7.62x51 reloaded for 308 rifle?

[BullRunBear]

I was given 100 rounds of 7.62x51 ammo. I don't have a rifle in that caliber but learned I can shoot it out of my new Savage 308 bolt action rifle. My question: can I reload the 7.62 brass to use in the 308? (I'm assuming it is boxer primed.)

The fired brass will be full length sized in 308 dies.
The reloads will be light to medium power loads with cast bullets using Unique, 4759, or Red Dot powders.
I don't hunt anymore, so the rounds will be for paper punching only.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[Robert]

7.62 and .308 are, with a few minor case thickness differences, the same thing. I reload 7.62 brass all the time in my .308 dies. What head stamp is on the ammo you were given?

 

[BullRunBear]

Robert,

60 of the rounds have a head stamp of FNM 82-24 with a cross in a circle. They come in a plain brown cardboard box with no other markings. The brass is mostly clean and shiny with a few spots of staining or surface corrosion.

50 of the rounds head stamp is CBC 12 also with the cross in a circle. (I think that means NATO specs.) I believe it is made in Brazil. They look like new ammo.

If any of it is Berdan primed, I'll put the spent cases aside. I plan to save them and make scoops for specific loads when the Lee dippers don't provide the exact measures I need.

 

[Sport45]

You can use it, but keep in mind that is one of the cartridges where the military cases do typically have less case volume than their civilian counterparts. For cast bullets and light loads they'll be fine. If you decide to go back to full-snort loading start low and work your way up until you see pressure signs (or reach published max).

 

[Speedster00]

I use it all the time in my AR reloads. I cant tell a difference in performance. Only PITA is going through and using a drill bit to remove the crimp.

 

[FLIGHT762]

The FNM 82-24 (Portugese 7.62NATO) will likely be Berdan primed. It is good, clean ammo.

The CBC12 ammo is Brazilian and is Boxer primed and reloads fine, they are thick (heavier) cases. You will have to remove the primer crimp to install a new primer.

 

[BullRunBear]

Guys, Thanks for the confirmation. Apparently the CBC ammo is boxer primed, which is good for my purposes. I appreciate the heads up about tight primer pockets and caution on the reloads.

Now for the tough part. Forcing myself to go to the range to shoot up the ammo. Sometimes life is hard.

Jeff

 

[Sunray]

Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos(CBC) must have gotten a contract from some NATO member. Brazil isn't part of NATO.
Removing primer crimps is a one time thing. Reducing the load by 10% is always. No big deal for either.

 

[joustin]

I like CBC brass in 223, it has a 4 prong stake on the primer that often doesn't need to be removed after depriming. My Dillon Super Swage and RCBS swager barely touch the crimp