7.62x51 IVI brass for reloading?
- Thread starter Riven
- Start date
Yeah you can def tell when swaging/trimming, and sizing. I think all 308 ivi has been fired from c7's?
I've pulled the heads off more ivi brass than I care to remember, even using lube- it's not the brass that gets stuck so much as the expander ball- while I got it for free, it just plain wasn't worth my time to try to remove th e brass when it was stuck in the die- even today, i'll leave ivi on the floor for some other fool to pick up- now 223 ivi is different story altogether- one quick to get rid of the primer crimp and you're good to go
What ever the belt fed 762 machine gun is, is what they were fired from.
I buy bulk once fired military Lake City brass and below is a trick I learned at our Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) reloading forum.
You can ease the sizing effort with machine gun fired brass by first sizing lubed cases with a 30-06 full length die, and then sizing with a *standard .308 die.
A second method is to use a carbide .45 acp die that reduces the case body diameter, without any lube, followed by sizing with a *standard .308 die.
I prefer using the carbide .45 acp because of the greator reduced sizing effort and using no lube.
*Sometimes you may need to use a small base die to reduce these cases to minimum SAAMI dimensions to fight brass spring back after sizing with some snug fitting bolt action chambers. After the first sizing with a small base die and the cases have been fired in "your" chamber a standard full length die can be used.
NOTE, pausing at the top of the ram stroke for 4-5 seconds reduces brass spring back and if using a standard die you "may" get away without using a small base die. A small base die reduces the case diameter approximately .003 more than a standard die and also pushes the case shoulder back approximately .003 more.(SAAMI minimum dimensions)
Military 7.62 cases are thicker in the base and have a thicker flash hole web that adds strength to the base of the case. The downside to these thicker cases is increased sizing effort when they are fired in larger diameter machine gun chambers.
Bottom line, after swaging or reaming the primer pocket, you end up with some very tough heavy duty .308 cases. (Ford Truck Tough)
You can ease the sizing effort with machine gun fired brass by first sizing lubed cases with a 30-06 full length die, and then sizing with a *standard .308 die.
A second method is to use a carbide .45 acp die that reduces the case body diameter, without any lube, followed by sizing with a *standard .308 die.
I prefer using the carbide .45 acp because of the greator reduced sizing effort and using no lube.
*Sometimes you may need to use a small base die to reduce these cases to minimum SAAMI dimensions to fight brass spring back after sizing with some snug fitting bolt action chambers. After the first sizing with a small base die and the cases have been fired in "your" chamber a standard full length die can be used.
NOTE, pausing at the top of the ram stroke for 4-5 seconds reduces brass spring back and if using a standard die you "may" get away without using a small base die. A small base die reduces the case diameter approximately .003 more than a standard die and also pushes the case shoulder back approximately .003 more.(SAAMI minimum dimensions)
Military 7.62 cases are thicker in the base and have a thicker flash hole web that adds strength to the base of the case. The downside to these thicker cases is increased sizing effort when they are fired in larger diameter machine gun chambers.
Bottom line, after swaging or reaming the primer pocket, you end up with some very tough heavy duty .308 cases. (Ford Truck Tough)
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Western Metal Inc. is my go to place for brass. Forum sponsor and great to deal with too.
Candocad.
the Dillon stuff is good for swaging and full length sizing. I have a 550 Press and load everything from .223 to .378WBY. I use the military brass in my semi-autos and even though you have to reduce the case capacity by two grains and suffer a few feet per second it is still a lot cheaper than the winchester bulk. I would hydro clean, full length size trim and then sort by weight versus year. Tough stuff.
