Resizing woes....

Trapp · July 15, 2007, 12:51 PM

So I have a bunch of 308 brass (military and commercial) that I am trying to resize to 358 winchester. Every piece that I run through the full length sizing die has a debted shoulder when it comes out.

What can I do to prevent this? Howe about fireforming with no bullet (cornmeal method?) or will that weaken the shoulder?

williamd · July 15, 2007, 01:14 PM

Hmmm. Going UP by .05 is a good jump. Dents/wrinkles on shoulders arfe common going the other way - too much lube many times. This may be caused by the expander button just having too much to do. Try to stage it by using/making and in-between expander button. And, since this is an inside the neck job no need to go light on the lube.

**Unclenick** · July 15, 2007, 01:19 PM

A photo would help. If it is, as William suggests, the expander ball pushing the shoulder in, I would not be surprised if the cases didn't need to be re-annealed and have the last expanding mandrel run through them a second time.

Trapp · August 4, 2007, 12:27 PM

Started reading all of the stuff "I already know"

and learned a few things.

1. It is OK to form 358 brass from 308 FL sizing dies.
2. Too much lube causes the shoulders to dent!! (they even had a picture!!)
3. Just because you have read the reloading manual a couple times, doesn't mean you can't look at it again if you are having problems.

IE: I started a thread earlier asking if AA7 and HS-7 were the same. It gives that very example of being different in the manual.

One thing I didn't find: How much do you reduce the load when using military brass? How important is "swaging" the flash hole (it looks pretty good and uniform?)

cdrt · August 4, 2007, 05:47 PM

My Speer book says to reduce charges by 5% when using military brass.

If you can get the primers to seat okay, no need to take out the military crimp...otherwise, something you may need to do, unless you're working with match cases, which are not crimped.

2400 · August 5, 2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

How important is "swaging" the flash hole (it looks pretty good and uniform?)

You don't swage the flash hole, you swage the primer pocket. The only ones you need to swage is military brass with a primer crimp.

July 15, 2007, 12:51 PM	#1
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	Resizing woes.... So I have a bunch of 308 brass (military and commercial) that I am trying to resize to 358 winchester. Every piece that I run through the full length sizing die has a debted shoulder when it comes out. What can I do to prevent this? Howe about fireforming with no bullet (cornmeal method?) or will that weaken the shoulder? __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

July 15, 2007, 01:14 PM	#2
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Hmmm. Going UP by .05 is a good jump. Dents/wrinkles on shoulders arfe common going the other way - too much lube many times. This may be caused by the expander button just having too much to do. Try to stage it by using/making and in-between expander button. And, since this is an inside the neck job no need to go light on the lube. __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich!

July 15, 2007, 01:19 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	A photo would help. If it is, as William suggests, the expander ball pushing the shoulder in, I would not be surprised if the cases didn't need to be re-annealed and have the last expanding mandrel run through them a second time. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 4, 2007, 12:27 PM	#4
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	Read the reloading manual again!! Started reading all of the stuff "I already know" and learned a few things. 1. It is OK to form 358 brass from 308 FL sizing dies. 2. Too much lube causes the shoulders to dent!! (they even had a picture!!) 3. Just because you have read the reloading manual a couple times, doesn't mean you can't look at it again if you are having problems. IE: I started a thread earlier asking if AA7 and HS-7 were the same. It gives that very example of being different in the manual. One thing I didn't find: How much do you reduce the load when using military brass? How important is "swaging" the flash hole (it looks pretty good and uniform?) __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

August 4, 2007, 05:47 PM	#5
cdrt Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 255	My Speer book says to reduce charges by 5% when using military brass. If you can get the primers to seat okay, no need to take out the military crimp...otherwise, something you may need to do, unless you're working with match cases, which are not crimped. __________________ Navy Vet, SWIFT Boat OIC, Distinguished Pistol Shot #1399 USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-36)