I know this topic has been beat to death, but.... I am not new to reloading, just new to .308 reloading. I am awaiting the arrival of an OBR and want to start getting up to speed with the reloading so I can hit the door running when it gets here. I have ALOT of 7.62 that I pulled of our range at my base. Can I get a good accurate load using these cases? I hate to throw them away cause I have so many of them. But I dont want to spend alot of time perfecting a round if Im already limited in the accuracy I can get out of it. Also, since all of the data I have found seems to be reloading a .308 case, what precautions do I need to take using a 7.62? Thanks in advance.
7.62 reloading
- Thread starter Munson
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Re: 7.62 reloading
I've shot MOA-slightly better with old (70s or 80s don't recall)army range 7.62, can't swear that particular rifle would gain anything with commercial, it never had any. None of that brass was neck turned, pockets or flashholes uniformed, just decrimped and sized. The precaution is 7.62 has a thicker web than commercial .308, this decreases case capacity, start load development atleast a couple grains down from max.
I've shot MOA-slightly better with old (70s or 80s don't recall)army range 7.62, can't swear that particular rifle would gain anything with commercial, it never had any. None of that brass was neck turned, pockets or flashholes uniformed, just decrimped and sized. The precaution is 7.62 has a thicker web than commercial .308, this decreases case capacity, start load development atleast a couple grains down from max.
Re: 7.62 reloading
I've used some with great success. The only problem I have with it is that the reduced capacity kind of hamstrings me with my favorite bullet. I can't safely get enough powder in them to send my 175 gr bullets downrange as fast as I want. The Commercial brass does have room and works better.
IMHO if you're just shooting 150 gr or so bullets the brass is great.
One word of caution. The NATO ammo is loaded pretty stout. So much so that crimped primers are required. A lot of it too has been fired in the M-60 which can create some real stress at the point where the case walls join the head. I've sectioned several Nato cases for inspection and find that even when once-fired, there is a pronounced "separation ring" starting to form.
If you have the brass already, load away. Just start about 10% off the recommended commercial brass and work up carefully. For me, I had to reduce loads for my 175 gr bullets by 2 gr of Varget.
I've used some with great success. The only problem I have with it is that the reduced capacity kind of hamstrings me with my favorite bullet. I can't safely get enough powder in them to send my 175 gr bullets downrange as fast as I want. The Commercial brass does have room and works better.
IMHO if you're just shooting 150 gr or so bullets the brass is great.
One word of caution. The NATO ammo is loaded pretty stout. So much so that crimped primers are required. A lot of it too has been fired in the M-60 which can create some real stress at the point where the case walls join the head. I've sectioned several Nato cases for inspection and find that even when once-fired, there is a pronounced "separation ring" starting to form.
If you have the brass already, load away. Just start about 10% off the recommended commercial brass and work up carefully. For me, I had to reduce loads for my 175 gr bullets by 2 gr of Varget.
Re: 7.62 reloading
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. I do think these were used from the M60 so I will check out what you talked about. It sounds like they might be good for plinking, maybe running in a little closer where precision is not required. But when I want to go long, I should shell out cash for some .308 brass
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. I do think these were used from the M60 so I will check out what you talked about. It sounds like they might be good for plinking, maybe running in a little closer where precision is not required. But when I want to go long, I should shell out cash for some .308 brass
Re: 7.62 reloading
I have used lots of LC Brass common to the military and have had good success aswell... I am able to get plenty of powder in the cases to push a 175 well over 2600 fps which is really where you want to be, but I have known others that could not get their rifle to run it aswell... Just take your time loading and sizing/trimming the case and have fun...
That is what it is all about anyways...
Good Luck!!!
I have used lots of LC Brass common to the military and have had good success aswell... I am able to get plenty of powder in the cases to push a 175 well over 2600 fps which is really where you want to be, but I have known others that could not get their rifle to run it aswell... Just take your time loading and sizing/trimming the case and have fun...
That is what it is all about anyways...
Good Luck!!!
