NF1E

Thank you kind Sir.

I have no idea where the " bulle" in the topic line came from. It should not be there.

In the process of changing bullets for one of my precision rifles. Savage Model 12 FVSS in .223. I am working at setting the seating die to provide a finished cartridge that will allow the ogive on the Berger 55 gn fb target bullet to just kiss the lands. Painstaking measuring and setting up can help produce the best results. Step 1. Determine the exact BTO, Base to Ogive, for the particular rifle using a Hornady OAL guage and they exact type bullet that is being used. I like the curved gauge so it can be used on both semi auto and bolt rifles. Lock the length of the moveable bullet when it is touching the lands. Remove tool and bullet. Step 2. Measure the BTO of the cartridge while still in the gauge. Step 3. Measure the cartridge separately from the gauge and determine the exact BTO needed for this rifle. Step 4. Set up micrometer seating die to measurements acquired previously. Usually takes a few tries to get it correct, by trial and error method. Step 5. Load away and enjoy your time knowing you have done your best. Whatta Hobby!

Got out with my FN SPR this morning. Rifle has a .308 20" 1-12 chrome lined fluted barrel and 10 rnd TBR mag. Temp 35 with a sustained wind of 18mph from 9. What a hoot. Haven't shot this girl in quite a few years. Scope is a Leupold MK 4 8.5 - 25 on QRW rings set on 20 moa FN rail. Haven't touched the settings in close to 20 years. Shot off bipod with bunny bag under the rear. Ammo is 150 gn fb customs in MEN berdan cases using 43.5 gn of Varget. Whatta Hobby?

I use an RCBS SB X die for most of my .308 cases whether they will be used in an auto loader or bolt. Nice to be able to use the same ammo and I have not noticed any appreciable difference in accuracy. Whatta Hobby!

Thanks, I really enjoy putting these things together. Whatta Hobby!

Deprimed and sized 500 MEN berdan .308 cases and got them in the tumblers. One hour and they get to go in the dryer for a couple of hours. Snowy and misty rainy today so it was a great time to play in the shop. Whatta Hobby!

Been hanging in the shop for almost a year since she was assembled. About time for the finishing touches. Bula Defense Systems rear lugged XM21 with Liberty SS 5R 1-10 .308 barrel finish reamed with M-118 reamer to a headspace of 1.633, SEI Vortex direct connect on the muzzle, unitized gas system set in a JAE chassis. Atlas bipod and Accushot monopod. Leupold Mk4 16X fixed. Looking forward to running her through her paces, maybe tomorrow. Snowing lightly now. Whatta Hobby!

As mentioned, because you have good strikes on some ammo, protrusion should not be the problem. As used, my BTO reference is for the distance from the Base of the cartridge to the datum point on the shoulder. BTD is also used to describe this measurement. Too much shoulder setback in some cases could possibly cause light primer strikes as the cartridge could be setting further forward in the chamber than desired.

I would check firing pin protrusion for a start. Could be the LC cases have too short a BTO and are bouncing around in the chamber.

Had a friend visiting my shop, looking for information on the RCBS MatchMaster . While chatting about programming changes that are available on the device, I was getting some new brass ready to enter the system. Using a tool, I was deburring the case mouths inside and out before running them over an expander mandrel. My friend thought both the deburring and mandrel were not needed and that he had never done either after 30 years of reloading even on cases he had trimmed. His comment was the expander ball in the sizing die took care of both. No way. I showed him the difference, while bullet seating, using the different methods. He could feel the consistency of the properly prepped brass over the way he had done it for years. Ah yes, another convert. Neck tension is very important if you are looking to get precision from you loading. I love my Giraud trimmer and it has become part of brass prep during every loading. The Giraud in addition to trimming takes care of case mouth prep during the same action. Whatta Hobby!

Got out in the rain this morning for a final test of my load for Starline .223 brass. 73 gn Berger bullet over 23 gn of Varget set off with BR-4 primers. Decided that this really needs a dozen shots to settle down in a clean barrel. First 4 shots started out just under an inch to the left and as things warmed up they moved right into the X. Now, with the rain I can go down into the shop and load the 250 new cases that I have primed. Whatta Hobby!

Looking good. What a wonderful way to start the day. Thanks

Primed 300 new Starline .223 cases this morning before sunrise. Sure like working with this stuff. Whatta Hobby!

Found a decent load for my Uintah bolt AR in .223. Shot off bipod at 100 yds . Target is a MR-31C 600 scaled down for 100. 23 gn of Varget in new Starline brass. Bullet is a Berger 73 gn. Primer BR-4. Now if the trigger monkey would just do his part it would be one ragged hole. Whatta Hobby!

Shot one more for the halibut! Whatta Hobby!

Found a decent load for my Uintah bolt AR in .223. Shot off bipod at 100 yds . Target is a MR-31C 600 scaled down for 100. 23 gn of Varget in new Starline brass. Bullet is a Berger 73 gn. Primer BR-4. Now if the trigger monkey would just do his part it would be one ragged hole. Whatta Hobby!

I use an RCBS decapping tool, works like a champ and keep an eye out for KV 7.62N primers. They turn up every once in awhile. Not long ago Powder Valley found a stash and I picked up 5K for my use. Whatta Hobby!

I find them to be much more consistent and durable than others when used in my auto loaders. I believe the two flash holes contribute to better function. I have to admit that I use plenty of .308 and 6.5 Palma type brass with small rifle primers in many of my precision bolt rifles. Whatta Hobby!

Having more fun than a 75 year old retarded dude should be allowed. Whatta Hobby!

Ok. Finished the load development for this bullet. 150 flat base custom by Jerry Carpenter, .308 bullet in MEN berdan cases with tula primer over 43.5 gn of Varget. 9 rnds in .5 moa with one flyer making the max spread .75 moa with an average of .350. I will settle on this one out of an M14 type rifle for sure. Now, down to the bench to load up a few hundred. Whatta Hobby!

Great news.

Time to junk a bunch of LC, RA and DAG brass. Finally got up the guts to bring out a few boxes of new Lapua .308 brass out of the stash. Annealed it this afternoon and sized all 400 cases. First half has been sized, wet tumbled in the SS pins and is now in the dryer. Once dried it gets trimmed and them primed and ready to load. Whatta Hobby!

Our friend Art NeerGaard has a way of making purchases memorable. In addition to great ordered products he sends out pretty unique gifts. Most recent is his magazine dipstick. Simply drop in between case necks down to follower and you can tell whats left in the mag. One side is for 7.62/.308 and the reverse does 5.56/.223. Both go to 20 rnds. so you guys with normal 30 rnd mags will need to improvise. What a neat idea. Thanks again Art. Whatta Hobby!

Been taking them apart and putting them back together since USMC boot camp in the '60s so they seem fairly simple to me. My Rem 700 triggers have all been changed to after market too. Makes the game more fun , for me. Whatta Hobby!