Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Sizing .308 to 7/08 ?

Has anyone resized .308 brass to 7/08 ? I see that .308 brass is available with small primer pockets. Since I can buy all the small rifle primers that I want and large rifle are not to be found in my area I thought I would try this. Would the brass end up being too short or is there some other reason not to do this.

I have sized 308 to 7mm08 without any issues. Worked well in a Bergara B14 Ridge. Got good groups as well. Had a buddy who wanted it more than me, so I sold it to him.

There is a small chance the necks of the loaded rounds may not have enough clearance in the chamber. I have encountered this myself.


The success of the experiment may be powder/primer dependent. I've had no trouble lighting off 40+ grains of IMR4350 in Creedmoor cases using Remington 7 1/2 and CCI 450 primers. That's an extruded powder. I don't know how a 7/08 quantity of ball powder will get along with small primers. Maybe someone else will chime in on that point.


On the plus side, careful sizing of the brass will allow you to set up perfect headspace on the first firing.

I think I will buy 50 of the Starline brass and give it a try. As far as the primers I have plenty of suitable extruded powder.My Speer manual #14 calls for magnum primers when using ball powders so I'll stick with the extruded.Thanks for the comments as I am a casual reloader and not an expert like you guys.

Scheels has 15% off all reloading components. 7Mm-08 is $54 per 100

https://www.scheels.com/p/starline-...AQ#q=starline&lang=en_US&start=3

If you are feeling cute Bruno’s has Alpha for $107 per 100

https://www.brunoshooters.com/produ...remington-large-rifle-primer-pocket-100/

If you don’t want to deal with resizing and incorrect headstamps

Ive taken 308 down to 7-08 and have had no issues with the neck thickness. The easiest way to tell is to neck maybe 3 cases down, then seat 7mm bullets. Measure the diameter of the necks with a caliper, and if they don't exceed .343" you're good to go.

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The OP’s issue is primers, not brass. He can obtain small rifle primers, not large rifle, hence small rifle brass.

Should be .315 according to drawings.

Would a change in primer size necessitate a change in firing pin diameter?

Can't speak to the primer question, but I have neck sized 308 to 7-08 with no issues. I have used Nosler 308 brass in the wife's Tikka 7-08 for years. It shoots several different loads into less than 1" 4 shot groups. Also takes a looonnnnggg time before you ever need to trim the brass!

One of my 7mm-08 factory rifles has been fed once-fired W-W 308 cases from the very beginning. No issues.

Good price on Starline and free shipping

Thanks for the info, guys. Luckily I found 1000 cci 200's in a local shop yesterday.Should be good for a few years.

A few months ago, I bought 500 pieces of decapped and cleaned military 308. Half of it became 7-08, half of it became 260 Rem. It all worked well.

About 99 % of the brass I shoot in my 260s and my 7/08 have 308 on the head stamp...
Pretty much ALL of it is range pick up brass... pretty well most of the brass I shoot is range pick up.

I think the last brass I had to pull out my wallet for was when I picked up a 6.5 Grendel in a Ruger American Predator.
That was a couple of years ago now.

All of my 243 and 260 brass is 308 headstamped Lapua.

I do this to generate a neck wall thickness that I can turn down to a uniform thickness I want, not something I have to settle for.

The first step is a trip through a 7-08 die.

Jus buy Starline brass directly from them, 250 pieces for $129.00 shipped and be done with.