Igman ammunition

ADIDAS69 · August 30, 2023, 09:44 AM

Wondering if anyone has tried reloading Igman .308. The best info I can find says that their primer flash holes are either too small or off center and a person is guaranteed to break de-capping pins. Would love to know if this is an old problem that’s been fixed or an ongoing one.

**44 AMP** · August 30, 2023, 11:40 AM

Look into a fired case. Use a light. See what the flasholes look like. Boxer primed, or Berdan primed??

I am not familiar with that brand, so can't say which it is.

Berdan brass will have two, or sometimes three small flash holes, off center. Boxer primed will have one larger flashhole, in the center. Boxer is the standard system used in the US, Berdan is used in ammo made in other parts of the world.

Berdan primed brass can be reloaded, but it takes special tools and Berdan primers, neither of which has been common in the US for decades. For practical purposes, consider Berdan primed cases unreloadable.

**Unclenick** · August 31, 2023, 11:55 AM

This thread on another board indicates that while the brass is Boxer primed, it uses a smaller flash hole than standard. So, if you look and see a centered flash hole, to reload the brass, you need first to get a long enough 0.078" (5/64") drill bit chucked in your Dremel or other drill to open the hole up. You may need to use a pin vice or a narrow drill bit holder to reach it. A 1/16" drill may be adequate for your decapping pin. You will have to try it to see.

ADIDAS69 · September 1, 2023, 04:16 AM

Appreciate it, I talked to the retailer and they said as much. Prices the way they are it may be worth the effort. I was thinking about how I might exchange the de-capping pin with a broach of sorts that could essentially punch the hole bigger as I resize and de-prime. Another option I thought of would be to sand an existing de-capping pin to a smaller diameter.

**Unclenick** · September 1, 2023, 08:56 AM

I think RCBS and Hornady offer narrower decapping pins. Lapua's Palma Match brass has a smaller flash hole (about 0.06 instead of about 0.08), and people need to be able to decap it. The smaller pins also make some military brass easier to decap.

The broach idea has the problem that it could bulge the floor of the web at the bottom of the primer pocket outward. That can happen in some cases just from loading to maximum pressures, so asking it to resist broaching force is probably asking a lot of it.

ADIDAS69 · September 3, 2023, 03:24 PM

Found this, I’m buying a few thousand rounds so can compare methods I spose. Squirrel daddy makes hardened pins

ADIDAS69 · September 3, 2023, 03:25 PM

https://www.reddit.com/r/reloading/c...ass/?rdt=38287

August 30, 2023, 09:44 AM	#1
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 383	Igman ammunition Wondering if anyone has tried reloading Igman .308. The best info I can find says that their primer flash holes are either too small or off center and a person is guaranteed to break de-capping pins. Would love to know if this is an old problem that’s been fixed or an ongoing one. __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."

August 30, 2023, 11:40 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,867	Look into a fired case. Use a light. See what the flasholes look like. Boxer primed, or Berdan primed?? I am not familiar with that brand, so can't say which it is. Berdan brass will have two, or sometimes three small flash holes, off center. Boxer primed will have one larger flashhole, in the center. Boxer is the standard system used in the US, Berdan is used in ammo made in other parts of the world. Berdan primed brass can be reloaded, but it takes special tools and Berdan primers, neither of which has been common in the US for decades. For practical purposes, consider Berdan primed cases unreloadable. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 31, 2023, 11:55 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	This thread on another board indicates that while the brass is Boxer primed, it uses a smaller flash hole than standard. So, if you look and see a centered flash hole, to reload the brass, you need first to get a long enough 0.078" (5/64") drill bit chucked in your Dremel or other drill to open the hole up. You may need to use a pin vice or a narrow drill bit holder to reach it. A 1/16" drill may be adequate for your decapping pin. You will have to try it to see. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 1, 2023, 04:16 AM	#4
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 383	Appreciate it, I talked to the retailer and they said as much. Prices the way they are it may be worth the effort. I was thinking about how I might exchange the de-capping pin with a broach of sorts that could essentially punch the hole bigger as I resize and de-prime. Another option I thought of would be to sand an existing de-capping pin to a smaller diameter. __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."

September 1, 2023, 08:56 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I think RCBS and Hornady offer narrower decapping pins. Lapua's Palma Match brass has a smaller flash hole (about 0.06 instead of about 0.08), and people need to be able to decap it. The smaller pins also make some military brass easier to decap. The broach idea has the problem that it could bulge the floor of the web at the bottom of the primer pocket outward. That can happen in some cases just from loading to maximum pressures, so asking it to resist broaching force is probably asking a lot of it. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 3, 2023, 03:24 PM	#6
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 383	Found this, I’m buying a few thousand rounds so can compare methods I spose. Squirrel daddy makes hardened pins __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."

September 3, 2023, 03:25 PM	#7
ADIDAS69 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 383	https://www.reddit.com/r/reloading/c...ass/?rdt=38287 __________________ "...I would walk with my people if I could find them..."