Short Brass

[NightStalker]

I was given a bunch of 7.62x51 brass that I’ve been processing to reload. Most need trim so I’m trimming to listed CTL of 2.005 but noticed some are already short at like 2.000. 

Are these still loadable or chuck them into the scrap brass?

[98Z5V]

Separate them off to the side, for the crimping process, and reset your crimp die just for them - get the right crimp on them. 

They'll stretch, with firing.  They'll end up the same size/length as the rest, pretty quick.  Couple of firings.  Just don't run them with the rest of the brass, through the crimper, or they'll have a very light (if at all) crimp on them.  Not good, light crimps on a semi-auto.

My $0.02.

[NF1E]

I use an RCBS X die for my generic loaded .308 brass and trim to 1.99. 2.00 would be fine for any loading.  Whatta Hobby!

[NightStalker]

Thanks I appreciate the replies.  

[98Z5V]

On 11/22/2024 at 1:59 AM, NF1E said:

I use an RCBS X die for my generic loaded .308 brass and trim to 1.99. 2.00 would be fine for any loading.  Whatta Hobby!

Please explain what that does for the situation that he described.  Thanks in advance.

[NF1E]

10 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

Please explain what that does for the situation that he described.  Thanks in advance.

The OP was concerned that the 2.00 might be too short. My intent was to assure him that indeed 2.00 is just fine to use. I might add that crimping is not necessary for .308. I run between 5 and 10K of reloads annually through my M-14s and FALs for the last 30 years and never use a crimp with bottle neck cartridges. Whatta Hobby!

[NightStalker]

I have them separated and looking for more shorties. 
I got a five gallon bucket of 308 brass I’m going through and processing that a friend gave me. These might have been linked at one point even found a few blanks in the mix lol

[Jeff300]

19 hours ago, NF1E said:

the last 30 years and never use a crimp

Do you use a standard expander ball on the decapping unit?

I have heard it both ways on the crimp debate and always use a slight crimp with the Lee crimping die as I have seen bullets set back or jump from recoil. 

[NF1E]

3 hours ago, Jeff300 said:

Do you use a standard expander ball on the decapping unit?

I have heard it both ways on the crimp debate and always use a slight crimp with the Lee crimping die as I have seen bullets set back or jump from recoil. 

Nope, I completely remove the de-capping unit from the die and hand de-prime. Normally would use a bushing die to the least working of the brass. Then I use a tapered carbide expander to set my neck tension at .003. With the expanding taking place from the top , strongest point, there is less chance of changing the brass headspace than by pulling a darn expander up through the case neck and moving what you have just taken the time to make right with your sizing die. Whatta Hobby!

 

 

[98Z5V]

I would HIGHLY SUGGEST crimping any ammo that you have that goes through an AR Gas Gun, no matter what anyone else "states as fact" anywhere.

Loaded up a 100 round drum of 5.56 to run in a bump-stock gun, and it jammed up pretty good - ALL the next rounds that were coming up that feed are were setback in the brass.  The owner of the gun didn't crimp them. 

I'm glad the gun jammed.  Those setbacks could have been really, really bad, really, really fast...  

Crimp your loads if they're going through an AR Gas Gun.

NF1E - your practices will catch up with you sometime, and I hope it works out well, and healthy, with no long-term damage.

[NF1E]

After 60 years of loading and 100s of thousands of rnds I am not particularly worried.

Plenty through AR types without a problem.

I will agree, for the generic loader that just crams and jambs crimping might help. For most serious loaders just turning down the expander ball will negate the crimping by presenting a decent neck tension.

Never used a bump stock so I can't comment on that but I can imagine dumping ammo might be fun for some.

By the way, the OP was asking a very simple question about 7.62x51 and I believe he got the answer needed.

 

Whatta Hobby!

 

 

 

[98Z5V]

On 11/26/2024 at 2:20 AM, NF1E said:

After 60 years of loading and 100s of thousands of rnds I am not particularly worried.

Plenty through AR types without a problem.

I will agree, for the generic loader that just crams and jambs crimping might help. For most serious loaders just turning down the expander ball will negate the crimping by presenting a decent neck tension.

Never used a bump stock so I can't comment on that but I can imagine dumping ammo might be fun for some.

By the way, the OP was asking a very simple question about 7.62x51 and I believe he got the answer needed.

 

Whatta Hobby!

Good luck to you.  Your M14s and M1As are not the same as AR gas guns with direct impingement operating systems.  You might state "Neck tension" and things like that, but that's bolt gun theory, not gas gun theory.  You've been lucky thus far - I hope you're still lucky in your future, with all your AR gas guns, and not crimping. Despite your 60 years of reloading.   You haven't been reloading AR gas-gun-only for 60 years, I'm certain.  That's just not your thing.

To everyone else reading this - if you're handloading for AR gas guns, CRIMP your loads to avoid bullet setback, and pressure spikes when they DO setback because they didn't have a crimp on them.  "Neck tension" isn't enough - that's bolt gun shiit. 

 

[NF1E]

 

Really, not going to get into a pissing contest. Not worth it.  Whatta Hobby!