308 to 243

[Bill,SC]

I'm trying to use 308 brass to load 243.  Sometimes it works okay.  Other times there seems to be a ridge at the base of the neck, before the shoulder.  I have the a bottom of the die touching the shell holder when in full up-stroke.  What can be done to eliminate this problem?

I have seen that RCBS sells a die set to convert from 308 to 243.  Is there any need for a special setup?  I just use the standard RCBS 243 die.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[sharpshooter]

This maybe a stupid question but why are you doing this when 243 brass is so availible? Just a thought! :eek:

[jhm]

Bill:  I guess I was just lucky have squezed the 308 down to the 243 on a few occasions and cant say that I had that problem exactly where is the ridge located where the neck joins the shoulder or where the shoulder started from the main part of the case?   JIM

[Loader 3009]

Bill,

You may need to turn the necks before sizing.  That brass has to go somewhere.

I'll have to do-dah what sharpshooter said.

[Bill,SC]

Never a stupid question.  In fact, I am starting to ask the same question.  But let me try to give a simple answer.  Several years ago I was given 3000 Mil. brass in .308.  I don't shoot 308.  I do shoot .243.  I have some time on my hands.  I like to reload.  So, why not try the conversion from .308 to .243.  What would you have done with the brass?

[Loader 3009]

Myself, I would have sold it, traded it or bought a .308 Savage FP-10.

[Nobade]

If I were doing it I'd get a .260 Rem FL sizer to use as an intermediate step, and a .243 neck ream die to thin it out after it was formed. And use STP for case lube. Ought to make things a lot easier!

[securitysix]

Never a stupid question.  In fact, I am starting to ask the same question.  But let me try to give a simple answer.  Several years ago I was given 3000 Mil. brass in .308.  I don't shoot 308.  I do shoot .243.  I have some time on my hands.  I like to reload.  So, why not try the conversion from .308 to .243.  What would you have done with the brass?

I've got to agree with Loader 3009 on this one.  I'd have boughtt a new gun chambered for that cartridge.

[PaulS]

Bill,
With proper lube and a good die you shouldn't have a problem. You will probably have to ream the necks but see if the necked cartridges will chamber in your gun first. I think that the problem you are having is a lubrication problem but it might be a problem with feeding the 308 into the 243 die. Try outside chamfering the cases befor you neck them down and see if that makes a difference using the same lube you are using now. If you want better lube use bullet swaging lube or case FORMING lube. If nothing else works then go with a special die.
PaulS

[Bill,SC]

Bug suggested that the problem might be that the brass was not being completely sized.  Possible solution:  Try shortening the die by .oo1 -- .003.  I tried the suggestion.  For the first 100 pieces of brass,  all will chamber without a problem.  

Thanks Bug!

[Mikey]

Bill, S.C.:  I tried that a number of years ago and had lots of problems.  If I used military brass the rounds would not chamber after I had loaded them up - you had to remove some brass and that was too much of a problem, so I just bought a whole bunch of new, unprimed brass and the problem was solved.  Mikey.

[Loader 3009]

Bill. if you have shortened your sizing die, you will have excess headspace and your cartridges may separate upon firing.....not good.  You probably have ruined a sizng die, stop now before you ruin a gun.  Believe me, you will be better off ridding yourself of that brass

[Steve P]

The dreaded donut!!

You can use the .308 brass, but you have to turn the necks to uniform them.  If you do this properly with good .308 match brass, you may turn out some very accurate ammo.

Steve  

[Crayfish]

I tried a couple of years ago to go from 308 to 7mm-08 and the cases wouldn't chamber.  I would have had to ream or neck turn and wasn't prepared for that kind of hassle.  Scrapped that plan and bought new 7-08 brass.

I can only imagine that going from 308 to 243 would make this problem even worse!

Good luck ... Crayfish

[dakotashooter2]

I've sized 2 or 3 hundred Mil 308 to 243 without a problem.  I followed someone elses recomendation and first ran them through a 243 seating die (which has slightly larger dimensions than the sizer) with the stem removed. This would partially size the case. Then run through a standard 243 sizing die. I would still end up with a "bump" at the base of the neck . I seem to recall that the shoulder on the 308 brass is set back just a hair more than the 243 and the bump supports the case while the shoulder is pushed forward during fireforming. The necks will be up to 1/8" shorter than factory brass and may need to be reamed. Mine did not and function perfectly through 2 different guns with no pressure signs. Though, so far the loads used have been mid range plinkers it still managed under 3/4"and often under 1/2" (maybe I'm just lucky) at 100 yards. As always work up loads carefully. Occasionally I run into a tight one but usually second pass through the sizing die produces a good fit. Like I say these are my results I may have a tight sizer or loose chambers or both.

[Kywoodwrkr]

Bill,
You said the shell holder touches the bottom of the sizing die.
I have found that it is better to have the ram and etc 'cam over' at the bottom of the stroke. This is true of some other calibers in particular, Swiss 7,5x55 from 284 Winchester being one.
Just touching leaves a little too much excess headspace in some cases.
I use Imperial wax for most resizing but found that RCBS II, the water soluable lube, awfully good for cases forming. YMMV.
DaveP

[Bill,SC]

Kywoodwrkr,

What do you mean "cam over".  As far as I can tell, I have too much head-space.  I tried Bug's suggestion of shortening the size die.  All of the sized cases from that round would chamber.