100 rounds of neck sized 308

[Nowhere Man]

I've got a hundred rounds of neck sized 308 fired from a previous rifle. They will chamber in the new rifle but are tight. I need to push with effort to lock the bolt.

Should I pull them and resize? Can they damage the new rifle?

 

[Blue68f100]

First figure out where your tight at first. They do make a shoulder bump die so you will not have to pull the bullets.

 

[USSR]

Should I pull them and resize?

Assuming the following: the effort to chamber them is not great and is due to minor headspace differences between the two rifles and is not due to the bullet seating into the lands of the new rifle; is not a load on the bleeding edge pressure-wise; and you don't mind the extra effort, shoot them.

Can they damage the new rifle?

Assuming the above, no.

Don

 

[USSR]

They do make a shoulder bump die so you will not have to pull the bullets.

Yep. If it was me, I would run the loaded ammo thru my Redding body die to bump the shoulder back just a bit, but most guys don't have a body die.

Don

 

[Nowhere Man]

I'm one that doesn't have a shoulder bump die. I don't have a sizing die, though I will very soon once Midway delivers it. I've only needed to use neck sizing die in the past owning only one rifle chambered in .308.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Robert101]

Since you stated that they are rounds from another rifle, then I'll assume you know to what load level they are loaded. If mild to mid-range loaded, and not too much effort to close the bolt, I would say shoot them. If they were loaded close to max level, I would say pull.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I'm using IMR 8208 xbr. 41grns under 168 SMK's BR2 primers. Max published load is 42grns.

I did put a prepped case only in the chamber and had the exact same problem, so I'm assuming it's not being caused by the bullet hitting the barrel lands. Loaded ammo is at 2.80".

 

[gamestalker]

I don't personally like running them that tight. It has caused problems with the web getting pushed out, you know, that area that the die doesn't size, which results in brass that can't be used again. Also, extraction can be difficult when that happens.

GS

 

[Nowhere Man]

I don't want to damage the brass either. hmm.

 

[Walkalong]

Should I pull them and resize?

Assuming the following: the effort to chamber them is not great and is due to minor headspace differences between the two rifles and is not due to the bullet seating into the lands of the new rifle; is not a load on the bleeding edge pressure-wise; and you don't mind the extra effort, shoot them.

Can they damage the new rifle?

Assuming the above, no.

Don

Agreed.

 

[Walkalong]

At 2.800, they are not into the lands.

 

[steve4102]

What is your New rifle?

There have been a few reports that some of the New Savage 308 Win have an extremely short throat. Some have had factory ammo entering the lands and some have had to load less that 2.80 to clear the lands.

 

[rsrocket1]

Take a magic marker and color the bullet, neck and shoulder on one of the tight loaded cartridges. When you remove it, you'll see where the ink rubs off. That's where you are getting the binding. If it's on the bullet, you are seated too long. If it's on the shoulder (most likely), you will need to bump it back. If it's on the rim of the neck, you will need to disassemble the cartridge and trim it.

 

[Nowhere Man]

My new rifle is a Savage 12 F/TR. The one it replaced was a Savage 10PC.

 

[steve4102]

There ya go, a Savage. Might want to check the Max OAL in that there thing.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Steve,

Read post #7, second sentence.

 

[Walkalong]

But he did have a point. If there is a factory rifle out there where 2.800 will have a 186 match bullet into the lands, I would be wrong. I have never seen it, but never say never. I should have said I "doubt" you are into the lands. That said, I was also agreeing with you that wasn't the problem, but again, poorly worded.