Author Topic: 7.62x51 in handi 308  (Read 1033 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Deerhunter#1

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (84)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1047
7.62x51 in handi 308
« on: April 18, 2012, 03:40:21 AM »
Can it be done?

Offline Jason F

  • Trade Count: (261)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2105
  • Gender: Male
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2012, 03:43:29 AM »
handi rifles- 22 mag      22 hornet    223      7mm-08      308 chip shot     30-30 x2     30-06 shorty      358 cheez whiz     357 max     35 remington     375-08    410 rifled slug     454 casull     460 s&w     45 smokeless muzzleloader x2     45-70    50 huntsman    50-70 government shikari     20 ga.ush     12 ga.ush    12 ga.3 1/2     10 ga.imp.cyl. slug gun

Offline Jason F

  • Trade Count: (261)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2105
  • Gender: Male
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2012, 03:48:09 AM »
I use military brass for reloading mine, just work up your load
handi rifles- 22 mag      22 hornet    223      7mm-08      308 chip shot     30-30 x2     30-06 shorty      358 cheez whiz     357 max     35 remington     375-08    410 rifled slug     454 casull     460 s&w     45 smokeless muzzleloader x2     45-70    50 huntsman    50-70 government shikari     20 ga.ush     12 ga.ush    12 ga.3 1/2     10 ga.imp.cyl. slug gun

Offline Deerhunter#1

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (84)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1047
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2012, 03:53:33 AM »
Jason- my neighbor just gave me 200 rounds brass 7.62 ammo as he said he no longer has a 308. I have a new 308 being delivered today and thought i could break it in with this ammo and have the brass for reloading. Loading the vehicle up for a trip upstate with 20 others. Hope i dont get pulled over the back is dragging with all the guns. thanks.

Offline Jason F

  • Trade Count: (261)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2105
  • Gender: Male
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2012, 03:59:48 AM »
You will most likely have to swage primer pockets when you reload them i have 7 reloads on mine so far.
handi rifles- 22 mag      22 hornet    223      7mm-08      308 chip shot     30-30 x2     30-06 shorty      358 cheez whiz     357 max     35 remington     375-08    410 rifled slug     454 casull     460 s&w     45 smokeless muzzleloader x2     45-70    50 huntsman    50-70 government shikari     20 ga.ush     12 ga.ush    12 ga.3 1/2     10 ga.imp.cyl. slug gun

Offline OldSchoolRanger

  • Trade Count: (60)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2742
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2012, 05:58:51 AM »
DH 1 - Short answer yes!  It's the opposite of .223Rem/5.56mm, 308 ammo is hotter than 7.62mm military ammo.
If the brass your neighbor gave you is Lake City, your good to go.  If it's miscellaneous surplus brass, I would do like Jason said, and swage the primer pockets, to remove any crimp.  Just remember military brass have thicker case walls (capacity) than 308 brass, and you should work your loads up.  I would start at 10% less than your normal 308 loading.
"You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

When you allow a lie to go unchallenged, it becomes the truth.

My quandary, I personally, don't think I have enough Handi's but, I know I have more Handi's than I really need or should have.

Offline bikerbeans

  • Trade Count: (168)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
  • Gender: Male
  • BANDIT - North American Snake Hound
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2012, 10:18:40 AM »
DH#1,
 
A lot of the milsurp 7.62x51mm is brass cased but has the wrong type of primer and cannot be reloaded.  I get berdan and boxer mixed up but the ones you can't reload have "snake eyes" (two holes) when you look in an MT case.  I shot a bunch of older milsurp 7.62x51 and it went bang w/o misfires.   Accuracy wasn't so good but that was related to a scope ring problem not the ammo.   The stuff I bought was repackaged before I got it and was from a number of different overseas manufacturers.  Some of the bullets attracted to a magnet and some didn't.
 
BB
RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

Why be difficult, when with a little extra effort you can be impossible?

Wife's Handis;  300 BLKOUT

MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.

Offline OldSchoolRanger

  • Trade Count: (60)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2742
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2012, 05:26:52 PM »
DH#1,
 
A lot of the milsurp 7.62x51mm is brass cased but has the wrong type of primer and cannot be reloaded.  I get berdan and boxer mixed up but the ones you can't reload have "snake eyes" (two holes) when you look in an MT case.  I shot a bunch of older milsurp 7.62x51 and it went bang w/o misfires.   Accuracy wasn't so good but that was related to a scope ring problem not the ammo.   The stuff I bought was repackaged before I got it and was from a number of different overseas manufacturers.  Some of the bullets attracted to a magnet and some didn't.
 
BB
Boxer primers are the normal type primers (single hole) used by US companies, Berdan is the type (snake eyes) used by some foreign companies.  The funny thing is that the Boxer system primer was invented by an Englishman, and adopted by the US, while the Berdan primer system was invented by an American, and adopted by the Europeans. 

Good catch bb, I wasn't even thinking about foreign milsurp ammo, and the primer situation.  And then you mention the Combloc (steel heads) bullets.  :-[
"You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

When you allow a lie to go unchallenged, it becomes the truth.

My quandary, I personally, don't think I have enough Handi's but, I know I have more Handi's than I really need or should have.

Offline bikerbeans

  • Trade Count: (168)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
  • Gender: Male
  • BANDIT - North American Snake Hound
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2012, 07:20:26 PM »
OSR,
 
I been saving 308W brass because my kid is very interested in an AR10.  I figured out the brass and snake eyes thing after I snapped the pin off my universal decapping die. :-[ 
 
BB
RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

Why be difficult, when with a little extra effort you can be impossible?

Wife's Handis;  300 BLKOUT

MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.

Offline gcrank1

  • Trade Count: (24)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7644
  • Gender: Male
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2012, 10:08:18 AM »
Funny how snapping that pin off will bring a guy right up to speed on 'there aint no hole in the right place'  ;) ; been there, done that  too (glad Im in good company)!
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline bikerbeans

  • Trade Count: (168)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4070
  • Gender: Male
  • BANDIT - North American Snake Hound
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2012, 10:20:17 AM »
Funny how snapping that pin off will bring a guy right up to speed on 'there aint no hole in the right place'  ;) ; been there, done that  too (glad Im in good company)!

Good company?!?! Who else destroyed their decapping die? ::)   FWIW, a 45-120 FL size die makes a great decapping die for most handi calibers at .430" and smaller.  It however, doesn't work as well on a 50-70 case. :o
 
BB
RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

Why be difficult, when with a little extra effort you can be impossible?

Wife's Handis;  300 BLKOUT

MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.

Offline tacklebury

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (12)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3633
  • Gender: Male
  • Central Michigan
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2012, 01:02:09 PM »
I use the Lee Universal Decapping die.  Makes it easier to decap brass without cleaning first and if I want to leave some fireformed for RB loads etc, I have em ready.  I only neck or full length size when needed.  ;)
 
https://fsreloading.com/lee-decapping-die-90292.html
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline gcrank1

  • Trade Count: (24)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7644
  • Gender: Male
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2012, 01:04:39 PM »
+1 that!
"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline watkibe

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 259
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2012, 06:54:39 PM »
I was wondering about this the other day. I bought a 223 and a 308, and used mostly surplus mil brass for years. I only recently started buying some commercial brass.
And so now, there are warnings much more emphatic than ever before that the mil 5.56 should not be fired in a commercial 223 chamber. I already stopped, haha, got you !
BUT...I have never heard a warning about not shooting 7.62 in a commercial 308 chamber.
Are warnings about not doing this likely to come out soon ? Why not before now ?

Offline OldSchoolRanger

  • Trade Count: (60)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2742
Re: 7.62x51 in handi 308
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2012, 07:21:30 AM »
I was wondering about this the other day. I bought a 223 and a 308, and used mostly surplus mil brass for years. I only recently started buying some commercial brass.
And so now, there are warnings much more emphatic than ever before that the mil 5.56 should not be fired in a commercial 223 chamber. I already stopped, haha, got you !
BUT...I have never heard a warning about not shooting 7.62 in a commercial 308 chamber.
Are warnings about not doing this likely to come out soon ? Why not before now ?
There will never be any warnings about shooting 7.62 in a 308 chamber, because it is the exact opposite of what the problem is with .223/5.56.  The 308 ammo is loaded hotter than milsurp ammo, unless your shooting combloc (like Tula & Wolf, which is made by Tula) stuff, then all bets are off.  I know thru personal experience about their "quality control".  My Glock blew apart from an over pressured 9mm round.  The only good thing about it was that they paid to have the gun repaired.
"You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

When you allow a lie to go unchallenged, it becomes the truth.

My quandary, I personally, don't think I have enough Handi's but, I know I have more Handi's than I really need or should have.