Reloading 303 British

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NewToTheGame

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How many times is too many to reload 303 british brass? Some of my brass is starting to show a "ring" just above the base of the case. The brass has probably been reloaded about 4 times with 38gr(+/-) of H380, and 180gr SP's. The brass is only neck sized with a Lee Loader (took my inspiration from the 303british.com website). So how do I know when to retire 303 brass or any brass?

Thanks.
 
I'm in the same boat - using the same methods/tools - have the same concerns and even the same source of inspiration. Right now I have reloaded some imperial cases 4 times along with a few other brands that all show rings.

I am certainly not an expert by any means, but for me I have seen two types of rings after being fired from my Lee. One that is sharp and bright and another that is wider and more dull. The wider-duller ring is one that appears on the verge of separation. When you hold it up to another case the ring difference is quite evident. I have seen this on 2 of 20 Imperial cases that have been reloaded 4x with RE 15 powder. I haven't checked the inside of the case yet with a dental pick...but that will happen soon. I suspect that I will see more of these in the future but for me right now I am just not loading those any more.

There is some good threads on case separation in this forum I believe...at least the last time that I searched.

I too hope to hear more from others here.

Regards
Ron R
 
NewToTheGame said:
How many times is too many to reload 303 british brass? Some of my brass is starting to show a "ring" just above the base of the case. The brass has probably been reloaded about 4 times with 38gr(+/-) of H380, and 180gr SP's. The brass is only neck sized with a Lee Loader (took my inspiration from the 303british.com website). So how do I know when to retire 303 brass or any brass?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

My $0.02...I usually get 5 firings out of 303 cases (4 re-loads) before I retire them. At that point they start showing head seperation signs usually, i.e. the bright ring just ahead of the case head. You can get more reloads if you are very carefull and use a piece of hooked wire to feel for the groove inside the case where the bright ring usually appears. If you can feel any sign of a groove, discard the case.
 
There is almost always an expansion ring near the head of a .303, because of the generous diameter of a lee Enfield chamber, which has nothing to do with heaqdspace or case stretch. The frosted ring may be a sign of a separation starting. If in doubt, section the base of a case, and see if there is an incipient separation. You can also inspect with a good light, or use a probe. But sectionning a few cases will really let you see what you are dealing with.
 
I find that watching the overall case length every time saves the brass life.
If you let the length grow, it will be sure to rip along that line. Not
a disaster, but poor technique. Lee's Zip Trip, that hooks up to a
drill works well for me. I can do 200 rounds in an hour.

--PM
 
Don't be too eager to trim the brass all the way back to new spec. the brass will stretch to fill the chamber at each firing and something has to give.
 
Section a few cases before you throw them out, likely just normal expansion rings. Andy measured a few brass before and after firing and the body had expanded 25thou. Lots of the commercial ammo like UMC are quite a bit under size for .303 cartridge specs to begin with so the expansion is really pronounced. Get some Herters .303 brass from higginsons, it's a bit thicker and more to spec and will last along time if you neck size.
 
hi, i use a old boby pin straightened then bent at one end just enough to fit in the case mouth to feel for the separation line starting , also buy yourself a broken shell extractor , it is a must when reloading i have used mine a couple of times
 
If you're out at the range and you get a broken shell
stuck in the chamber, you can chamber a spent round
behind it, and push it inside the broken one. Just pull
back to extract the 2 cases. Works slicker than deer
guts on a doorknob.

--PM
 
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