Small base die question for 7 08

powdergun

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wI'm looking at a BLR in 7 08 and I was wondering if it required a small base die to load rounds that will load easily. Problem is that I can't find anyone who makes them for 7 08.

Could I use a .308 small base sizing die with the expander removed ?

Run it through a 7 08 sizer then through the small base .308 with the expander removed

Thanks
 
I believe Lee claims that with their dies, a small base in not necessary, but I could be out of date or completely wrong in that regard. In my mind, I found in the past that small base dies are really only needed is some instances, like resizing from one rifle to another, semis, or older arms. It seems to me, the longer the cartridge stays in the chamber the less need for deep resizing. We tried an experiment once with reloaded ammo that fit both into a bolt and a semi in 308. The fired case from the bolt went into the semi. The case from the semi was tight going in the bolt and would not go back in the semi.
 
I've have a blr in 30-06 and just neck size roughly 2/3's of the neck on my once fired brass with no issues what so ever . ( same thing with my 300 savage lever action )

but if I use brass fired in another rifle i'll run it through a small base die for the first firing in my rifles .

the only exception , is if I fire some loads that are on the hot side ( think flattened primers ) , then i'll run them through a small base die again just so they feed smoothly when used .

for my blr I use standard hornady dies , for my savage I use standard lee dies .

I use my 30-06 rcbs small base dies for both . and in the case of the 300 savage I am just trying to resize the lower portion of the case .
 
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i've feed over a 1000 rounds of 223 into my XCR and i only used a regular rcbs FL sizing die on the brass.. never had a problem with FL dies and semi autos yet..zero issues with feeding and ejecting (i now use a dillon die via RT1200)

im guessing rcbs makes though small base dies for guys that HAVE problems...
 
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