Reloading Setup

[Meaty]

How many fingers and thumbs on that Norfolk emoticon?

Both my parents are Geordies and I was born in the East End, so 4 on one hand and 7 on the other!
Been here since an 8 yo so not yet accepted as a local.

[HALODIN]

Quick question for those in the know - I've reloaded a batch of federal .308 brass 5 times, which were full resized by me when I got them and then once fire formed to my rifle, neck sized only. Now they've worked fine until the 6th reload and when I was out last week, a few of them didn't go off (light strike) and then to add insult to metaphorical injury, it took 2 of us to make the rifle safe because of hard extraction. Having run some tests on one of them tonight, the problem wasn't in the neck as I first thought, but a full resize has sorted the problem.

So my question is, how often should you do a full resize on your brass to avoid this and does the frequency depend on the manufacturer of your brass? My Federal brass seems quite soft by comparison to my Lapua brass.

[Blu]

Quick question for those in the know - I've reloaded a batch of federal .308 brass 5 times, which were full resized by me when I got them and then once fire formed to my rifle, neck sized only. Now they've worked fine until the 6th reload and when I was out last week, a few of them didn't go off (light strike) and then to add insult to metaphorical injury, it took 2 of us to make the rifle safe because of hard extraction. Having run some tests on one of them tonight, the problem wasn't in the neck as I first thought, but a full resize has sorted the problem.

So my question is, how often should you do a full resize on your brass to avoid this and does the frequency depend on the manufacturer of your brass? My Federal brass seems quite soft by comparison to my Lapua brass.

I use Federal brass in my 308 as well. As you say it is quite soft, I used to FL size it after necksizing 3 times. Some folks will say when it becomes difficult to chamber and as happened to you, light strikes. I didn't use to wait until it became difficult to chamber because I didn't want to have to run the same brass through a die twice in one day.

I have found the RCBS X dies work great, doesn't over work the brass like FL sizing and very little trimming ever needs done. With the X-Dies some of my brass is on it's 9th reload and still going strong.

Blu

[HALODIN]

Thanks Blu. I couldn't agree more, I don't want to go through that again. It might be more manageable in a bolt action rifle, but you don't have as much leverage in a straight pull. I wanted to avoid full length resizing as much as possible, because the rifle is more accurate once the brass is fire formed, but I think I'll full length resize on my 4th/5th go with Federal.

I'm using Hornady dies and they seem pretty good TBH, likewise very little trimming needed.

How often do you do it with other brass?

[Blu]

How often do you do it with other brass?

Halodin, with other brass again I used to FL size after usually 4 firings. Again I never waited until it became hard to chamber.

Blu

[HALODIN]

Top man, thanks Blu!

[Blu]

No problem mate, thing is you could ask six different people who reload and get six different answers on this subject. In fact you probably will when folks wake up later this morning.

Happy shooting.

Blu

[HALODIN]

I keep meaning to ask, why don't you get Imperial "Dry Case Lube," only "Dry Neck Lube?" It would be much easier to run dry full length resizing...

[HALODIN]

[jcampbellsmith]

Quick question for those in the know - I've reloaded a batch of federal .308 brass 5 times, which were full resized by me when I got them and then once fire formed to my rifle, neck sized only. Now they've worked fine until the 6th reload and when I was out last week, a few of them didn't go off (light strike) and then to add insult to metaphorical injury, it took 2 of us to make the rifle safe because of hard extraction. Having run some tests on one of them tonight, the problem wasn't in the neck as I first thought, but a full resize has sorted the problem.

So my question is, how often should you do a full resize on your brass to avoid this and does the frequency depend on the manufacturer of your brass? My Federal brass seems quite soft by comparison to my Lapua brass.

I full length resize all brands of brass every time. Regards JCS