Author Topic: New rifle brass (Read 725 times)

The Blade · « **on:** March 03, 2003, 02:17:57 AM »

I have a brand new bag of Remington 280 brass. I would like to weigh the brass and sort it by weight before using it.

The local gunshop owner offerd me the use of his electronic scales, and I've been trying to figure out the best course of events leading up to weighing the brass. Here's my thoughts, but your input would be appreciated:

1. Check to see if the brass will chamber as is.
2. If so, neck size all of the brass (100 pieces.) If not, FL size all of it.
3. Trim, uniform the flash holes, and uniform the primer pockets.
4. Weigh, keeping the pieces that weigh plus/minus .5 grains from the average weight together.
5. Fire form the brass.

Any suggestions for improving on this task list? Will fireforming reduce overall case length? If so, when should the trimming be done?

Is it best to fire form with full house loads, or can it be done with reduced loads?

Thanks -

The Blade

Flash · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:45:42 AM »

Definately prep the cases as you would before loading them. The trimming process would take the same ammount off the neck but the hardness of the brass wouldn't allow the same amount to be extruded up each time you size them. I would also trim the necks if a .5 grain weight is a concern. A uniform neck dimension is a much better platform for accuracy that a .25% grain variation in case weight.

Excuse me......turn the necks.

chk · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2003, 04:18:24 AM »

I deburr and true up the flash hole and primer pocket, resize with a neck sizer for my 06 and FL for my .243 ( to true up the case mouth), load and fire them. I don't trim the cases until after firing the case once. If you haven't bought dies, the RCBS X dies are good. I used one for my .243. They eliminate case growth. You trim them once only before using the die.

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2003, 04:36:14 AM »

Quote from: chk

I deburr and true up the flash hole and primer pocket, resize with a neck sizer for my 06 and FL for my .243 ( to true up the case mouth), load and fire them. I don't trim the cases until after firing the case once. If you haven't bought dies, the RCBS X dies are good. I used one for my .243. They eliminate case growth. You trim them once only before using the die.

chk,
Would you explain to me what the RCBS "X" Dies do? I read in the catalog text that they limit the growth of the overall case length of each cartridge, eliminating the need to trim each case. How is this accomplished? Do they only neck-size? As my 6.5mm Swedish Mauser has a long throat, the brass tends to stretch quite a bit. I am interested in 6.5x55mm and .30-06 (I don't see X dies available for the .300 Savage). TIA!
Jim

chk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2003, 02:59:00 AM »

savageT, the x dies have a special seating stem that has a stepped shape to it of two diameters with the largest portion towards the top of the die. A flat 90 degreee step is there to contact the case mouth squarely and stops the case from getting longer than where the step is when the case is fully into the die. You have to trim the die to a specified length before adjusting the die. Once correctly adjusted they work great. The instructions are easy to follow.