Howdy Boys!

Been away from the forums for a bit and just checked today and saw that this thread got a little traction.

UPDATE...
I took the 125gr., 150gr. & 174gr. .312 projectiles and ran them through both my .309 & .308 sizers (used case lube, ran projectiles through once a piece).
Mic'ed them all and I then threw them in my tumbler for about an hour.

They came out lube free...I let them sit overnight on my bench and re-mic'ed them...all were around .3075-ish.

Loaded them all up and they worked just as is they were intended too.
No signs of overpressure even though I was using my data for my standard supersonics. The 174s were loaded sub- and shot fine through my SBR/can.

I also purchased a box of 123gr. Hornady V-Max .311 (for the 7.62x39) and did this same treatment...worked like a charm.

Now, I am not advocating doing this as a full-time kinda thing.
Just wanted to see how well it would work out if one needed to, in case there is another situation where .308 projos become scarce.

Things have started to calm down here in NV, regarding components and the shelves are looking a little better than when I first wrote this back in April.


Keep The High Ground,


G

Hi Sha-Ul,

Not a complete derailment, but a really good question.
I shoot cast so that I have options and can keep on shooting.

My preferred boolits at this time are the Lee 155gr., the RCBS 200gr. Silhouette and Lee 230gr.-TL. One of my casting pards just purchased the NOE 247gr. and I just finished a casting marathon to get these done and on their way to 'maturing'. Should be loading these up within the week and shooting for function/accuracy.

Once the boolits are ready to be processed:
1. I lube them with a proprietary lube that I have been using for almost 10 years now...I pan lube.
2. I size them to .309 using the Lee push-through sizer. I also affix the gas check if I will be shooting the boolits to 1400fps or greater.
3. I chamfer and de-burr my brass and have never had the need to use an expander die...YMMV, I do know many guys who deploy the expander.
As 'Crew Chief' mentioned the .310 expander from a 7.62x39 will work in a pinch.
4. Load accordingly and I do crimp all of my rounds.

Shoot, have fun, repeat process to keep on shootin'
:grin:


I hope this helps...


G

I do happen to have a hornady die set for 7.62X39 When I get home, I'll have to take my calipers to the expander.
I have several boxes of cast boolets, 150s, 170's& I think 190's. but was shaving the lead seating them. so set the expander long, and run the cases up till it just flares the mouth& since I don't normally crimp, add that step?

Yes...

expand, seat and then crimp.

The expander should take care of any lead shaving issues you might have.


G

I got home last night& measured the expander on the 7.62x39& it is on the small side of .311, and I have 3 batches of cast boolets, 150fn, 170 fn& 193 rn. all measure .311. and the brass springs back a bit so I have .001-.002 interference fit. To tell the truth, I may not even need to size the neck after firing it may already be .311 if I don't size it back down.
Being this is a bolt gun, do I really need to worry about crimp?

Sha-ul -

For a bolt gun with cast, the crimp is mostly just to take the flare off the mouth. The other function is to resist set-back if you are loading from the magazine. (Even hand-cycling from the mag in a bolt gun can cause set-back, because the lead bullets just do not hold as tight in the necks as jacketed.) If you are single-loading directly into the chamber, you are fine with just taking the flare off.

Sometimes a touch of crimp will help ES and SD which helps accuracy past 75-100 yards. All your brass has to be the same OAL or you will get inconsistent crimps.