Somthing interesting for MN reloaders

[Old Ironsights]

(As I am destined to become)

Firstly, I know nuthink, nuuuthink about reloading bottlenecks, but this sure looks interesting.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/colletswap/index.asp

Now, I've got to get the dies, moulds, etc (not to mention a good cosmoline remover) for my 91/30, but at least I've got a decently long-range gun with a good bore for use in WY now...

[MtGun44]

good thinking. :smile:

I'll give it a try sometime. I like collet dies and they are good for getting
long case life plus good accuracy.

Bill

[docone31]

I boil off the Cosmoline.
Works prettty well.
Wife shoots them so she is silent.

[dualsport]

Suppose this would work with the .303 collet dies? I've got those, might not size the neck down quite so much.

[beemer]

A 303 collet will size about half of the neck a 7.62X54 case, a 308 collet will size about half the neck of a 30-30. I have played around with them and it works fine, probably would FL size then hunting but it works good in the back yard.

If you have a 303 collet die you can order an extra collet and mandrel and shorten them to work on a 7.62X54.

dualsport, you are right about the 303 die not sizing the necks as much. You can fudge a little with a collet die and not size as heavy or if you have a lathe you can make a custom mandrel.

Dave

[mike in co]

the problem is 308 type sizing is all wrong for most mn's!
they have 310 plus bores and 308 sizing will kill cast boolits!
heck if that is what you want just buy thier lee loader, it is a neck sizer and is based on 308 bullets.

what we need is a collet in 310....and another in 312 for those really big bore mn's.

mike in co

[doubs43]

Just an observation with regards to the linked web site, surplus rifles. In reviewing several firearms' synopsis', I find numerous instances of incomplete, incorrect or misleading information. While it may have no bearing on this thread's topic, I'd be very careful using it as a source reference.

Just a fer instance is the claim that the Luger pistol is named the P.-08 meaning Parabellum-08. P-08 stands for Pistolen 08 or Pistol, Model of 1908. Whoever wrote the information simply didn't do much research.

[mike in co]

yep and one can shoot jacketed 308 in mn...but will not have much luck with a 308 boolit.

mike in co

[Three44s]

My M38 shoots Win. Power point .308" J-words into golf balls at 45 yds with the factory irons.

Three 44s

[mike in co]

My M38 shoots Win. Power point .308" J-words into golf balls at 45 yds with the factory irons.

Three 44s

if you call that "accurate" and you are happy, good.
if that was all my rifle could do i would sell it...i shoot 100 military bolt action bench rest.

yes lots of gun can be SHOT with 308, how well they shoot is another story.

the best jacketed i have shot so far is the hornady 0.3105 174 fmj bt.



mike in co

[WineMan]

I had LEE open up an extra 308 Collet and put in a 303 Brit mandrel. IIRC it mikes at 0.309 vs 0.306 for the 308 mandrel. For a 0.311" slug you get a tension of 0.002" ok for US 30 cals. I have found this to be a bit snug for the 0.312" boolits I use in a Finn M39 and definitely too tight for any 0.313-0.314"+ boolits.

I am still looking for the right solution and Larry Gibson's recommendation for a modified 284 Win Redding Bushing die is the way to go. I just need to spend the money (same price as most MN's) and get it done and then all will be good in MN land.

Happy New Year to All!

Wineman

[Radio Flyer]

I had LEE open up an extra 308 Collet and put in a 303 Brit mandrel. IIRC it mikes at 0.309 vs 0.306 for the 308 mandrel. For a 0.311" slug you get a tension of 0.002" ok for US 30 cals. I have found this to be a bit snug for the 0.312" boolits I use in a Finn M39 and definitely too tight for any 0.313-0.314"+ boolits.

I am still looking for the right solution and Larry Gibson's recommendation for a modified 284 Win Redding Bushing die is the way to go. I just need to spend the money (same price as most MN's) and get it done and then all will be good in MN land.

Happy New Year to All!

Wineman

Has anyone contacted Lee on this?

They are often open to custom modifications, I had them make several custom die sets and standard set modifications in the past and I thought the charges were reasonable.

[BCall]

heck if that is what you want just buy thier lee loader, it is a neck sizer and is based on 308 bullets.

mike in co

I don't know anything about how much neck tension it provides, but oddly enough, the Lee Loader uses exactly the same die for the 303 Lee Loader and the 7.62x54R Loader. They were listed on Lee's site, but I guess they won't sell the die as parts anymore.


(As I am destined to become)

Firstly, I know nuthink, nuuuthink about reloading bottlenecks, but this sure looks interesting.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/colletswap/index.asp

Now, I've got to get the dies, moulds, etc (not to mention a good cosmoline remover) for my 91/30, but at least I've got a decently long-range gun with a good bore for use in WY now...

Oddly enough I have used this same procedure to neck size some 218 bee brass in a 22 hornet collet die. Lee said the 218 bee was too short to to make a custom collet die for, but the neck is shorter than a hornet is, so using a washer allows me to use the same die on both except the decapping rod is too short to deprime the case when doing this. It works, but I would like to modify one to work without using the washer/ Just haven't decided on how to do it yet. Billy