Reloading problem/question

[smong2000]

I am just getting into this Encore thing  and ran up against a couple snags.  I F.L. sized some Fed .308 to 7mm08 and loaded them up along with some once fired 7mm08.  The cases were shorter but seemed OK.  I set my bullets up against the lands with the 'long' std 7mm08 cases and didn't change the setting for the .308s and then did some powder and charge matrix work.  I stayed under max by 1.5-2 grains and put a light crimp on the necks.  Definitely saw some flat primers and one even fell out.  Does anything I've said sound strange?  I did notice that the pistol closed pretty hard on some of the rounds.  Thanks

[rickyp]

you using military or commercial brass?
not all barrels /guns reach max at the same point you should start low and work up until you get to performance you want with out any pressure signs

[stimpylu32]

smong2000

There are a whole mess of things wrong here , what is your O.L. for the 308 cases you necked down ? I'm guessing they are way too long , and you are getting the case neck to the rifling causing a massive over pressure issue . That would also explain why the gun was hard to close .

My advice is to pull those rounds apart , trim the cases to length for starters , then check your neck thickness to make sure that is not causing you to have a overly tight grip on the bullet . That will also increase pressures .

Once that is done check your manual for the recommended COL for the 7mm-08 and seat the bullet to that . one other thing , take the case were the primer fell out and toss it in the scrap bucket .

Stimpylu32

[jgalar]

You may want to mike the outside diameter of the necks comparing the 308 cases to the 7mm08s.

[Hafast]

You will need to turn the case necks. When the '06 case is squeezed down, the neck has to get thicker.

[Catfish]

It`s is really imposible to tell you what is wrong without being there and doing some looking and micing, but you are definately way over safe presures. It could be any or all of the things mentioned. I am not trying to be smart, but if you can`t read the presure signs and find the problems you should not form brass or play with wildcats without someone who can by your side walking you through. I seen a buitfull custom .22 Swift blown up by someone that didn`t pay attention to what he was told.

[GameHauler]

I am pretty new so this is a question for me also.

Were they jacketed bullets or cast.
My understanding is NO crimp on jacketed,
so that may cause pressure also?
Mike

[yooper77]

I handload for the T/C Encore 7mm-08 using only 308 Winchester brass factory and military, and the 308 Winchester cases will be shorter than 7mm-08 Remington brass.

308 Winchester maximum case length is 2.015"
7mm-08 Remington maximum case length is 2.035"

How are you crimping, because with different length cases you should be adjusting the die or causing light and real heavy crimps or no crimp and light crimps.  Either way, you don't need to crimp for the T/C Encore in 7mm-08 Remington this may cause pressure spikes.  Crimping rifle cartridges are mainly for semiautos, pumps and lever actions, so the bullet doesn't get shoved into the case when you cycle the action or under recoil in a tubular magazine.

You are starting too hot with your powder loads, please start at reloading manual minimum load and work your way up to achieve accurate loads without going over maximum and at all time checking for any pressure signs.  If you are using any 308 Winchester military brass then you need to back off approx 3 grains from the max loads after you work up your loads, because the military brass is thicker and will spike pressure if loaded too much.

Why are you starting your bullet close to your lands, this may be your problem with your action being hard to close and pressure spiking.

I don't have a problem with neck thickness, but you need to check to make sure, because this can and will spike pressures if they are too thick.

So, full length size, check case length, neck thickness, start at minimum charges, seat bullet to COL and don't crimp.

yooper77

[ourway77]

After firing a necked down 308-7-08, take a new bullet put it into the spent case, If it goes in the case fine, but if it doesn't. Then you will have to turn the necks. I do it all the time and have not had a problem. Lou

[Steve P]

Some good info listed in here, but I did not see mention of setting your sizing die.  I have not sized 308 to 7-08 yet, but I have done lots of 30-30 to 7-30 waters, 06 to 270, etc. 

I set my sizing die so the brass fits my chamber.  When taking 308 brass down to 7-08, I would partially size the neck and check to see how the empty brass fits in the chamber.  If neck is partially sized, you should have a false shoulder.  This should keep your action from closing.  Keep adjusting your die down and adjusting that false shoulder down the neck until your action just closes with a firm/crisp motion.  This false shoulder will adjust your brass headspace and allow you to blow out the shoulder to fit your chamber.

You said you dropped 1.5-2 grains below max.  Is this rifle max, or pistol max?  Rifles use a slower burning powder than pistols.  they have a longer barrel to burn it up.  With your shorter barrel, you will likely not even burn up all of the powder from a rifle load and you will leave all of that residue in your bore or flashing out the end of the barrel.   

Hotter does NOT = better.  Most of my pistol loads are below max because I am not looking for speed, I am looking for accuracy, dependability, and opportunity for taming recoil.  I start with the lower velocity and work up into the accuracy.  With 7-08, I would likely look into loads with XMP5744, AA2460, H335 or similar burning rates.  I wouldn't drop 1.5-2 grains below max, I would start at the bottom of the pistol charts, and work up in 1 grain increments.  When groups start tightening, then into .5 or less increments. 

I have no rifle or pistol load with a bullet touching the lands.  I do have a few bore rider cast bullets that are up in the lands, but the driving bands are not touching.  I always leave a .010 to .015 jump for the bullet (unless my barrel throat is long and bullets are short).
Some people load with the bullet into the lands to increase pressure when fireforming brass.  In this instance, if you have set your sizing die to make that false shoulder, that will hold your brass and you can seat the bullet propperly.

If you have primers popping out, crush the brass with pliers and discard.

Good Luck and stay safe.

Steve 

[smong2000]

Thanks for all the advice .  I think the last 2 posts nailed it for me.  I see several problems now;
  I also measured the necked down .308 as short and set the crimper to give me a light crimp with them.  Going to the longer 7-08 brass gave me a heavier crimp.
  Using commercial Federal brass
  I used a FL Lee sizer, no adjustment like on my RCBS or Reddings.
  I probably set the bullets too long and it wasn't necessary, might have set up on the short brass giving me extra crimp and stuffing the bullet into the rifling for the 7-08 brass.
  I was working from standard 7-08 rifle load data, I started at minimum and stayed 2 grains under max. now I need to see where that puts me for pistol, completely forgot that pistol load data existed.
  I am a strong advocate of light, accurate loads in all my rifles so this really threw for a loop - seeing that kind of pressure with starting loads.  Needless to say, I took them all apart and will start over with uniform brass and NO MORE MIXING of fireforming with load development.
  I hope others benefited from this post because i certainly did, THANKS

[hunterspistol]

   Haven't been reloading all that long myself.  Here's some extra thoughts you may like-the new brass will be more flexible, the once fired will work harden from firing. Makes good sense to sort brass by lots.  I may end up doing the same calibre for my rifle, love that 7mm!

The official version of spacing bullets says you can have 5 to 20 one-thousandths of jump to the rifling and still be accurate.  It isn't necessary to place the bullet straight into rifling and 20 thousandths is still a hair's width- I'd prefer 5 thousandths myself, sometimes that isn't the way things work out. 

     Thank you for asking this question, you gave me some info I hadn't considered too.
                                       Good Luck