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I suspect that if you backed this one down a bit, you could get the 35 reload cycles I was getting.

That is the difference the last 75 fps makes, you have pushed it beyond its <metallurgical> capabilities. Actually, I never lost a primer pocket, but started to get body cracks and a couple of ICHS.

I am pushing 155s at 2950 fps, and my cases (Win) are lasting 35 reload cycles!

Ding, Ding; we have a winner........

As mentioned before: the 168 SMK is a big part of your problem. High BC 155s {Berger, Lapua Scenar, SMK (2156), and a few others} are vastly better than the 168 SMK. High BC 175 SMK and some of the other heavies will also work significantly better than the 168 SMK. So, drop the 168 SMK, and...

This is what I though of when I read the OP. A brake is seldom necessary for 308W when the shooter weighs more than 120 pounds. If the rifle goes out of control when the thing goes bang, then you have not positioned yourself behind it properly.

The <good> 155s will reach 1300 with 3000 fps. Now it is true that the 155 (2155) SMKs did need almost 3000 fps to reach 1000 yards, but the modern high BC 155s don't.

If you are really paying attention, you will also notice that more recoil also coincides with more torque on the rifle. Newtons law on the spin side.

7-08 will reach 1500 yards 7WSM will each 1700 yards It seems to me the bullet makers have pushed the 7mm bullets to higher BCs than they have pushed the 30 caliber bullets. Conversely, one can say, it might take too much powder/case volume to push a 30 caliber bullet to the BCs one can get in...

JBM says that the 175 SMK goes Mach (1.0) at just over 1000 yards at 3849 feet altitude STP from a MV=2550 (that is not even pushed hard). Most 175 LR shooters can get into the 2625-2650 range, a few even over 2700.

My 155 Scenar loads will get to 1200y supersonically, 1300y with a bit of altitude help.

What you need is some measurements to determine which of the myriad of sizing parameters is not being satisfied by your current die. So ink it up with a sharpie and run it through a cycle. It could be the neck is too long, the bullet seated too far out, the shoulder too long, the body too wide...

{donning flame proof suit} I suggest that the best place to start is with a 22LR bolt action rifle. You can shoot it 20X as often for the same cost structure as a 223. And at the beginning of a shooting career, you need that added practice time. If you put a descent scope on it you can play...

The way a brake works is by directing gas, lots of it, in the opposite direction it would have gone if the brake were not present. So, basically, brakes will ruffle your hair. Anything less than a 300 WM with 208+ bullets does not need a brake, in my opinion.

ARs will lob the spent cases at 90 degrees to the direction the rifle is pointing when the load is "timed" correctly. If the case is lobbed out towards the front, the "timing" is late (bullet slow). Too little pressure in the barrel when the bullet passes the gas hole. If the case is...

The only thing I would add to the above is there are rational for higher firepower rifles for inside 300-400 yard work....something like an AR15.

This is not an accurate representation of reality. Some people have agendas, the guns don't care one way or the other. If you can get a 155 up into the 2850 fps range (perfectly possible in 20") the 155s will make it to 1000 yards. The 155s prefer to be over 2950 fps and make it to 1125...

My guess is that your chamber is a little on the generous side--which dimension I cannot say. You have found a recipe for the interior volume of the virgin cases, but this charge weight lands on an anti-node after being fire formed. Thus, you should take the fire formed cases and develop a load...

In my opinion, it is not the bronze that has the potential of damaging the throat and lands, it is the core bumping into the end of the throat. So, if you feel the brush enter the lands and do not push the brush until you are sure the core has entered the rifling, the potential to damage...

100-200 cases 20 pounds of powder 2000 primers 2000 bullets And you are good to go for a while.