Lake City M80 Brass Problems

boostedtt91 · December 19, 2013, 08:59 PM

I have about 100 pieces of Lake City M80 Brass that is giving me some problems reloading. First of all, 95% of them will not fit into my shell holder for some reason. Every other 308/7.62 brass fits fine, but the m80 brass will just not fit. There is no damage or burrs that would be holding it up.

Secondly,
I just bought a lyman headspace gauge to check to make sure they are all sized correctly. All the brass i have, when sized it will sit flush in the gauge as properly sized, the m80 brass will not come close no matter how much i adjust my sizing die. I have been loading for 2 years now and have a good understanding of everyone, but im no expert by any means. Is there something i am missing here?
Thanks

Jimro · December 19, 2013, 09:27 PM

M80 once fired brass has been run through machine guns with big chambers.

Use a Lee #3 shell holder and buy an RCBS small base sizinge die.

Also aneal the neck/shoulder area before you resize. Use lots of lube.

Jimro

boostedtt91 · December 19, 2013, 10:18 PM

These were new unfired rounds fresh out of the box. They were shot out of my Ishapore Enfield so they shouldn't have expanded that much.

Ill check my shell holders to see if i have a number #3.

Grump · December 19, 2013, 11:06 PM

Ishapore Enfield?

You just might have named your problem.

Those rifles have had a bad reputation for loose chambers for decades.

For grins & giggles, trim a case fired from that Enfield to the same length as one fired from another rifle (same make of case, preferably from the same box) and then measure how much water they each hold.

I could try to analyze some more, but you don't tell us where the caseheads are hanging up on the case holder. Get that information by either putting some smoke soot or black Sharpie on the rim and in the extractor groove, then spinning the case where it jams on the attempt to insert.

Jimro · December 19, 2013, 11:18 PM

Reloading for an Ishy?

Please let me change my advice.

Start neck sizing your brass. Bump the shoulder back a thousandth if needed for ease of chambering.

In essense you are creating a "wildcat" but your brass will last much longer.

Jimro

boostedtt91 · December 20, 2013, 11:00 AM

When i bought the ishapore it did have excessive headspace which is no huge surprise. I send the rifle to a enfield expert to tighten up things up which put it back into spec.

I am currently reloading for my new Ruger SR762 and not the ishapore.

Attached is a picture of the sized cased in a headspace gauge

boostedtt91 · December 20, 2013, 11:02 AM

i will try what you suggested with firing a case from each rifle and filling them with water to see the difference.

Slamfire · December 20, 2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

They were shot out of my Ishapore Enfield so they shouldn't have expanded that much.

The Lee Enfield action is an extremely flexible action and I have no doubt combined with a service rifle chamber and case protrusion during firing, that your case heads swelled.

Unless you have equipment that sizes cases all the way down to the rim, I don't know of a way to fix this.

boostedtt91 · December 20, 2013, 05:16 PM

Luckily I was able to get them sized correctly today to fit flush into the gauge. Thanks for the help

December 19, 2013, 08:59 PM	#1
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	Lake City M80 Brass Problems I have about 100 pieces of Lake City M80 Brass that is giving me some problems reloading. First of all, 95% of them will not fit into my shell holder for some reason. Every other 308/7.62 brass fits fine, but the m80 brass will just not fit. There is no damage or burrs that would be holding it up. Secondly, I just bought a lyman headspace gauge to check to make sure they are all sized correctly. All the brass i have, when sized it will sit flush in the gauge as properly sized, the m80 brass will not come close no matter how much i adjust my sizing die. I have been loading for 2 years now and have a good understanding of everyone, but im no expert by any means. Is there something i am missing here? Thanks

December 19, 2013, 09:27 PM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	M80 once fired brass has been run through machine guns with big chambers. Use a Lee #3 shell holder and buy an RCBS small base sizinge die. Also aneal the neck/shoulder area before you resize. Use lots of lube. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

December 19, 2013, 11:18 PM	#5
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Reloading for an Ishy? Please let me change my advice. Start neck sizing your brass. Bump the shoulder back a thousandth if needed for ease of chambering. In essense you are creating a "wildcat" but your brass will last much longer. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

December 19, 2013, 10:18 PM	#3
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	These were new unfired rounds fresh out of the box. They were shot out of my Ishapore Enfield so they shouldn't have expanded that much. Ill check my shell holders to see if i have a number #3.

December 19, 2013, 11:06 PM	#4
Grump Member Join Date: October 22, 2008 Posts: 73	Ishapore Enfield? You just might have named your problem. Those rifles have had a bad reputation for loose chambers for decades. For grins & giggles, trim a case fired from that Enfield to the same length as one fired from another rifle (same make of case, preferably from the same box) and then measure how much water they each hold. I could try to analyze some more, but you don't tell us where the caseheads are hanging up on the case holder. Get that information by either putting some smoke soot or black Sharpie on the rim and in the extractor groove, then spinning the case where it jams on the attempt to insert.

December 20, 2013, 11:02 AM	#7
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	i will try what you suggested with firing a case from each rifle and filling them with water to see the difference.

December 20, 2013, 05:16 PM	#9
boostedtt91 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Location: Danville, Pa Posts: 520	Luckily I was able to get them sized correctly today to fit flush into the gauge. Thanks for the help