doesn't have enough leverage. I was looking at a Rock Chucker and man the handle on that press must be 3 feet long, compared to the 12" handle my Lyman has. I thought about using a cheater bar but I'm afraid I'll break the handle. Plus, the whole mechaincs of the RC is quite impressive. Thanks RB __________________ When the government fears the people there is Liberty. When the people fear the government there is Tyranny- Thomas Jefferson

July 08, 2001, 17:58	#9
K. Funk Real Life Metallurgist Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 38 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Myerstown, PA Posts: 3,940	You won't be dissappointed with the Rock Chucker. I have de-capped berdan cases by accident, not even realizing they were berdan until I inspected the cases afterwards. Plenty of power there. Good luck. krf __________________ The Mason-Dixon FAL Association wants YOU!! Ask me for details. You never know what's going on inside the mind of a crazy man!! Check out username kandainv on Gunbroker; always some neat stuff!! FYB!!!!

July 09, 2001, 13:34	#10
racer766 Registered FALaholic #: 3511 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 373	I third the RCBS leverage claims. I have a "5" and I punched a hole in the bottom of a berdan primed case with it. Broke the decap pin in the process, but that's why they sell then 5 for $2 I guess. Now I double-check my brass before they sit on the press...

July 10, 2001, 21:16	#11
Tenderfoot Registered FALaholic #: 3450 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 122	Here's another vote for the RockChucker Haven't found anything yet that it chokes on! TF __________________ Tenderfoot Will work for brass,steel,lead,iron,wood,powder and etc.

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