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Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

MyM40A2

Private
Minuteman
Jul 27, 2011
63
0
53
Pasadena CA
www.csvca.com
I have a 5 gallon bucket full of this stuff. I was told that it was shot in competition matches as new Lake City Long Range M118 ammo then saved. NO prep or work has ever been done to any of this batch. It is all once fired then never touched again.

So here is my question, I have a bunch of decent brass which seems to be very thick (thicker then what I usually load which is Lapua brass) and I am looking for something interesting to do with it. I wouldn't want to test a new caliber with the Lapua and chance destroying it but I would love to use this stuff for something new.

Yes I can just load it for my 308. But because the brass is pretty thick I would like to use it for something different. Maybe a different caliber? But I can't seem to find any interesting calibers that I would like to shoot that uses the 308 as the parent case. So I am looking for suggestions.

What other caliber can I use this brass for? I know that it can be used for 243 cases. But I want something interesting.

Because I have so much of it I would have plenty to practice and test with. I could try a few different ideas/loads and still have plenty to work with even if I loose a bunch of cases. I have a T/C Encore and I can get a barrel in damn near any caliber that exists for under $300 for a Hbar and around $200 for a standard taper.

I'm thinking a wildcat of some type would be fun. What say you all? What should I do with this brass?
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

I agree, sell it and get some other brass to mess around with. PM me if you are interested in selling it.

It's good brass for sure and would be good for someone running a 308 in tactical matches or in a gas gun. I use it in a gas gun do to the thickness ans durability.

Pat
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

I'm not interested in selling it. Maybe trading for something interesting. But I'd rather try something new with it. Since I have so much to use I feel comfortable trying something different with some of it.

Is there a list of the different calibers that use the 308 as the parent case? I couldn't find anything decent with my search.

I'd like something in the 6.5 range or some 6mm would be interesting as well. Just not a plain jane 243. Maybe a 243 improved. But I'd still like something beyond that.

I currently own
22
223
22-250
30 carbine
7.62x39
30-30
308

I'd like something between the 22-250 and the 30 cals. Something accurate to hunt coyotes to deer and pig.

anyone know of a caliber in 6mm range that I can use the 308 case for other then the 243?
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MyM40A2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a T/C Encore and I can get a barrel in damn near any caliber that exists for under $300 for a Hbar and around $200 for a standard taper.

I'm thinking a wildcat of some type would be fun. What say you all? What should I do with this brass? </div></div>

I'm in the same boat! Those Encore rifles are a blast!

Right now, I can't figure out which caliber to buy next. I have 45/70 & .308. I think I'll go with a 7-30 waters or 7mm-08 next.

The 7mm-08 has some promising features.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MyM40A2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was thinking about it over night. Is there a 6mm or 6.5 cartridge that uses the 308 as a parent case? </div></div>

The 6mm BR is an excellent cartridge, and can shoot bugholes at 100 yds. in some rifles.

However, I'm not certain that the case forming for that particular caliber would be a whole lot of work! 7mm-08 can be formed without any problems in a standard die. However, when you get into forming cases for a cartridge that is significantly shorter than it's parent case you run into issues.

Unless you had a lot of time on your hands, and didn't mind the work, I would sell the brass and buy new equipment with the money.

That's just my opinion.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

the only thing I am thinking you may not want to put up with is neck turning all the necks.with the LC brass being thicker from the start it will neck turning I would think.but not with or for a 7mm/08 but still might.just depends on how tight of a neck you go with if you have a barrel chambered instead of just getting a factory rifel.the factory rifel might get away with out turning the necks for a 7mm/08.but still think anything smaller say 243,260 you will have to ream/turn the necks.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5R milspec</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the only thing I am thinking you may not want to put up with is neck turning all the necks.with the LC brass being thicker from the start it will neck turning I would think.but not with or for a 7mm/08 but still might.just depends on how tight of a neck you go with if you have a barrel chambered instead of just getting a factory rifel.the factory rifel might get away with out turning the necks for a 7mm/08.but still think anything smaller say 243,260 you will have to ream/turn the necks. </div></div>

I don't mind the extra works/steps. I will be using this project for my own education and learning process. This will be my first caliber conversion so I mainly just want to learn how to do it.

After posing this same question on another reloading specific board I have come up with the 260 AI as a main point of interest right now. I am still looking for a new cartridge but so far the 260AI seems to be the front runner. It is accurate down range and still holds a high velocity at 1k. Bucks the wind well and will hold 1300fps over the 308 at 1k.

Interested in the 6.5-284 but haven't researched it enough yet. So I am looking at both of these calibers and still hoping for other ideas as well.

What I'm looking for is a great long range coyote and pig caliber in the 6 or 6.5 family. That will be my main quarry.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

You don't form 6.5-284 from 308 brass. Your 6.5mm choices include 260 and 260AI...or a 260 improved by you, or some other shortened bastardization. Both 260 and 260AI are fine calibers. I'm not a wildcat man, but I know enough to say 260AI isnt worth the trouble. At equal pressure, it is just barely marginally superior to plain 260.

No offense, but you have a LOT of research and reading to do before you embark on this project.

Put me on the list of those interested in buying plain once fired LC Match 308 brass.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RoosterShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MyM40A2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a T/C Encore and I can get a barrel in damn near any caliber that exists for under $300 for a Hbar and around $200 for a standard taper.

I'm thinking a wildcat of some type would be fun. What say you all? What should I do with this brass? </div></div>

I'm in the same boat! Those Encore rifles are a blast!

Right now, I can't figure out which caliber to buy next. I have 45/70 & .308. I think I'll go with a 7-30 waters or 7mm-08 next.

The 7mm-08 has some promising features.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MyM40A2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was thinking about it over night. Is there a 6mm or 6.5 cartridge that uses the 308 as a parent case? </div></div>

The 6mm BR is an excellent cartridge, and can shoot bugholes at 100 yds. in some rifles.

However, I'm not certain that the case forming for that particular caliber would be a whole lot of work! 7mm-08 can be formed without any problems in a standard die. However, when you get into forming cases for a cartridge that is significantly shorter than it's parent case you run into issues.

Unless you had a lot of time on your hands, and didn't mind the work, I would sell the brass and buy new equipment with the money.

That's just my opinion. </div></div>


I love the T/C. You can take 2 barrels on one hunt and be able to take every single animal in North America with those two calibers. Less then 30 seconds and you are shooting the new caliber. Plus you can carry a hvy brl with much less weight all day long.

Fun gun!
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You don't form 6.5-284 from 308 brass. Your 6.5mm choices include 260 and 260AI...or a 260 improved by you, or some other shortened bastardization. Both 260 and 260AI are fine calibers. I'm not a wildcat man, but I know enough to say 260AI isnt worth the trouble. At equal pressure, it is just barely marginally superior to plain 260.

No offense, but you have a LOT of research and reading to do before you embark on this project.

Put me on the list of those interested in buying plain once fired LC Match 308 brass. </div></div>

I know I have a lot of reading and research to do. And this thread is just part of that research. But from what I have read on the 260AI I am very impressed.

as for it not being worth the trouble, well I'm not looking for the easy way out. I want to do a caliber conversion simply for the experience and education of it all. Never done it and always wanted to.

If I there is a better caliber then I'm all ears. I am in no way set on the 260AI. But it does interest me from it's ballistics. And because it would make a great hunting cartridge.


I just want to do something different and new with this brass. I also shoot a 308 and can use this brass myself for the next 20 years or more. If I didn't have a great load already worked up with other brass then I might even consider using it for my 308. I need to add a 6 or 6.5 to my arsenal so this brass will make for an interesting project to do that. Are there easier ways? Of coarse there are. But I'm not looking for easy. easy is boring. Is there a chance that this project could flop? Sure but I will learn a hell of a lot in the process. Which is what I am looking for out of this project.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

In that case you should do a custom wildcat by you. Figure your own body taper and shoulder angle. Maybe shorten the case way down to make it look like a 6mmBR or something.
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In that case you should do a custom wildcat by you. Figure your own body taper and shoulder angle. Maybe shorten the case way down to make it look like a 6mmBR or something. </div></div>

I do believe it is a little toooo soon for me to attempt that. I have been out of reloading for over ten years. SO I have a bunch of reading just to get my self caught back up. As well as learning everything new that has come down the road since I stopped reloading.

Baby steps!
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MyM40A2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was thinking about it over night. Is there a 6mm or 6.5 cartridge that uses the 308 as a parent case? </div></div>

Is that a joke???
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

Hello! The 6.5 would be a 260 Remington, or make it a 260AI. The other choise would be a 7mm-08, seriously consider this cartridge. Check the BC of the 7mm bullets they have some of the best. A friend shoots a 284 (7mm) and uses the new Berger hybrid 180gr. at 600 to 1000 yds. He sez it is the best bullet he has ever used. BILL
 
Re: Once Fired Lake City 308 Match Brass

M40a2,

Factory rounds based on the .308 Win Case:

.243 Win
.260 Rem
7mm-08 Rem
.338 Federal
.358 Win

Popular Wildcats based on the same case:

.22 Cheetah
.243 AI
.25 Souper
.260 AI
.270/308
7mm-08 AI