Enfield-Rifles.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Reloading > Reloading .303 British
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Reloading question
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Reloading question

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Reloading question
    Posted: January 12 2018 at 7:21am
I suspect case life for the 303 is all a out head spacing. For fellow reloaders, how many times do you reload a she!!? Thanks!
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2018 at 8:41am
I'm currently reloading a batch for the 6th time.

I am using full length dies but individually set up to match the cut of the individual chambers in my 3 rifles. I did a write up on the process in the reloading section a while back. Unfortunately the embedded images were lost during the "Great PhotoBucket Disaster of '17" Ermm

http://www.enfield-rifles.com/custom-setup-for-reloading-dies-case-smudging_topic2800.html

Headspace is probably the most controversial topic in the L-E world. "Generous Chambers" being the second most controversial, & "fixing the Problem" with grease, oil, rubber bands, unicorn sploodge & gawd knows what else the third.Embarrassed


Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Pukka Bundook View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 02 2015
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 1369
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2018 at 11:19am
I reload mine until you see the light band up from the base, which says they'll come apart next time.
 
If they do separate, no worries apart from getting the case out of the chamber, Gas system very good, and nothing nasty gets back to your eyes. 
 
(Good screwdriver in the base of the case will turn them, and allow easy removal most times, or another round  chambered into the bust case and then extracted will draw a lot of them out.)  
Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2018 at 12:15pm
When I first started reloading, I got a bunch of brass from a really old guy at the range. I gave them a quick eye ball to see any tell tale signs of excess wear, as I had know idea of the gun he had shot them out. Loaded a box. Two separated! I knew from the sound. Casing came out easy, but I pulled the bolt and checked the bore to ensure the bullet had made it's way downrange before firing another round!!!
Back to Top
SW28fan View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: July 02 2007
Location: Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 2951
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SW28fan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 12 2018 at 5:00pm
This varies by Brass Brand and if you full length or neck size
Brands                       Full length                Neck Sized
PPU or Norma                5-6                             10-12
Remington  or HXP         3-4                               6-8
Winchester                    3                                   6
S&B                              0                                   0 
Have a Nice Day
If already having a nice day please disregard
Back to Top
maxwell smart View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: January 23 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 236
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote maxwell smart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 1:38am
SW28fan's numbers look about right

Back to Top
Zed View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: May 01 2012
Location: France
Status: Online
Points: 5585
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 4:16am
I would agree with thiose figures for PPU and Remington; however my last batch of Remington brass is not so good.
I have seen splitting along the neck area in the longitudinal plane of the case; not around the diameter.  Has anyone else seen this issue?
I think this batch of cases are thinner at the top end. So keeping a very selective eye on the cases after cleaning.
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 5:39am
I have. It was brand new Remington right out of the bag. A little split on the neck of about 4 out of 100. Kinda made me wonder about the rest.
Back to Top
Zed View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: May 01 2012
Location: France
Status: Online
Points: 5585
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 11:33am
I have another bag of 100 Remington cases; but haven't had the need to open them yet. 
Here is a photo of what I found. Three cases split vertically;turned away from the camera to highlight them. 
The second photo shows a neck split case and another showing the normal signs of weakening at the base.
Which is normally the time to retire them from active service!


It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 11:48am
Yup. Same spot I found the defect in my new Remington brass. For reloading, I've had good luck with resizing, set the die so it stops about a dimes width from the she!! holder. Anybody find the same?
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 11:58am
"Correct"closeness to the she!!-holder will vary with the die, the she!!-holder & the chamber. Did you read the link above about "smudging", its really worth the effort as it actually matches the 2 for an almost perfect fit. You only need to do it once the dies lock ring will stop at the same place every future time.

I actually have a Dillon RL550 set up with a separate head for each rifle! On one it almost touches the she!!-holder, one it does & the third its about 1/4 turn backed off.

Lengthwise splits in the neck aren't headspace related, its caused by too brittle brass. Circular splitting & case separations towards the rear are headspace related. Annealing the brass should help cure the problem of splitting necks.
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Honkytonk View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: December 30 2017
Location: Brandon Mb
Status: Offline
Points: 4770
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Honkytonk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 12:07pm
I have RCBS dies and an ancient Dillion press. I will research smudging further. Thanks!
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 23 2018 at 12:32pm
You can't kill a Dillon!
I've been using an original RL450 (with the later "b" upgrade) until just a year or 2 ago when I inherited an RL 550b!
Big smile
Linky to the .PDF with pictures. Sorry about the page breaks, that happened when I converted the .DOC file to a .PDF.
uploads/3/smoking_cases.pdf

Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
Zed View Drop Down
Special Member
Special Member
Avatar
Donating Member

Joined: May 01 2012
Location: France
Status: Online
Points: 5585
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2018 at 10:54am
Shamu, the split necks on the cases above were after the first or second load. I bought the cases empty for loading; they were not factory loaded. Prior to these failures from a recent batch of cases, I would anneal the Remington cases for the third load.
When I started getting these issues, I started buying PPU ammo and reloading the brass.
Still have a new pack of 100 Remington cases; I'll be inspecting them carefully before loading.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
Back to Top
Shamu View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Logo Designer / Donating Member

Joined: April 25 2007
Location: MD, USA.
Status: Offline
Points: 17603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 24 2018 at 1:35pm
Yep. I had a similar problem with Winchester cases a few years back. I'd anneal 'em anyway before loading just because!
Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
Back to Top
britrifles View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: February 03 2018
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status: Offline
Points: 6539
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 03 2018 at 7:16pm
Originally posted by SW28fan SW28fan wrote:


This varies by Brass Brand and if you full length or neck size
Brands                       Full length                Neck Sized
PPU or Norma                5-6                             10-12
Remington  or HXP         3-4                               6-8
Winchester                    3                                   6
S&B                              0                                   0 


I don’t know if it’s the brass quality, chamber dimensions of my No. 4 or relatively light loads, maybe all three, but I’ve not yet experienced a cracked or split neck. I have had a few case head separations and now can easily spot the tell tale line around the case that it’s about to go. For me, it has been after more than 30 reloads. Cases are DI ‘43/‘44 and DAC ‘56. I neck size with a Lee Collet die.

I still have a fair bit of this MK VIIz ammo and it’s been 100% reliable and still right on spec velocities.

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.