NightStalker Posted Friday at 01:36 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 01:36 AM 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted Friday at 03:40 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 03:40 AM 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NF1E Posted Friday at 09:59 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 09:59 AM 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightStalker Posted Friday at 10:45 AM Author Report Share Posted Friday at 10:45 AM Thanks I appreciate the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted Sunday at 12:30 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 12:30 AM 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NF1E Posted Sunday at 10:42 AM Report Share Posted Sunday at 10:42 AM 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightStalker Posted Sunday at 04:40 PM Author Report Share Posted Sunday at 04:40 PM 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff300 Posted Monday at 06:40 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 06:40 AM 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NF1E Posted Monday at 10:54 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 10:54 AM 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted yesterday at 03:05 AM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:05 AM 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NF1E Posted 17 hours ago Report Share Posted 17 hours ago 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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