Loading 7.62x51 nato cases

[MikedaddyH]

3 hours ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHah I see what you mean.
 

Well was a bit disappointed. Finally got around to prepping the brass so I thought last night. Turns out it is berdan primed. Not really worth converting right? 

Save it . Plastic bag inside a coffee can . Maybe in a couple years you may aquire some Primers that fit. 

I am sitting on some Dessert Storm brass with Berdan primers and two holes in the base. I figured out a water plunging setup to pop the primers out . This all sits in a box. Also have two sealed battle packs of that ammo left. It's nice 👍.

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHis it worth converting?

[MikedaddyH]

1 hour ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHis it worththem converting?

I would say no but if you get a case of Berdan primers then ... Hell yeah  ! . Like I said just save them 😂. JIC.

[98Z5V]

4 hours ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHis it worth converting?

This looks like an expensive jig, and this process looks like a major PITA.  I'd skip it, and find normal Boxer primed brass to work with.

 

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHi see what you mean. I have about 700~ empty cases. But obviously no berdan primers.

@98Z5Vyea that’s kinda what I am thinking. I have a stock of about ~150~ 308 win head stamped brass to reload. So not hurting for brass. Just want more hahaha and where I had these cases. But I don’t think it’s worth the time. 

[MikedaddyH]

I remember this video. Way way too much work. The water press .method works but fine tuning it took a minute. And its messy. Have to do it outside.

Will eventually get a case of Berdan primers. Then i will do them.

.

[98Z5V]

7 hours ago, MikedaddyH said:

The water press .method works but fine tuning it took a minute.

From what I've seen, that's just for de-priming them.  Just getting those Berdan primers out in the first place.  That water method doesn't account for reloading them.  What a process...

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyH @98Z5Vi agree. Seems like a major pain in the ass! Not worth it at all unless it really came down to it. Especially where boxer brass is so common in the caliber. I ended up finding in my bags of already sorted brass that I actually had about 200ish lake city cases. I prepped 25 fully last night. Going to load them today and start my testing with those to find what charge is best. 

[MikedaddyH]

Agreed. Save that brass for SHTF . And a unicorn score of berdan primers.

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHthat is the plan!! A buddy of mine was talking about melting brass down and doing something with it but I am not sure.

[Sparkylr308]

Loaded up some lake city cases. I made sure to swage the primer pockets but I noticed they were very tight still. I ran them through my reamer as well but still very tight to put the primer in. I am wondering if any of you guys have any tips for this?

[MikedaddyH]

Make sure the pocket is clean first. Use a primer pocket cleaner, one or two twist. When installing the primer, do it slow ! 

Also some brands or primers have a smaller diameter,,, fractions smaller. I have a chart in one of my primer threads on the sizes.

[Sisco]

On 2/23/2023 at 4:00 PM, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHjust curious. Is it something with it being Malaysian? That is my plan. I got it free so that’s more the only reason I am bothering with it. 

A couple of things about Malaysian or any third world country brass-

1. Do an internet search on the brass using the code on the  headstamp, which will include the year. There are a lot of nuances sometimes. I had some Indian brass, and it turned out the year was important as far as the quality and who was managing the factory manufacturing it. Any Goggle or other search should bring out any potential problems that previous reloaders have experienced.

2. If you can get a few Lake City brass, weigh them, then fill them with water and weigh them again. Then do the same with a sample number of your Malaysian brass. That will let you know if their is any significant variation in capacity volume between the foreign and the gold standard Lake City brass, and you can take that into account on your case capacity. I am guessing their will be a wider variation on the Malaysian brass, which might affect accuracy.

Oh and one last thing that is so simple and obvious, yet has happened with foreign brass before, especially older brass. Shine a flashlight down the throat of one of those Malaysian brass and verify that their is one ignition hole centered on the primer pocket. If there are two off center holes it is Berdan primed and you are SOL in terms of reloading it.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Sisco

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHah ok. I do that currently. I make sure the primer pockets are clean. I noticed they still seat tough. 

[MikedaddyH]

8 minutes ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHah ok. I do that currently. I make sure the primer pockets are clean. I noticed they still seat tough. 

Go to the "Primer Info"thread. Post on May 23rd first chart. It states size of Primers. Rem brand has the smallest diameter of the LR primers. Try that ! But we are talking about fractions of cunt hairs.

Still a technique of starting slow with the primer insertion works for me. Don't hamm first it. 

Note: primer pockets will expand after a few cycles of use.

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHok will do. I am currently using S&B primers and the prime fool on my press. I am gonna try my lee bench prime. 

[MikedaddyH]

Just now, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHok will do. I am currently using S&B primers and the prime fool on my press. I am gonna try my lee bench prime. 

 That"s what i have been using for years.

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHdo you prefer them to other brands?

[MikedaddyH]

40 minutes ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHdo you prefer them to other brands?

My favorites are Federal Premium and Gold Medal. They go boom every time. Next CCI #34 and #41. And third Winchester i have used more of these than all others combined

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHi have cci bar’s before but everything is so tough to get. 

[MikedaddyH]

4 hours ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHi have cci bar’s before but everything is so tough to get. 

I haven't seen a primer for sale in two years.

 

[Sparkylr308]

@MikedaddyHit really is brutal! Saw Large rifle once. More often small pistol or rifle but not often. 
 

 

[Sparkylr308]

update: went to the range today. Did a test of varying charge weights. Groups of 5. Did very well. Right on par with my 308 head stamped brass which was strange. But even stranger was my groups on average were way tighter. I would say by probably a 1/4 in or so. Is this just a fluke? It was with all 5 groups. I also noticed the primers looked a little different than my 308 win head stamped brass. 

[MikedaddyH]

2 hours ago, Sparkylr308 said:

@MikedaddyHit really is brutal! Saw Large rifle once. More often small pistol or rifle but not often. 
 

 

Anytime you see any small pistol primers just buy them.  Second on the list would be small rifle primers.

[Sparkylr308]

Decently stocked up on those at the moment so the funds are directed towards large rifle at the moment but I agree! I do that with the powders I like to use. One I like to use but can’t find anywhere is Aliant AR-comp. No where to be found locally.