Bamban

For you guys who shot with the military rifle teams using the M14s. Could you please validate the statement made to me that some service rifle teams, maybe the Marines, used the small primer 308 BR brass for the long line?

I ran across some BR brass that I would like to use for my 30 caliber gas guns, I am looking for loads, however stout, using these brass since these will be used primarily from 600 on out.

I started shooting HP using the little rifle, now I am going back in time learning how to shoot the man's rifle.

Thanks in advance.

Phil McGrath

Sorry, there ammo was issued on the line just like everyone else's at the time.

Dimitri

I though 308BR was ment to be used in Remington's XP-100 pistols not in 308Win rifles. You can produce 30BR by forming and cutting down 308Win brass.

Unless you mean 30 UBR which is 308Win brass with a small primer that Remington was selling so you can form it yourself.

Dimitri

Bamban

Dimitri

The boxes are just labeled simply 308 BR, and yes these are the unprimed 308 Winchester BR brass from Remington with small primers.


Phil,

Thanks.

Dimitri

Remington used to sell unformed 308BR to be formed to match the chamber being used it to make it "more accurate" then they went on to sell "standard" performed 308BR brass. As far as I know anyways.

Dimitri

M90A1

Just saw this, so my apologies for the late reply. In the late eighties or early nineties, the Marines at Quantico built two M14s to use this brass. Their intention was to beat the Army at Camp Perry in the 1,000 yard Service Rifle matches, and it worked. The armorer responsible for those rifles designed and had made a custom reamer just for that brass. After they won the match at Perry, I asked that armorer to chamber a Rem 700 for me, which he did. As far as I know, mine is the only bolt gun ever chambered with that reamer. Standard size .308 will not even chamber in this rifle.
The load was 44 grains of 4064, used a CCI BR primer, and was loaded with the early Sierra 180gr MatchKing.(that loading is not recommended) Sierra changed the nose and boattail profile of the 180 about this time, and the new bullet didn't work as well as the early. I still have four rounds of the Marine ammo that was given to me to use as samples to load more ammo for my bolt-gun.
As far as I know, those rifles were only used one year.

For what it's worth, I've been looking for those four rounds of ammo that I mentioned above since I first posted, and just now found them. I dated the box when it was given to me by the armorer and that date was 6/90. For the life of me, I can't remember whether that was the year the Marines shot those special 14s at Perry, or the year after, but at least I've narrowed it down to '89 or '90.

green3845

Nez-

It is my understanding that this brass was made to neck down, size or otherwise form into any of the .476" wildcats based on the .308 head. I don't think it's suitable for real .308 loads because of the annealing far down the case body.

Source was Ubl, when we were still speaking.

I lost your address. Do you still want that NM sight base?
Email me if you do!
Clint

M90A1

This would not be a good idea, unless you had the rifle chambered with the special reamer I alluded to in my other post. The brass is way too light and the neck thickness way too thin for a standard chamber(will expand too much). You might split the necks immediately upon firing. Regular .308 sizing dies won't work with this brass, either. The necks have to be sized with a bushing die.

Bamban

Sorry for the late response, just got back from vacation.

Thank you for your replies. I have my own 308 reamer Dave Kiff made for me. I have used it in a couple of bolt guns and in an AR10T upper that I just got back a week ago. The reamer is a combination of the Bisley and Obermeyer dimensions with a neck dimension of .341. If I can talk someone to contour and chamber a barrel blank for me using my reamer I will give it a try in one of my M1As or NM M1s. The brass fired from the AR10T or the bolt guns will slide right in the Wilson case gauge without resizing.

Just curiosity on how my reamer compares with the Marines' chamber I can email you the reamer drawing maybe you compare the measurements against the brass fired form your Marine chambered bolt gun just for education.

BTW, I truly appreciate you confirming what I heard about the BR brass used by the Marine big team.

Bamban

Clint,

Yes, I still do. Check your email.

Gracias...

M90A1

No problem. There really are very few people knew anything about the project, so I'm glad I saw your question. Now, I'll have to dig up some of my fired brass. I recently moved, and finding things is still a challenge. :)

kraigWY

When running the AKNG marksmanship unit I bought serveral cases of 308 BR cases. Yes they were designed to be used in making other cases but I loaded them for our Match M14s using CCI SR BR primers, 42 grns of 4895 and SMKs 168 & 180s ( they didnt have the 175s back then).

They shot like a house on fire. Best brass I've found. The problem is, we had problems reloading them as the necks wouldn't size down enough to hold the bullet. We didnt have access to special sizing dies back then. You have to remember it was illegal to use fed funds for reloading, and our state funds were limited.

I still have tons of that brass and am looking for a good die to reload them. The Lee Factory crimp works somewhat but I believe there has to be something better. I just havent found it yet.

Bamban

KraigWY

Assuming .012 brass neck thickness, .328 or .329 neck bushing might just work.

M90A1

Check this place out. They have everything you'll need to reload those cases.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/

Or, this place.

http://www.neiljones.com/