How to work up new .308 brass??

[crowsniper]

I have 100 new win 308 brass to load up but where should i start?
Should i full length size, use my lee collet neck sizer or just load them and shoot?

 

[MudRunner2005]

If they are Lapua brass, I usually skip the first step, prime, load with my usual 44.0gr of Varget, and press a 168 in them and go to the range. LOL

I haven't had any issues with mine yet.

When they use the term "working up your load", they are talking about to find out what your rifle prefers as far as powder charge. For example. Say your max is 44.0....Start at 42.5, 43.0, 43.5, 44.0 and load 3 of each and shoot 3-shot groups to see which one your barrel prefers.

 

[westcliffe01]

It depends... However the minimum I would do is neck size (even Lapua) then check the overall length for consistency before continuing with the reloading process.

With used brass, there are a lot more variables. Whether it was shot out of 1 gun, several different guns etc. In that case, usually deprime, wash/tumble, then full length resize or run it through a body sizing die, followed by the neck sizing die, then trim the length. Mixed headstamps for sure one will want to sort them by weight into groups. Military brass is also worth weighing because sometimes there are big variations that you would want to know about.

This last weekend I prepped a batch of 100 new Laupa Palma brass and when I did the neck sizing operation, the base of the neck was smaller than the mouth as I have always found is the case from any full length sizing operation I have seen. So they all were run though my Lee collet neck sizer, then primed.

 

[MudRunner2005]

West....Last time I checked all of them, the consistency in the last 2 batches were within 0.005" in length, and neck shoulder height.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

I neck size, qualify length (if needed), chamfer the neck , deburr the flash hole front and back, then wash.

 

[MTBULLET]

I have 100 new win 308 brass to load up but where should i start?
Should i full length size, use my lee collet neck sizer or just load them and shoot?

with NEW Winchester brand brass, i would full length size, check OAL and trim if nec., then load and shoot. after fireforming, collet die, trim, primer pocket and flash hole work, neck turn if you can.etc. or, keep an eye on this thread and get the "well, ya gotta sacrifice a chicken in the light of the full moon" stuff.

 

[westcliffe01]

I got some Winchester brass where some of the necks had not been trimmed and they were at least 1/16" longer than the others and very uneven too.

West....Last time I checked all of them, the consistency in the last 2 batches were within 0.005" in length, and neck shoulder height.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I got some Winchester brass where some of the necks had not been trimmed and they were at least 1/16" longer than the others and very uneven too.

I was referring to the last 2 batches of Lapua brass. They have been excellent as far as concentricity and SAAMI spec goes. I measured about 50 of the first 100 and said screw it, and started loading them up after those 50 measured out so close. It thoroughly impressed me. Granted, I still check every batch and measure atleast 1/2 of them in there just to get a general idea of how much variance there is inside the lot. So far, nothing has been outside of spec, only slightly shorter. And the OAL's have all been almost 100% to spec. Which is the only reason why I just loaded them up. Not all brass will wind up that way, but the last 2 boxes of Lapua .308 that I've opened have been that way. I guess I just got lucky. LOL