..
- Thread starter cstmwrks
- Start date
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
More than just the weight difference of the brass cases is at stake. Different brass may have a different composition, and therefore a different bullet pull (neck tension) and different pressure behavior.
It would be prudent to work up from scratch in the L-C brass, but the seating depth could remain the same, I would think.
The OCW for the R-P brass is only valid for that brass/bullet/powder combination.
The reason we reload is to fine-tune all of the various components to optimum performance of the system. Change one component - bullet, powder type, brass make, etc. and the balance previously achieved goes out the window.
Paul
More than just the weight difference of the brass cases is at stake. Different brass may have a different composition, and therefore a different bullet pull (neck tension) and different pressure behavior.
It would be prudent to work up from scratch in the L-C brass, but the seating depth could remain the same, I would think.
The OCW for the R-P brass is only valid for that brass/bullet/powder combination.
The reason we reload is to fine-tune all of the various components to optimum performance of the system. Change one component - bullet, powder type, brass make, etc. and the balance previously achieved goes out the window.
Paul
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
I would say load up a couple of 5 round groups using the new brass (of course watching for pressure signs just in case) using the old OWC charge. If it sucks do another OWC workup but do it right around where your last one was. Thats the whole purpose of doing the OWC in the first place. You should be able to use different brass or a different primer and still be ok. I think starting from scratch right off the bat would be kinda stupid, but thats just my opinion.
I would say load up a couple of 5 round groups using the new brass (of course watching for pressure signs just in case) using the old OWC charge. If it sucks do another OWC workup but do it right around where your last one was. Thats the whole purpose of doing the OWC in the first place. You should be able to use different brass or a different primer and still be ok. I think starting from scratch right off the bat would be kinda stupid, but thats just my opinion.
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
Textbook answer will tell you to start from stratch and work up. It's the safest approach. Having said that, you can certainly "cheat" a bit by backing just abit 1-2 grains or so depending on where you are with the powder curve on your current load. I recently did that with my load going from win brass to LC brass. Aside from the obvious drop in volume, LC brass are much firmer than Win, and R brass. So the pressure curve will be different. I found that i only had to back off about 0.5 grain to get the grouping and pressure that I can work with. Be safe.
Textbook answer will tell you to start from stratch and work up. It's the safest approach. Having said that, you can certainly "cheat" a bit by backing just abit 1-2 grains or so depending on where you are with the powder curve on your current load. I recently did that with my load going from win brass to LC brass. Aside from the obvious drop in volume, LC brass are much firmer than Win, and R brass. So the pressure curve will be different. I found that i only had to back off about 0.5 grain to get the grouping and pressure that I can work with. Be safe.
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
You really don't know Jack until you *measure* the case capacities of the two headstamps and quantify the differences.
If your LCs were not fired in that chamber, comparing resized case capacities is not just ordinal-scale, it approaches parity in quantifying the *difference* in case capacities.
Then you can run QuickLOAD and predict how much to reduce the charge.
Some of that weight difference might be on the outside, not the inside. Depth of extractor groove, min vs. max case length, and so forth.
You really don't know Jack until you *measure* the case capacities of the two headstamps and quantify the differences.
If your LCs were not fired in that chamber, comparing resized case capacities is not just ordinal-scale, it approaches parity in quantifying the *difference* in case capacities.
Then you can run QuickLOAD and predict how much to reduce the charge.
Some of that weight difference might be on the outside, not the inside. Depth of extractor groove, min vs. max case length, and so forth.
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
OK, now that we have established that you have your head on straight and are not likely to blow your rifle up, Desert HK's post is the avenue I have taken in the past also. Be careful and have fun. Let us know what you come up with.
Paul
OK, now that we have established that you have your head on straight and are not likely to blow your rifle up, Desert HK's post is the avenue I have taken in the past also. Be careful and have fun. Let us know what you come up with.
Paul
Re: Going from civilian to military brass
mind if i ask where you got that brass? i know the majority of it gets fired through M240's and is in pretty rough shape. i have 400 or so and 90% of them have a tiny dent in the side, probably from the belt links, i would guess.
mind if i ask where you got that brass? i know the majority of it gets fired through M240's and is in pretty rough shape. i have 400 or so and 90% of them have a tiny dent in the side, probably from the belt links, i would guess.
