Reloading advice

[Elkeater]

So I just got a box of 30 cal berger 215 hybrids and started messing with them. I put one in a fired case to see where they would hit the lands. In any case I couldn't get the bullet in the case. I had to use my seating die to get it in. It fits like the case was neck sized which it was not. The last bullet that case fired was a 180gr accubond.
I'm a little concerned that the bullets are going to fit tighter in the barrel and up the pressures. Anyone got any experience with this sort of problem?

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Maybe mislabeled by Berger. Happens...
Try a set of calipers and see what is says.
Try a few pieces of brass as well. Could it have been a piece that you already prepped? I always have to slightly neck size to get a piece to chck for lands.

 

[Elkeater]

Checked and the bergers all measure just a hair over .308 and the accubonds all measure a hair under .308. Maybe that was the difference. I know I didn't prep the case because it's still got the dented primer in it and usually a bullet will just sort of slip into the shell.

Maybe it's nothing maybe I'm being to cautious.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Brass is a naturally springy metal, it expands and contracts. And after firing a round, it will contract back again close to the original neck diameter that it was formed to. Once brass loses its elasticity you can anneal them to help remove any work-hardening caused by pressures from constant re-sizing and shooting. But, brass will eventually wear out, and if they're too far gone, you just chunk them in the trash and get some more.

 

[Rich Coyle]

One rifle I had the neck of the chamber cut so I never sized the brass; except to push the shoulder back when closing the bolt was not easy. The bullets fit like the 215s you're talking about. Of course this required turned necks.

 

[gohring3006]

Work your load up as normal watching for pressure.
I would anneal often and as precise as possible to keep neck tension consistent.

 

[AZShooter]

What happens when you try to place a 180 accubond in the fired case neck? Is it also a tight fit?

IMHO If you cannot get any 308" bullet into the case mouth with little effort I would suggest that the chamber neck dimension is too tight for your unturned brass. I would want to know the exact dimension of the chamber neck if for nothing else just peace of mind.

 

[tankgijohn72]

Yes i have experienced it. Fired cases dont necessarily provide a clearance fit with a new bullet. Buy the hornady overall length case and use the hornady tool to determine your distance to the lands.

 

[Snyper708]

Work your load up as normal watching for pressure.

By the time you begin to see visible pressure signs, you've already exceeded safe limits.

 

[Schnyd112]

I would be more concerned that you CAN push a bullet into a fired case. I can't with my .260 (142 smk's, 143 eld-x), 300 wm (180 ab) or 25-06(115 berger, 110 ab).

I used to be able to do it with 50g vmax's in my .220 swift and once fired Hornady headstanped custom competition brass. I tossed them. None of the frontier headstamped brass allowed this to happen.

 

[gohring3006]

By the time you begin to see visible pressure signs, you've already exceeded safe limits.

I have had this conversation hundreds of times. We are all aware of the pressure signs. But the average reloader isn't measuring case head expansion and doesn't have a pressure trace. So most of us work up watching for pressure.

 

[Snyper708]

I have had this conversation hundreds of times. We are all aware of the pressure signs. But the average reloader isn't measuring case head expansion and doesn't have a pressure trace.
So most of us work up watching for pressure.

The fact lots do it doesn't make it a good idea, nor does it change what I stated.

The "signs" are saying there's way too much pressure.

 

[gohring3006]

The fact lots do it doesn't make it a good idea, nor does it change what I stated.

The "signs" are saying there's way too much pressure.

Don't really care to debate it.

 

[Elkeater]

Thanks for all the input. Looks like it'll probably be ok. To be honest I'm looking at a rebarrel job on this rifle pretty soon. And i got some brand new nosler brass so I'm feeling ok about it after measuring a bunch on the bergers to make sure they really are .308. The brass I used had been fired 5 times and was Winchester brass.