Safe to reload pressure sign brass

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So how can I check case volume? I'm thinking weigh the empty case, fill with water, weigh again, then compute with specific gravity of water? Nope. Density of water is used.

@Ontario Hunter
I just use a fine ball powder and fill the case to the base of the neck.
In 308 cases the mate uses lapua,PPU, Remington and Winchester there is up to 5 gn difference from the biggest to smallest case capacity. None of his cases will allow him to load 50gn of Varget/2208 without filling the case or overflowing them behind a 130gn projectile.
Yet my federal premium cases will hold the 50gn and will only be slightly compressed when loaded to the same overall length as his 45-48gn
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I necked up some 308, but most of them won’t chamber. I have necked up 30-06 to 35 whelen with out issue. The 308 to 358 gave me problems

@TnKen
That seems strange.
The lee fls with a tapered expander die does the job perfectly. Just lube the case and inside the neck. One pass and done.
The case oal should be a bit shorter when you neck it up but it always pays to check. Even 1-2 thou over length will make it impossible to chamber without force. Another common problem is the shoulder may buckle slightly if you don't use a tapered expander then you end up with a ruined case. How do I know this, because it has happened to me.
Bob

 

[TnKen]

@TnKen
That seems strange.
The lee fls with a tapered expander die does the job perfectly. Just lube the case and inside the neck. One pass and done.
The case oal should be a bit shorter when you neck it up but it always pays to check. Even 1-2 thou over length will make it impossible to chamber without force. Another common problem is the shoulder may buckle slightly if you don't use a tapered expander then you end up with a ruined case. How do I know this, because it has happened to me.
Bob

I don’t know what is causing it either. I used imperial sizing lube and rcbs dies on both 358 and 35 whelen. The necked up 358 brass is definitely shorter than the factory 358 brass. I figured it is in the shoulder area, but don’t know what is going on there.