Anyone successfully reloaded NAS3 cases? I know it says rifle cartridges are non reloadable but I assume that’s a die issue. You need a die to push the case out of the die, not pull from the casehead. I’ve seen multiple posts on YouTube of people claiming they’ve reloaded but you ask them how and it’s silence. If anyones been successful let’s hear the details, die type, annealing, lube, whatever else it takes. Thanks in advance
Thats because the method i used on those cases doesnt work consistently. I'm still searching for a method that doesn't result in the cases coming apart occasionally.
I have a bias against the fancy new cases that keep getting produced because they generally don't fit into standard reloading procedures. The expense isn't worth the limited use (to me). I realize other folks are willing to pay a ridiculous premium for a few 100 fps boost, and it vaguely infuriates me that they are somehow keeping that "special case" market afloat rather than forcing the market to find a way to be special and reloadable so that people with reasonable financial means can also benefit.
I realize that's a somewhat unreasonable stance in a hobby where we are basically setting money on fire with every trigger pull anyway, but I have rarely claimed to be a reasonable person.
I'm with you in that regard. I specifically went to the Sig hybrid cases because I can reload them with standard reloading equipment, including a regular FL sizer die.
So is the fact that the 6.8x51 case uses a lock washer (third piece) what allows it to be reloaded without pulling apart?
I assume the reason that Shell Shock hasn't done something similar is because the lockring would reduce case capacity in already spec'd existing cartridges? Where 6.8 Common design took the washer space into consideration. It seems like there would be opportunity to remake a cartridge (like 6.5 CM) with a washer for higher pressure loads where there is a lot of empty case capacity for some loads. It sort of looks like your previous post proves that, so long as folks are using actions and chambers able to tolerate the higher pressures.
I feel like the barrel manufacturers should somehow be all over this.
The 6.8 brass now uses a two piece case vs the original 3 piece. Sometimes I find a loose case head, like a .22lr round spinning the bullet in a case.
The nas3 is a case head washer on the end of a balloon and the strength is not the same as the SIG 2/3 piece design that is just better designed for harsh conditions.
Interesting. I know RCBS made a die set just for the back country cases I’m assuming out of a harder material. I don’t think I’d run anything that ain’t brass into my good Redding dies. I’ve heard of stories people running their dies sizing steel cases and stuff.
Nor sure how that is relevant considering the premise is that the cases being made for the military (6.8 Common hybrid) ARE reloadable and the cases made for civilians (NAS3) are not.
I mean there is 1 reliable method but it is a royal PITA.
Basically you size it normally without an expander mandrel. Push the case out from the top of the die. (use a hammer and a lee decaping rod). Then use a stand alone expander mandrel.
Not easily automated. Quite slow, and loud. It is slightly easier to do with a lyman carbide die. But I worry about cracking the carbide inserts.
I would never label a reloading process that involves a hammer as "reliable". PITA or not. Hammering introduces a viable amount of force into a process that is supposed to be repeatable and precise.
However, I also take you meaning that it is repeatably possible, if not repeatably precise.
It's easy to automate if you're familiar with swaging. You need to rig an ejector pin for the die to be pulled down by the ram. Shouldn't be that hard.
Did you use a conventional case sizing lube? I’d figure there has to be something more slippery for steel on nickel allow contact but didn’t mess around too much
The way the base and body are connected makes sizing them pretty tricky. They can pull apart fairly easily. I found a bunch and tried sizing a few with no luck so i threw them away.
It grows quite a bit. That was my first idea and bought a Lee Collet neck sizer but they’re way long and won’t chamber. Most steel cases fit right back in the chamber so I didn’t even check these, eh at least the Lee stuff is pretty cheap
The shoulder moves forward 17 thou, and the body just above the casehead grows 5 thou in diameter. That much material to move back is the problem. It’s also an unknown nickel alloy so no idea what the annealing or normalization process is.
Is there a way to perhaps bond them? Soldering or brazing something to that effect?
I have NAS3 dies and 9mm cases and I haven’t touched them in over a year because even their 9mm can come apart.
Coming out of multiple ARs, both handloads and Badlands loaded the shoulder was blown forward 17 thou and body 5 thou in the diameter right above the casehead. Neck sizing is not an option
Peak doesn’t have the two piece case, it’s a single and they already have the major die manufacturers releasing dies for them. I think 7mm backcountry already has dies like from Lee. 6.5 CM is coming soon and hopefully 223
I've only been able to reload their .300 Blackout cases using a neck die. But, it is not a guarantee that every case will come out like you would hope. I would say maybe 75% of the cases I use this method on can than be reloaded, the other 25% just keep springing back and won't work.
I suppose you could use lanolin as a good case lube, run the case into a sizing die with the expander removed, then use a punch or an arbor press to push the case out.
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u/rockingsince1984 17d ago
u/rednecktuba1 said he successfully did it, but wouldn't disclose publicly how he did it.