Prepping .308 GGG brass for use.

[Alpha1]

I acquired a quantity of GGG head stamped .308 once fired brass. I intend to use it for a project I have got going on for cast bullets.
The first job was to inspect the brass visually and all looked Ok so it was time to get on with it. GGG brass has crimped in primers so the first job if I am to reuse it is to sort the crimp out.
I worked on batches of 100 and kept the batches separate.
So the first job was to remove the primers this was done on a wamadet press sat on my computer desk using a Lee universal de capping die.

This my wamadet a fantastic bit of kit being used to remove primers.

[Alpha1]

right thats that job done the next step in the process is to cut the primer pockets to a uniform size and depth and remove the crimp. For this job I used my trusty L.e.wilson trimmer.

The case is held in a dedicated .308 case holder then popped onto the trimmer held in place with a clamp that swings in and out.

The primer pocket is then cut to the required depth the trimmer is fitted with a micrometer adjuster to set the depth of cut.

[Alpha1]

Once that was all done the next step was to resize the case using a body die. This die just resizes the body but does not touch the neck. Because Im going to be using them for cast boolits I will sort the necks out later. All will be revealed later on.
At this stage it was time to take some measurement want a record of the shoulder set back etc to go in my spread sheet. So its out with the trusty digital caliper and some measuring tools. I use the Shooting sheds gauges in this instance its one of there .308 shoulder bump gauges.

I placed a case in the gauge and recorded the reading. Before resizng the body of the case.

[Alpha1]

The next step is done on the press with the body die in place and set up to just touch the shell holder I lightly lubed the cases using Hornady UNIQUE case lube. Its cracking stuff by the way.I got mine from pukkabundhooks. I then sized the cases and re measured the shoulder set back and recorded the results.
This is a reding body die.

A couple of pictures of the cases going through the resizing process.

[Alpha1]

This is were I am at at the moment 100 cases primers removed. Primer pockets cut to a uniform depth and size and the crimp removed.
100 cases sized with a body die. sizing the body only and not the neck. All measurements recorded.
The next job is to cut them all to a uniform lentgh on the Wilson trimmer then drill and tap a couple of cases to go on the Shooting Sheds cartridge over all length gauge. (There gauge is far superior to the Hornady one) I can then work out the seating depth for the cast boolits I intend to use.
Ill up date the thread as I move on. May be.

The shooting sheds cartridge over all length gauge is the shiny thing in the front of the picture.

[Alpha1]

Ok while they are all putting the world to rights on the rest of the forum lets just quietly (shush) get on we don't want any of that ranting and raving in here.

Well to days job was to trim all the 100 cases to uniform length. Now that that's done they are in the tumbler in my work shop that is at the bottom of the garden. Its late and I forgot to turn it off so I will just leave them tumbling over night. To morrow they should be shiny shiny.

(Surprisingly her indoors agreed with me when I suggested that I could have a base laid at the bottom of the garden and a proper size workshop built)

I sorted the drilled and tapped cases out so we can use the Shooting sheds gauge to measure the cartridge over all length.
I tried a couple of cast boolits sized to .310 in the cases. Remember we did not do anything with the case necks so they are as fired.
The boolits can be pushed into the case by hand. Not what I wanted so I may have to full length resize them after all and open them up with a mandrel
M type die.
Adam-Dromia (pukkabundits) has confirmed he has gas checks in stock so that's one less thing to worry about I just need to pay him and his Good lady a visit and pick them up. I'm guessing I will need to take plenty of money with me. Past experience tells me once you are in his place kids in a candy store comes to mind.

hmm whats next

[Alpha1]

Here are some pics of the drilled and tapped cases. One of them attached to the Shooting sheds over all length gauge with a cast bullet in place just to give you a idea of the set up.
Im going to have to run the cases through a full length die I think and open the neck up to accommodate the cast bullet. For this I will use the expander you see at the bottom left of the picture it fits in the Lee universal expander die. This one was made by N.O.E bullet molds in the States but I have made some my self in the past.
I need a casting session now unless some one has some suitable .310 heavy loverins to sell. I need a decent mold for this job. The ones I have are not the best for this exercise.
Any way some pictures.

The expander.

[ovenpaa]

Nice to see some of our kit in action

[dromia]

Nice to see such dedication to prepping the cases, all this however will be of naught for cast accuracy unless you get the right bullet fit and correct soft but tough alloy.

Loverins are great designs with their tapering diameter driving bands they work well in a wide variety of freebores, however being a jack of all fits they rarely give top notch accuracy, for that you must make a good freebore/chamber mouth/groove/bore slug.

Without these dimensions you will never be able to pick the correct design, weight and size of bullet for the best fit and therefore the best accuracy possible from any given rifle.

Without this all the case prep in the world is just another way of passing the time until you are dead.

[Alpha1]

Thanks for those words of encouragement Adam. I have slugged the bore. I will probably have a go at a chambercast before getting under way.