I'll be loading some rds for a friend who just bought a new 7600 in 308. I've heard I'll need small base dies to load for it. I've also heard the 7600 is a bit stronger than the 760, so no need to worry about loading light? Bigger lugs is the rumor. Any truth to this? What say the campfire? Any real world experience on loading for the 7600's?

Check a few to see if the small base dies are needed.

As for load data i just use the book as a guide,it has worked for a long time.
Loaded for one in 6mm Rem.and everything went well.

Doubt there's much difference in strength, bigger lugs but less of them (4 vs 14). Load as you would for any .308. Both are fine for factory spec ammo, but I wouldn't hot rod either one. Small base dies are recommended because it doesn't have the camming force a bolt gun has to start the extraction process and a sticky case can cause issues.

Never bothered w/small base dies in my rebored 35 Whelen, a beloved "basket weave" 760. Never an issue! Shoot any manner of 250 gr. bullets @ about 2450 fps so not a real hotrod either.
Cheers

I have had three 7600's (270's and 30-06) none of which required small base dies. I have had a another rifle which did require small base dies many years ago - I think in the 80's or there abouts. I don't recall but it was either a 760 or a Win 88 in 308.
If you have 308 dies, try reloading with them - or borrow some dies. If the small base dies are needed then buy them - that's what I'd do.
As for loads, I would use the same as in my bolt guns. But I never hot-rod. If I want a faster load, I get a bigger case.

I don't own a .308 or the die set for one... yet Would accuracy suffer if I used the small base die and the chamber didn't require it? Any real need to crimp with bullets with cannelures? I'll be loading old school Win silvertips.

grovey

I load for many 7600/760's in five different calibers. Never used small base dies or felt the need to in any caliber.

No need to load the 7600 or 760 lighter than a bolt action of similar caliber--even the Whelen. BOTH are strong actions.

Your COL for the 7600 will probably be determined by the magazine length. No real need to crimp but I do when loading the 35Rem and 358Win. Most of the other bullets I use don't have a cannalure so I don't crimp and never had a problem.

There is a reason why Remington issues a chamber cleaning brush with each new 7600/750. Make sure you clean the chamber when you clean the bore and you will not have any feeding issues.

Oh, and don't be surprised if that 308 shoots under MOA. Most 7600's do!

WN

Whelen Nut hit it on the head - 100%, in my opinion. I remember why I had small base dies now. A friend gave me a 5 gallon bucket full of 7.62 once fired in a M60. That M60 must have had a large chamber. It had nothing to do with the type of rifle I had at the time. The rifle I had in 308 at that time was a Remington 600. I only had to use those dies once on those cases. After that I used standard dies, because using small base dies wias be a pain to resize cases and it over worked the cases.

Whelen Nut is the king of self-shuckers.

Thanks guys. All good info. I was hoping to get by without the sb dies. Like I mentioned this is for a friend, but it'll be ME and my wallet gathering the stuff to make it happen for him. If I know him it'll be a payment plan to get paid back...

It's been several years ago but the 7600 in 308 I had, chambered just fine with standard dies.
Mine was fussy about feeding from the magazine and the nose of the bullet didn't always aim right down the center of the chamber so I had to thump it an extra time or two to get that second round pointed down the chamber. No fault of the dies.
It sure shot well.

Had one in 30-06 and it did not need sb dies. I wasn't very accurate so down the road it went but had no issues fl sizing.

Grovey


I never needed small base dies for 222Rem.,257 R, 300 Savage,270 or 30-06.