GUN SHOW BRASS, Lesson Learned

[CJS3]

I recently aquired a Saiga 308, that I modified with US made parts. After I installed the Fire Control Group, I took it to the range to try everthing out. I got a lot of failures to lock up and I spent a week trying to figure out the problem. After buffing out the hammer, bolt carrier, and smoothing out the trigger pull, I went back to the range and after 10 rounds or so, got the same problem. After spending the better part of an hour trying to troubleshoot the problem, I got that sinking "AW SHIT" feeling and realized what the problem was.

I went to the range shop and picked up two different brands of ammo, loaded up the magazines and proceeded to fire 40 trouble free rounds. The ammo I was using were reloads that I had loaded from gun show brass, that had been pre sized and primed. Obviously the brass hadn't been sized in a full length sizing die. They worked in my bolt actions, but wouldn't cycle in a semi. I usually run, even new, brass through a full length sizing die. Since these were already primed, I hadn't checked them, and since it was such a good deal, I got careless with my reloading proceedures. 

Lesson learned. Now I have 75 rounds, or so, to pull the bullets from and deprime.Then I can run the brass through a full length sizing die and reload properly.

[tombogan03884]

Or just shoot it up with your bolt guns. Don't have to get rid of the powder that way.

[TAB]

You may be able to just bumb the shoulder back a little bit.

308 head spaces on the shoulder.

[alfsauve]

RANGE BRASS

We all KNOW to be careful with random range brass,  r-i-g-h-t?

Found two 9x18s while reloading last night.   Of course, I had already primed them, loaded powder and was in the process of crimping when I realized the problem.

[Solus]

Lesson learned. Now I have 75 rounds, or so, to pull the bullets from and deprime.Then I can run the brass through a full length sizing die and reload properly.

How do you decap them?  I've never even considered doing it as I would with a fired primer using a loading die to decap?

And do you need to decap?  Can't you just resize once the bulled and power are pulled?  Remove the decapping pin from the die if it has one?

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

How do you decap them?  I've never even considered doing it as I would with a fired primer using a loading die to decap?

And do you need to decap?  Can't you just resize once the bulled and power are pulled?  Remove the decapping pin from the die if it has one?

Another problem solved by the FAR more enjoyable expedient of shooting them in other guns  

Considering that you also may distort the bullet during the process, there for loosing it to reuse any way, it is overwhelmingly obvious that your only sane course of action requires a range trip.  

(No charge unless your wife actually buys that line     )

[CJS3]

(No charge unless your wife actually buys that line      )

Her exact quote "You really don't expect me to believe that shit, do you?". It's her standard reply, so I just don't say anything until after it's done.


Alas, a trip to the range with the bolt guns is no longer possible. One went to my step son and the other got sold.

How do you decap them?  I've never even considered doing it as I would with a fired primer using a loading die to decap?

And do you need to decap?  Can't you just resize once the bulled and power are pulled?  Remove the decapping pin from the die if it has one?

Crap! I hadn't even thought of that. Thanks!

[fightingquaker13]

Slightly off topic, but could you give a range report on that Saiga with factory ammo on either the tactical rifle or cafe forums? Enquiring minds want to know.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Her exact quote "You really don't expect me to believe that shit, do you?". It's her standard reply, so I just don't say anything until after it's done.


Alas, a trip to the range with the bolt guns is no longer possible. One went to my step son and the other got sold.

Crap! I hadn't even thought of that. Thanks!

A straight face might have helped, Now you have to admit that one of the voices in the computer told you to do it.
Darn Pal, I'd rather try to blame my neighbors dog .   

[fightingquaker13]

A straight face might have helped, Now you have to admit that one of the voices in the computer told you to do it.
Darn Pal, I'd rather try to blame my neighbors dog .   

And look where that got Berkowitz.
FQ13