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Question for Reloaders

Centuriator

Dude...you're being very un-Dude.
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Minuteman
Jul 3, 2012
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I'm not a reloader, I know, I know. Shame on me and etc. But..here is my question.

I prefer to shoot Federal Gold Medal Match out of my LMT .308. I use a brass catcher so the brass is not lost or dinged around by being flung about the shooting bench area, so it will be once-fired condition, preserved from any major dings from hitting concrete, etc.

I intend to collect and sell the spent cases.

QUESTION

What can I reasonably expect to receive per case? What is the common practice when selling? Bag it and ship it that way?

I do have an ultrasonic cleaner, if I ran the cases through it, would that make a difference?

If I deprime them, how and if so, how much would that increase value of the once-fired brass?

Thanks for any insights you have to share.

And, yes, I know, I should reload, so maybe we can skip that and just answer my questions???

:)
 
FGMM is not highly sought after brass it seems.

Still you should be able to sell it readily enough.

Almost daily there are 500 case lots being sold in the PX so you can get an idea of price.

I am standardizing to FGMM because it seems to fall in to my lap in large quantities.

8 boxes were given to me yesterday.

I plan to load it for three firings in my bolt guns than will load it a few more for the AR10, than just recycle it.

I wont send it out for annealing as I have done with other brass.


Perhaps you should take up reloading........
 
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FGMM is not highly sought after brass it seems.

I was told Federal brass cases are federal cases, the FGMM is kind of irrelevant, that has to do more with bullets and powders, but the cases are the same regardless.

Could you comment on the value of empty cases if I sonic clean them and deprime? Or just sell as is after I shoot them.

Yes, I should reload, but ... I'm not going to. :)
 
Federal is soft brass, most dont want it because they dont want to spend time developing a load for something that will soon be trashed and instead want their work to last awhile.

They people that do want it are the people who will be not shooting it much or they will be shooting a whole lot of it and dont mind losing it so they dont want to pay a lot.

Depriming is easy but it takes 5 seconds per case if youre going fast. Cleaning and drying takes time as well. If I were you I wouldnt waste my time because youre going to want to charge more for your time invested plus equipment and a higher price makes it even less desirable.

Not sure on a specific price becasue I always skip over it. I might consider spending 40 bucks for 500 (Im obviously not your desired market) but 20 cents per case sounds semi reasonable to me provided your chamber didnt stretch the hell out of the case etc. but Im sure at 10 cents per you could probably move it without too much hassle.
 
I was told Federal brass cases are federal cases, the FGMM is kind of irrelevant, that has to do more with bullets and powders, but the cases are the same regardless.

Could you comment on the value of empty cases if I sonic clean them and deprime? Or just sell as is after I shoot them.

Yes, I should reload, but ... I'm not going to. :)

Meh, I like cleaning my own.

Wet Tumblers mess up mouths.

Corn leaves some carbon lube.

Wouldnt pay more for sonic as it probably also - over cleans.

Ive come accustomed to my wax/cob mix prelubing my brass.

Just sell it as is.

Yes all Fed is just FC as far as Im concerned.

If its Federal 7.62X51 though its a crimped primer and that needs to be seperated/made known.
 
I once did an experiment where I reloaded FC commercial brass until failure using 175SMK and 41.7grs of 4064. I stopped at 25x after losing 7 cases to primer pocket failure. The key was the reduced pressure and minimal working of the brass by the Redding body die and LCND. I annealed 3x.

People who use max loads hate this brass but if you use it for moderate loads then it will last just fine.
 
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I once did an experiment where I reloaded FC commercial brass until failure using 175SMK and 41.7grs of 4064. I stopped at 25x after losing 7 cases to primer pocket failure. The key was the reduced pressure and minimal working of the brass by the Redding body die and LCND. I annealed 3x.

People who use max loads hate this brass but if you use it for moderate loads then it will last just fine.

Was this in a gas gun?
 
918v, thanks, that's very helpful. So, what's considered a better or even best brass case for .308? I'm having my best groups, so far, with Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr SMKs, so there's that. I also have had great results with Hornady 125gr, so go figure.
 
918v, thanks, that's very helpful. So, what's considered a better or even best brass case for .308? I'm having my best groups, so far, with Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr SMKs, so there's that. I also have had great results with Hornady 125gr, so go figure.

It depends on the gun and the specific load you’re using. An over gassed AR will destroy your brass pretty quickly. A bolt gun will make your brass last a long time as long as you don’t overpressurize the case.

It is true that FC commercial brass is soft and can’t sustain repeated max loads.

Lapua, FC military MK316 cases, ADG, LC Match from the 60’s, are the best of the heavy cases. But it depends on the specifics of the load. Too many variables.
 
Wet tumbling do not mess up mouths.

But don’t clean them because you won’t be able to prove it’s 1x


"I hear stories" of peening case mouths with the steel pins.

Seem pretty consistent amongst those that complain of it.

I know for a fact the annealer I use wet tumbles and the first loading of that brass sucks.

Anything going in the case mouth - size ball, expander, bullet - sticks and squeeks.

Totally screws up my progressive operation - doesnt promote consistent feel.

I will need a different annealer if he cant switch cleaning methods.

Should just get my own annealer but.........
 
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Headed to the range right now to fire some once fired FGMM .308 175 reloads.

When I was at the range yesterday, another shooter......."Hey do you reload?"

Me......"Yes, yes I do.

Shooter "Here."


1565204195876.png


I have so much I can not reload it.
 
It depends on the gun and the specific load you’re using. An over gassed AR will destroy your brass pretty quickly. A bolt gun will make your brass last a long time as long as you don’t overpressurize the case. It is true that FC commercial brass is soft and can’t sustain repeated max loads. Lapua, FC military MK316 cases, ADG, LC Match from the 60’s, are the best of the heavy cases. But it depends on the specifics of the load. Too many variables.

Thanks.