Need Help: .308 FTF

[sabot_round]

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here but...have you pulled a bullet from the FTF cartridges and check to see if you have any powder in it? I've seen this before from a reloader that used to pull cases from the tray, charge them and return them to the tray. He lost track of where he was at and skipped an entire row, thus causing the FTF in multiple cartridges.

I have never experienced a bad batch of primers in over 10 years of reloading.

[Zombie Steve]

I'd definitely seat a M80 bullet deeper. You want as much of the bearing surface on the bullet in contact with as much as the neck as possible (don't forget the boat tail isn't touching anything). M14 actions are pretty violent. In general, the rule of thumb is you want to have at least one caliber width making contact with the neck (in your case, .308" touching... again, the boat tail doesn't count). They'll look strange, and not as cool as NATO rounds, but they'll behave better getting battered around in your action. If that means you can't crimp into the groove, so be it. Don't crimp. JMHO.


All that said, I don't think that's your problem. If you re-chambered and they didn't fire, it's not an issue with high primers.

My experience is the same as sabot... never had a batch of bad primers. Maybe I'm just lucky... but that could be it.

Just to be sure... you aren't one of those guys that oils his ammo or anything, are you? Any possible source of contamination from case lube?

Seems like if there was just no powder, you'd still pop the primer.

Lastly, are you sure you don't have your numbers mixed up? I thought James Bond shot .380, not .308.

[james_bond_007]

I'd definitely seat a M80 bullet deeper. You want as much of the bearing surface on the bullet in contact with as much as the neck as possible (don't forget the boat tail isn't touching anything). M14 actions are pretty violent. In general, the rule of thumb is you want to have at least one caliber width making contact with the neck (in your case, .308" touching... again, the boat tail doesn't count). They'll look strange, and not as cool as NATO rounds, but they'll behave better getting battered around in your action. If that means you can't crimp into the groove, so be it. Don't crimp. JMHO.

As they say when doing the Limbo, ...How low can you go ?
What would you recommend for MIN OAL for this?
(I'm OK with crimping it and NOT catching the cannilure)

All that said, I don't think that's your problem. If you re-chambered and they didn't fire, it's not an issue with high primers.

Any basis for the WLRM primers possibly being too "hard" ? I wouldn't think so, for the M1A's military firing group though.

Just to be sure... you aren't one of those guys that oils his ammo or anything, are you? Any possible source of contamination from case lube?

Cases were lubed before full length sizing, then primer pockets cleaned (RCBS wire brush-thing chucked in a Dremel till pockets shined). Retumbled in corn cob media to shine up and clean off lube. Decap pin used to poke through flash hole to ensure no media was in the flash hole, case then tapped upside down to ensure any media was "knocked out".

Primers were THEN taken out their box. All had the green "sealant" on the cup-side. Primed using the Lee 50th Anniversary press primer attachment (not "hand primed").

Lastly, are you sure you don't have your numbers mixed up? I thought James Bond shot .380, not .308.

Nice....

FYI: Although the Walther PPK and PPK/S came in a .380, James Bond was know for having one chambered in 7.65mm (aka .32 ACP)...at least in the movies.
But talk about this stuff belongs in another thread...

[james_bond_007]

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here but...have you pulled a bullet from the FTF cartridges and check to see if you have any powder in it? I've seen this before from a reloader that used to pull cases from the tray, charge them and return them to the tray. He lost track of where he was at and skipped an entire row, thus causing the FTF in multiple cartridges.

I have never experienced a bad batch of primers in over 10 years of reloading.

I'll check...
But even so, all I heard was a "click". Seems like a primer only would at least go "pop" and a charged cartridge "BANG". The range was not very crowded that day, so I would have been able to hear it through electronic ear muffs.

Thanks for the "shot" (pun intended) !!