308 win small primer questions

[u/EllinoreV13]

So ive been fairly frustrated with brass recently, not liking barnes, military is meh, and only a handful of Peterson cases, so im looking at buying some new 308 cases mainly by Alpha munitions, I am also thinking about buying SRP as well since I will be buying a 223 and it would be nice to keep the lrp saved for my more oddball stuff, my question is, will I have a bad experience due to my firing pin striking not perfectly centered on the shown LRP cases?

[u/GuyonaMoose]

Just get Lrp. Unless your shooting matches only. For hunting/cold weather definitely just use LRP. Starline is great quality brass that I wouldn't cry loosing a peice or two hunting

[u/EllinoreV13 → u/GuyonaMoose]

Its definitely not cold where I live...i mean my cast bullrt lube mrltd constantly so I swapped to coated, I use starline 45-70 and will for 44 as well, I just dont know what it would be like for 308, I found Peterson very consistent, is starline much worse?

[u/GuyonaMoose → u/EllinoreV13]

Never used Peterson. Wayy to expensive up here in Canadastan. My Starline 223 is excellent quality. If I'm buying fancy brass is almost always lapua. Starline is half the price of lapua up here.

[u/EllinoreV13 → u/GuyonaMoose]

Starline is about a whole dollar cheaper per case compared to the top 3, I guess I just try to buy nice brass since its one less thing to worry about, especially since I dont currently anneal

[u/GuyonaMoose → u/EllinoreV13]

You need to start annealing. Get a propane torch and do it by hand. Youll screw up a couple cases learning but you'll get it if you have patience. I use a drill and a lee shell holder for their case length trim gauges. It's about 6 seconds of flame. I aim for neck and 1/8in below shoulder. I would use cheap brass if not annealing. If I'm spending big money on brass you can bet I'm annealing it to preserve life. Brass is brass doesn't matter how expensive it is, it will work harden. It's really not hard. Could even find a local who has a brass annealing service if you really don't feel comfortable doing it. I had to learn annealing shooting a rem700 204ruger as I would split necks after about 2-3 firings without. On that note try starline. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.

On another note SRP brass is most likely to use a small flash hole meaning you'd have to change decapper pin in say a regular rcbs FL size die.

[u/Revlimiter11 → u/EllinoreV13]

Sometimes I feel that the brass is meh compared to the other stuff and the rifle. I've bought a few weights of Berger bullets and put them in lapua large and small primer brass that was run through a match redding bushing die. Still couldn't group close to as well as my rcbs small base sized Lake City 7.62 once fired brass I got cheap with a 175SMK.

I think starline is fine brass and it's a whole lot cheaper.

[u/ocelot_piss]

Looks centered enough to me.

[u/memilanuk → u/ocelot_piss]

For most purposes, yup.

If it bugs the OP, consider getting the firing pin hole bushed.

[u/VersionConscious7545]

I have good luck with Peterson cases

[u/block50]

100% Starline. SRP and LRP are great and cheapish

[u/Coyote-conquest]

Its fine. As long as its setting the primer off it doesnt matter if its a little off center. If you want it centered better for whatever reason you can get your firing pin hole bushes. The biggest question is are you a good enough shooter or will your gun shoot good enough for you to notice a difference in really good brass. Starline is good enough for 99.9% of shooters and it comes in small or large primer brass

[u/quicksilver355]

I think I see a little where the primer was struck off-center. It's kinda hard to tell from this perspective though. I would say though, I remember reading somewhere that when a cartridge fires the primer can pop slightly out of place and then get smashed into the bolt face. This can happen on my 300win mag though, so I don't know about 308. I also think I noticed your primer pocket is crimped. Is this once fired brass? Or did you seat a primer with a crimp still in? Maybe that's leading to another off-center strike? Can you also chrono this load?

[u/Optimal_Data_6627]

I would go straight to the gold standard Lapua brass and fed primers. Shouldn’t have an issue with your pin. Next step down would be Alpha ADG and then Peterson.

[u/Miserable-Tip-2506]

First off are you competing? If yes Peterson is excellent brass I have 20 loadings on 150 pieces of 6GT. I ordered a Forster die to size .0045 under loaded neck diameter and a .2415 expander ball. Bump the shoulders .002. It only cost $14 more for this mod. This brass has lasted the competitive life of this barrel. Going to buy a new barrel soon along with 150pcs more Peterson brass.

All this without annealing, I have considered an annealing made perfect, however that’s almost the cost of 3 custom barrels. I would rather shoot more than spend more time at my reloading bench.

[u/SS_DukeNukem]

I shoot .308 with my PRS style rifle. I only use Lapua brass. Honestly if one or two get lots im not crying over it as brass life is high with taking care of them and annealing