M305 .308" reloading

[Ripstop]

I have a M305 with Fulton Armory barrel and a TRW bolt.

I fired some IVI '74 out of it and checked all dimensions. Nothing has grown on this brass more than .005" in length and diameter as compared to the Speer reloading manual #13 dimensions for .308" Win.

e.g. length 2.010",1.715",1.565" - dia. .345",.455",.473"

I have a set of RCBS S.B. .308 Win #15503 dies.

I have a partner press (I know, I know...) that I have resized .270" without a problem.

Now the problem. For the life of me, I cannot resize this .308" brass. I can get it down to where I have a ring mark at .483" from the rim. I am sure that I am supposed to use S.B. dies for a semi auto. I measured the dia. of the resize die before the radius drop off at .463"

Is this brass just too tough to resize? Anything else going on here that someone has come across before? Any help would be appreciated.

Ripstop

 

[Donny Fenn1]

i found i had to really lube the case(more than usual anyway)

 

[t-star]

i found the ivi stuff really hard to resize- when i did get it to go into the die, it PULLED the rim off and i am using a dillon 550- and yes, it was lubed- i've come to the conclusion that ivi is best as a 1 shot throw away- and went to commercial- i got it out by removing the decapper and hitting it with a rod - never again

 

[Ripstop]

Thanks a lot guys. I thought I was doing something weird, like forgetting how to resize brass.

Ripstop

 

[notenough]

I've got an RCBS Ammomaster that I've just finished some IVI on and yes even with lube it's much more difficult than standard commercial brass. It just means I reload a little slower. Hell I've got 400-500 empty cases for the M305 so I'm reloading it.

 

[Hungry]

I liked competing with IVI brass in my M1A's since the brass was way tougher than civvie brass. Just gotta open up the primer pocket with a chamfering tool, very lightly of course.

Remember that if you are shooting your M305, I'll be happy to mike your cases... this gives you an idea of how large yer chamber is...

Many CGNutters with factory Norinco bolts shoot their brass and then try to full length resize their cases.... this overworks the brass... so I've been recommending reloaders to quasi-neck size and to keep that brass lot JUST for that specific M305. We had to do this back in the 80's when we competed with Israeli cast-off M14's... their headspaces mike'd to about 15 thou to 20 thou. We simply necksized our cases and we were good to go.

Hope this helps,
Barney

 

[notenough]

Since Hungry is Central Ontario I'll opt to Mic anyone's brass in the GTA area or southern Ontario. Of the 308's I have my BLR has the largest headspace so I have different loaded ammo for each rifle it helps..