All I can say is WTF on this one...

[K-C]

The used brass, which you have shown us photos of, looks like .375 Weatherby Magnum. Headstamp says otherwise but these cartridges could have been fired in a .375 Weatherby Magnum chamber and thus fireformed them into a .375 Weatherby Magnum case (with a .375 H&H Magnum headstamp). you can fire H&H in the Weatherby chamber but suffer a loss of performance...

Here are the specs for the Weatherby:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:375_Weatherby_Magnum02.png

 

[vancouverbc]

Alright I have to take a look at the specs. If the case is much shorter than a proper 375 H&H I would understand why it wouldn't taper in the sizing die.... I have to look. But here the case is in 375 H&H sizing die

 

[remington jim]

Good news is the rifle is fine and fits factory ammo (phew!)

Running it through the sizing die and seating a bullet made no difference on this old brass. I'm no expert (if it wasn't already obvious) but shouldn't the full length sizing die take care of this issue?

Thats NOT a 375 H&H thats a IMPROVED thats why it will not chamber ! LOL RJ

 

[vancouverbc]

you are correct, specs on my cases match up to the 375 Weatherby Magnum. you guys are good. RJ, the hell is improved anyways Now would be a good time for a lesson lol

 

[remington jim]

NOW - Rechamber the rifle for the 375 H&H Improved / 375 Weatherby ! LOL RJ

 

[remington jim]

I am an idiot. LMAO ! RJ

 

[vancouverbc]

RJ I wasn't around at the turn of the 20th century like you

 

[remington jim]

rj i wasn't around at the turn of the 20th century like you

lmao ! RJ

 

[btridge]

A good lesson for all when dealing with used brass, don't assume the head stamp is correct. I have 416 rem mag marked 375 H&H, 338 federal marked 308 win, 338 Dean marked 7mm rem mag, 280 ackley improved marked 270 win. be careful, know for sure, and be safe. good shooting.

 

[vancouverbc]

Yeah its a good learning lesson for me, especially given that I do not know the history of many of the cases that have been "improved".

 

[Budweiser2]

I'm with gun tech,icehunter121 and rj on this one . I own Weatherby Rifles and as soon as I saw your brass it sure looked like my brass.

 

[BigUglyMan]

that brass looks like it is 375 H&H Ackley Improved because of the shoulder angle

That's what I was going to say. No need to annealing it, just FL size and you're set.

 

[vancouverbc]

That's what I was going to say. No need to annealing it, just FL size and you're set.

I included an earlier picture of this 375 "weatherby" in the full length 375 H&H sizing die.....it doesn't work. Did you mean something else?

 

[vancouverbc]

It won't re-size to fit the 375 H&H...

 

[Pudelpointer]

I suspect that your die says "N" or "Neck" not "FL".


Eta, what I am suggesting is that you have a neck sizing die, not a full length die. You need a full length sizing die to resize that brass.

 

[bcsteve]

Alright I have to take a look at the specs. If the case is much shorter than a proper 375 H&H I would understand why it wouldn't taper in the sizing die.... I have to look. But here the case is in 375 H&H sizing die

Why is your brass not in the shell holder?? Is it just for the picture??

 

[vancouverbc]

Yes its just for the pic. I'll have a look but the die set says full length.... Again I'm new to reloading and only ever reloaded my 308 with new brass... but thanks for the post I will have a look

 

[Pudelpointer]

Check the die itself. Should say "375 H&H FL"


Simpler yet: does the top of the die have an adjustment? Or just a "cap".

The neck sizing dies have an exposed tube of metal like shown in your pic. A FL die is a one piece body (no insert).

 

[Aniest]

That brass is 375 H&H fire formed into a 375 Weatherby Magnum or 375 Ackley?

This quote from Wikipedia makes me wonder: "The term "Ackley Improved" has been applied by various gunsmiths conceptually to many cartridges not extant during P.O. Ackley's lifetime. By P.O. Ackley's definition of Improved, a firearm so chambered must be capable of shooting the factory original round, also such cartridge case either necked up or down to a different bullet size, without stretching the case. To accomplish this, the chamber for a rimless bottle necked "improved" cartridge must be somewhat shorter in the body than the original so that there is no headspace when the round is chambered." So therefor, if it was a "true" Ackley it sould NOT fit in a 375H&H but the 375H&H would fit in an Ackley. Although, with many gunsmiths and wildcatters tinkering, it could be an unofficial one.

I would guess it is a 375 Weatherby: that doesn't look like the 40degree shoulder of an Ackley.

I know someone with a 375 Weatherby and it does look more like it, but I don't have Ackley specs to look at.

 

[Raton57]

But why can't he resize it to the original case.I resize 375 HH to fit my 300 HH so why isn't it going back to the right shape or close to it. I do know that even with a SB die my brass for my 30-06 will not chamber in a buddys Ruger it does the same thing will only go about 3/4 in and bind.