.303 and W W Super brass

Huntsman LXXII

Huntsman LXXII

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I am pretty new to reloading and I ran into a problem while testing my loads at the range today.

Bullet: Speer 150gr Spitzer
Powder: IMR 4895
Primer: CCI 200
Brass: Once fired FC and W W Super

Loads: 40 - 44 gr in .5 gr increments (5 rounds each load)

The problem arose at 42.5 g on a W W Super cartridge showed incipient head separation. The FC cartridges were fine. The 43 gr loads were all FC brass and were all fine. The first 43 g load on a W W Super separated completely at the web.

I understand Enfields are hard on brass but this was once fired, trimmed and very carefully measured powder loads. (Almost anal attention to measurements as I am new at this). Are these W W Super brass prone to failure? Should I scrap the rest on continue developing loads using the FC brass? Or could this be a possible headspacing issue?
 
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Almost all of my .303 British case problems are from WW Super brass. I have had one case head separate and several that almost did. Several split necks and cracks on the shoulders. None of these issues are in cases fired more than 3 times.

I now only use WW Super brass for lower pressure loads (cast bullets or plinking loads using .32 pistol bullets). I have never had these issues with Remington, PRVI, or Federal .303 British cases.

I would continue load development with the FC cases and relegate the WW Super cases to low pressure loads.
 
Well - There is a lot of brass sold as once fired .... For other calibers, it may not matter, but for 303, there is a risk in buying used brass of unknown pedigree. I've had relatively good luck with WW brass.
On another note, as a rookie you probably read the die instructions and full length resized your brass. This can contribute to your problem as the brass expands tremendously at the shoulder, stretching the case. The solution is to partially resize your brass, or necksize.
This is not a headspace issue, its the nature of the military LE chamber spec.
 
Yes, I FL resized it as I wasn't positive the brass was fired from my .303 or my buddies, since I scavenged his brass as well. But up until now all our ammunition was factory loads.

I will separate the reminder of that WW Super and work on a lower pressure load just for those. No point tossing it if I can use it as a learning tool.

Thanks everyone.
 
303 loads

Huntsman LXXII said:
I am pretty new to reloading and I ran into a problem while testing my loads at the range today.

Bullet: Speer 150gr Spitzer
Powder: IMR 4850
Primer: CCI 200
Brass: Once fired FC and W W Super

Loads: 40 - 44 gr in .5 gr increments (5 rounds each load)

The problem arose at 42.5 g on a W W Super cartridge showed incipient head separation. The FC cartridges were fine. The 43 gr loads were all FC brass and were all fine. The first 43 g load on a W W Super separated completely at the web.

I understand Enfields are hard on brass but this was once fired, trimmed and very carefully measured powder loads. (Almost anal attention to measurements as I am new at this). Are these W W Super brass prone to failure? Should I scrap the rest on continue developing loads using the FC brass? Or could this be a possible headspacing issue?
Click to expand...

Its a good idea to run a few cases into a neck expander, .318 or .323 should be enough. Then size the expanded neck cartridges in your 303 dies just a little at a time until you feel a slight resistance on closing the bolt on a cartridge. If first time firings are separating you may need this procedure on all rounds. Once the round is fired you already have your sizing die set properly to keep the case shoulder where it belongs.
 
For 303 brass fired in other rifles, I adjust the sizer so it only sizes the neck and then size 5 random cases and try them. If any have difficulty in chambering, I adjust a quarter turn deeper and try again. As soon as I find the place where most will chamber and a few have some resistance, I lock the die there. The Lee Enfield bolt has lots of camming action to chamber the few cases that are still a bit big.

In this way the brass is not worked much and will last. Once the brass has been fired in my rifle, I back the sizer out so it neck sizes 3/4 of the neck. This means body does not get touched.
 
Another option is to buy the Lee Collet Neck Sizer die in .303 British. It works well, is cheap, and actually simplifies resizing because there is no need to lube the body (though I still lube inside the case mouth).
 
My experience with .303 Brit has been this. With fresh brass you fire 20 rounds, and 18 survive without splitting. You fire the 18 a second time, you lose 4 more, leaving 14. Shoot the 14 a third time, well you'd better throw half of it away. This is what happens with FULL length sizing.

Back the die out about 3/16ths of a turn and you can just neck size, drastically improving case life. WW brass have had the shortest life for me. All the others are about equal.
 
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