Author Topic: Average number of reloads. (Read 489 times)

RoRo72 · « **on:** November 01, 2005, 03:49:25 PM »

What is the average number of reloads on .308 or 25.06? Been reloading on .303 and get 3 reloads. I know it depends on powder, primer, etc... I heard someone say they get 12-15 on .308. New Rifles should get more than my .303 (old militery rifle).

Steve P · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2005, 03:59:02 PM »

I have some Remington brass on it's 15th or 16th reload. Have some Contender loads that are in the teens without any problems. Have had some pistol brass only go for 5-6 reloads and a few shotgun hulls that only went for a few. Have never had a rifle brass go less than 3, If I fired it first and then did the reloading.

Most brass is damaged by work hardening or over working (sizing) the shoulders. My 303s are on loading 5 or 6 with no problems so far. I will have to check with Dad when I go down for Christmas. I think the ones I loaded for him are on their 4th or 5th firing.

Steve

John Traveler1 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2005, 04:42:23 PM »

Military .303 caliber rifles (SMLE series) typically have over-length chambers in the casehead-to-shoulder dimension. This was a design feature in wartime production, and made the rifles more tolerant of dirt and battle conditions.

Casehead separations are common after one or two reloadings. Longer case life can be had by neck sizing ONLY, and by "clocking" or indexing the case the same way on each firing.

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2005, 04:46:10 PM »

303s are tough on brass. If you neck size your brass instead of full length resizing you can greatly increase the life of your brass.

Steve P · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2005, 05:52:26 PM »

If you are using the original military or 'field' chamber, you have to set the dies by your fired brass. My 303s are all field chamber. I smoke the neck on a fired round, then adjust the die to just clean off the neck. I try not to move the shoulder. My brass works in ONE gun. I have 4 SMLEs. I have to adjust my dies and mark my ammo accordingly. Dad has one SMLE. I set my dies by his fired round and reload them. I know they have to be on 4th or 5th reloading right now. He will probably bring me a box of brass on Thanksgiving, and I usually have them loaded and back to him at Christmas.

If you are full length sizing each time, you may have head seperations and/or splitting in the neck and shoulder area from over working them. If you only have the one gun, smoke a neck, adjust your die to clean the smoke off the neck, and try the brass in the chamber. The bolt should close with minimal pressure. After 2-3 firings, you may find your bolt getting a little harder to close on fired rounds. You may have to set the die down just a few thousandths to bump that shoulder until the brass easily chambers again.

You should get better than 3 loadings.

Steve

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2005, 02:11:41 AM »

I have three British 303s and have reloaded for a friend's Parker Hale sporter. The difference between the chambers cut in the military rifles and those cut for the true sporters is the same as the difference between a mil-surp and a new sporting rifle. Much, much better. Neither of my mil-surp 303s will allow more than two reloads on the same piece of brass. The headspace is all fine but the chambers are so generous the brass just will not hold together. I will regularly get case-head separations after 2 reloads.

The Parker Hale sporter on the other hand treats brass the same way a new sporter does - I will get a dozen or more reloads on a piece of brass for that rifle. That has always made me think of sending out one of my nicer #4 Mk1s for a rebarrell in 303 Brit with a nice tight chamber. JMHO. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2005, 03:16:26 AM »

The general recommendation is to check the case length after each reload and trim when length exceeds the spec. Also keep track of how often you trim the cases, and don't trim them more than three or four times. Monitor the case head for any sign of separation by using a bent wire to feel around inside the case for a developing seam.

For 308 and 300 win mag, some target shooters will get 10 or more reloads.

My own policy on cases used for hunting ammo is to discard them after the fourth loading. But then I don't do a lot of rifle shooting. If I did, I'd be using the guidelines above.

jgalar · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2005, 01:55:14 AM »

I only shoot cast bullets in my milsurps anymore so that makes a big difference. If you reduce the powder charge a bit and neck size you can greatly increase case life. I have 303 cases that have been reloaded 20 times or more. The cases seldom need trimming when neck sized.