[smoffett]

Am working up 308 loads for my brother and his boys. Have been using Remington brass and about got the load worked out, and then my brother brings me about 250 of these LC 67 Match brass from his father in law. Looks like once-fired, but can't be sure. (Hoping it wasn't fired in a machine gun.) Questions...

Is this a thick-walled brass with significantly reduced capacity compared to the Rem brass?
If so, any recommendations how far to back off the powder charge from my existing loads?
Roughly how many loads I can get out of these brass?
Any other quirks to this brass I should know about?

For reference, my current load is 46.3-gr Varget, Rem 150-gr core-lokt, Rem brass, CCI primer. Thanks in advance for any advice.
-- Steve

 

[captain-03]

46.3 Varget should be A-OK with that brass ... I would not suspect that Match brass was used in a MG. I would also suspect that the brass is not any thicker that good commercial -- just a better quality brass alloy .... I have used the 46 gr Varget load in LC brass without issue ...

 

[smoffett]

Thanks Captain!

 

[Doug Bowser]

I had 2000 of the LC 67 NM cases and used them a lot. Never had one split at the neck. never had any problems with normal loads. It is the reloader that pushes the limit that has problems with increased pressures in military brass.

Doug

 

[smoffett]

Thanks for the input guys. Another quick question about this brass -- I notice the edge of the primer cup is not as beveled as most other brass I'm used to. It seems the flat face of the cartridge transitions right into the primer cup. I'm wondering if that's going to lead to difficulties seating primers?

Also, I've run into several where the flash hole is significantly off center. Should I set those brass aside?

I have only had good experiences with LC Match brass ... primers should not be a problem. IIRC, no crimp in Match brass ... flash holes off center is a new one to me regarding Match brass ... usually this brass is a lot more consistent than regular LC brass? :thinking:

 

[Xd357]

I think someone hit the edit button. Lol

 

[Guest]

smoffett - I have found that with some LC and other match brass with straight walls going into the primer pocket, you have to have a very light feel for the priming tool and if I meet any resistance, I will rotate the brass about 1/4 turn and try again. I repeat this until the brass is turned to a position where the primer will begin to seat. I then complete the seating process. You don't have to do this with every brass, just the few stubborn ones.

 

[titleiiredneck]

smoffett - I have found that with some LC and other match brass with straight walls going into the primer pocket, you have to have a very light feel for the priming tool and if I meet any resistance, I will rotate the brass about 1/4 turn and try again. I repeat this until the brass is turned to a position where the primer will begin to seat. I then complete the seating process. You don't have to do this with every brass, just the few stubborn ones.

I concur, also are the caes annealed?

 

[SubGunFan]

If you don't want this brass, I would like it............. I can trade 308 commercial for it.

.

 

[smoffett]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Keeping the brass, as it came from my brother's father-in-law. Sounds like it's good to go. Yes, it showed the annealing about 1/4 inch down from the shoulder -- at least it did before I tumbled it.

 

[Doug Bowser]

All brass is annealed at the neck. The American sporting ammo does not show this because they polish the annealing marking off the necks. European and Military brass is not usually polished this way.

Doug

 

[PhillipM]

To check the volume without measuring tools fill it full of alcohol and pour it into a commercial case. Alcohol doesn't have the surface tension water does and will lay flat.

 

[smoffett]

To check the volume without measuring tools fill it full of alcohol and pour it into a commercial case. Alcohol doesn't have the surface tension water does and will lay flat.

I like that idea, but I think the alcohol would flow out through the flash hole unless I plug it up. Maybe I could seat a primer in there for that? Would that be safe? Could I deprime it afterwards without the primer blowing up?

 

[PhillipM]

To check the volume without measuring tools fill it full of alcohol and pour it into a commercial case. Alcohol doesn't have the surface tension water does and will lay flat.

I like that idea, but I think the alcohol would flow out through the flash hole unless I plug it up. Maybe I could seat a primer in there for that? Would that be safe? Could I deprime it afterwards without the primer blowing up?

I'd put a spent primer in for the test. If all you have is a live primer I'd fire it afterwards rather than risk depriming a live primer. I guess you could also jam a toothpick in the flash hole as long as the same amount protrudes into the case. Both need to be sized or both fired from the same chamber.

 

[smoffett]

I'd put a spent primer in for the test. If all you have is a live primer I'd fire it afterwards rather than risk depriming a live primer. I guess you could also jam a toothpick in the flash hole as long as the same amount protrudes into the case. Both need to be sized or both fired from the same chamber.

Well I don't have any spent primers 'cause I always trash 'em right after I pop 'em out. Guess I should have hung onto a few. Oh well.

Good point about sizing them. I think I'll size everything before the test, and I suppose I should also trim them all to the same length to get a good comparison.

 

[PhillipM]

I found a better way to do it from another forum.

This is done by seating a bullet without a primer or powder, weighing it with a piece of scotch tape across the base, then filling the case with water via a hypodermic syringe to the top of the flash hole and replacing the tape then weighing it again. The difference is water capacity. Without this figure, you are going at it blind. You will be amazed at the variations between cases. And, since we have no way of measuring pressures, proceed slowly.

see post #6

http://collectorguns35625.yuku.com/topic/3185

 

[smoffett]

Now that's a great idea!