300 Win Mag Resizing

HKMark23

HKMark23

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Location
The Far East
I'll soon be reloading 300 WM and have a Redding Deluxe 3 die set on the way. My Sierra manual advises not to overdo it resizing belted magnums.

Any tips from guys with experience reloading these would be appreciated. Should I spring for a collet die ?

Thanx
 
I load a .264WM which uses essentially the same case. Of late I have backed off the stroke with a FL die so only 2/3 of the neck is sized. Seems to be working so far. I will FL size if bolt close starts to get stiff. And then, I will just bump the shoulder a minimum amount. You want these belted cartridges to head space on the shoulder, not the belt, or you can run into case stretch and cracks around the head.
 
How many loads you guys getting outa your belteds ?

Been googling around and there's a guy marketing a special body collet die who claims that without his product you're only good for 3 reloads tops.
 
Been googling around and there's a guy marketing a special body collet die who claims that without his product you're only good for 3 reloads tops.
Click to expand...

What do you expect from someone that is trying to justify his product?I usually use a case for 6 to 8 loadings, if I load them near maximum.
 
Unless I'm getting cross-threaded here, a Redding .300 Mag 3 die set is a FL, seating and neck-die. If you're concerned about over-sizeing why not just use the neck die?

I usually lose my cases to loose primer pockets before I have to think about case head sepparations, but most of my favorite rifles don't have oversized chambers to begin with.
 
Dogleg said:
Unless I'm getting cross-threaded here, a Redding .300 Mag 3 die set is a FL, seating and neck-die. If you're concerned about over-sizeing why not just use the neck die?

I usually lose my cases to loose primer pockets before I have to think about case head sepparations, but most of my favorite rifles don't have oversized chambers to begin with.
Click to expand...

Aw, I was reading something about chambering issues due to a bulge forming just forward of the belt. Thats part of the reason I wanted to kick this around a bit here.

Looks like the issue had more to do with marketing than anything else. Anyhow, I don't think I'll be buying any fancy dies unless the saner methods suggested here don't work for me. Looks like the neck sizer and shoulder bumping should suffice.
 
HKMark23 said:
How many loads you guys getting outa your belteds? Been googling around and there's a guy marketing a special body collet die who claims that without his product you're only good for 3 reloads tops.
Click to expand...

I get about 20 reloads without annealing the necks in my .264WM. They always die with a split in the neck. I suspect I could get twice as many reloads if I partial FL sized as I described earlier, and annealed the necks every 5 loads.

The special collet die requirement is rubbish. You should only need it if you want to shoot brass from another gun that has an oversized chamber. And if it is the die I'm thinking of (Larry Willis?), it costs $100 or so. Not worth it. Buy new brass, use it in your chamber only, and treat it well.
 
I have a couple of belted magnums but do not shoot them much, the rifles I play with burn less powder, and the magnums are both very reliable. I have backed off the hot loads I used to shoot, having come to the conclusion that 150 fps is not going to be the difference between success and failure in the stuff I hunt. That said I have very good case life. I full length size as I have a 7mm rem mag built on a Ross, and I want to be sure it chambers easily.
 
When you are setting up your full length die (for resizing brass for one rifle only), place a dime on the shellholder.

Now raise the ram all the way up.

Now screw the full length die down until it just touches the dime. Now turn it half a turn more and lock it into place.

I've found this resizes almost all of the neck, but leaves the shoulder untouched.

Do it and try chambering the finished product. If you feel the bolt close with just a hint of resistance, you are good to go.

Keep sizing like this and shooting until the brass is done, or until it grows too much and requires more sizing. If the latter happens, just full length size it all the way and start again.

FYI, the Lee Collet die is cheap and it really works. Its greatest claim to fame is that it works without even needing to use any kind of lube (a real time-saver).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom