Please verify my understanding is correct. It is derived from several sources and may be incomplete. I want to fully understand the implication of selecting 308 win vs 7.62x51ammo to shoot and reload in my .308 rifle.
1. The rounds will both operate safely in a rifle designed for .308 Winchester
2. Because the 7.62 has thinner case walls and is loaded with a lower powder charge, the 7.62 may not take as many reloadings as a .308.
3. 7.62 may be loaded with berdan primers, which could be corrosive and cannot be removed punched with a traditional single pin decapping die.
4. 7.62 primers may be loaded with primer sealant which makes decapping even boxer primed carts more difficult than without sealant.
5. It is not safe to use 308 Winchester in a rifle designed for 7.62x51 because of the higher pressures in the 308 cartridge.
5. Never had an issue with this. The CETME version is where the problem arises.
Yes, I do. 168 grain Nosler Competition BT or something, Can't remember the name.Anyone still use IMR3031?
This is totally off topic, however...
The CETME low pressure myth has been debunked on several boards with the Spanish documents. Spain loaded the 7.62 CETME to the same 3500 kps²/50k CUP as NATO rounds, but with a lighter bullet and probably a faster powder.
You don't have to read Spanish to get the significant numbers and titles from the horses mouth: 3500 kps² for both CETME and NATO cartidges.
I am not advocating nor proposing anyone shoot 7.62 NATO nor 308 in Pre-1898 model Mausers. My own Small Rings are in 257 Roberts and 300 Savage, just to err on the safer side. The documentation just doesn't support the "Low Pressure CETME" story we hear repeated.
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Interesting but, the difference is in the case. Even Wikipedia has this one wrong. The CETME case is weaker and has different dimensions than the 7.62x51. CETME bullets are significantly lighter in design than the bullet used in the 7.62x51. In testing, the CETME case failed under NATO charges.
I'm fixin' to grab some primers and powder this weekend. when I stocked up on pistol primers I fortunately had need for both small and large, since a *few * of my .45ACP cases took small primers. do ALL 308 cases take large rifle primers, or are there some brass cases in the industry that take small rifle primers?
Also, need I worry at the first reloading about measuring and trimming cases from once fired brass, or is that something that I needn't concern with until the second reloading?
They'll all be large rifle primers.
I would size and trim, chamfer and deburr all the cases if they are once fired. Not only to check to make sure they are all in spec, but to uniform them. Accuracy is all about reducing / eliminating variables. Reloading lets you do that with the ammo, so do it. YMMV.
A couple more questions as I inch closer to reloading for my new .308 autoloader ( previous experience in reloading pistol cartridges only)
1. Lee tells me that in addition to the 4 die "ultimate" .308 set I need to purchase a powder through die to charge cases on the press. Am I better off purchasing the double disk powder set, or can I use the adjustable charge bar? or can In use a single disk and pull the handle twice?
2. I plan to use the full length sizing die instead of the neck sizer, since although I will use mostly my own brass, if there are range pickups available I'm not turning them down. Is there a risk that full length resizing will over work the brass and wear it out early?
3. There is an option to purchase an on press case trimmer. Am I better off getting a separate off press trimmer?
4. I have the on press lee autoprime with small and large primer dispensers. Will these work for rifle primers or are they only meant for pistol primers?
5.
A couple more questions as I inch closer to reloading for my new .308 autoloader ( previous experience in reloading pistol cartridges only)
1. Lee tells me that in addition to the 4 die "ultimate" .308 set I need to purchase a powder through die to charge cases on the press. Am I better off purchasing the double disk powder set, or can I use the adjustable charge bar? or can In use a single disk and pull the handle twice?
I have used a Lee turret press and Lee dies for years, but only used it as a single stage press for rifle cartridges. So you don't NEED to purchase a powder through die.
2. I plan to use the full length sizing die instead of the neck sizer, since although I will use mostly my own brass, if there are range pickups available I'm not turning them down. Is there a risk that full length resizing will over work the brass and wear it out early?
It will work your brass more than a neck sizing only die (and if you have the Lee die set you probably have the Collet die which is a great die...for bolt guns). If you're shooting an autoloader, you don't have a neck sizing only option...you really should full length resize anyway, regardless of range pick up or not.
You can greatly add to your case life by annealing your brass.
3. There is an option to purchase an on press case trimmer. Am I better off getting a separate off press trimmer?
Depends on how much money you want to spend. I prefer to do my rifle case prep in batches and stages so off the press is my preference. Case prep gets pretty tedious, so making the trimming go faster is definitely nice.
Gunwork's Little Crow and Giraud's shoulder indexing trimmers are popular and make quick work of the task, but you'll need to full length resize first since it indexes off of the shoulder, and it can sometimes throw off your neck concentricity if you're not being careful.
I actually like Lee's quick trim system matched with a cordless screwdriver. Nice in that it also chamfers and deburrs at the same time and takes away that next task.
Here's a good rundown of the trimming options.
https://squibloads.wordpress.com/reloading/what-is-the-best-case-trimmer/
4. I have the on press lee autoprime with small and large primer dispensers. Will these work for rifle primers or are they only meant for pistol primers?
5.
Is the on press trimmer a Lee product? I’ve never heard of it if it is.
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