Need help: Crimping 300rum bells shoulder

[ckc123]

OK.

I'm working on loading my first set of 300 rum, and I'm using a lee die set.

I've adjusted the seating die and when "it works" in find it's not crimping the bullet enough (I can move the bullet by hand if I push hard enough).. if I lower the die, I can get a bit more crimp BUT.. it bells out the outer part of the shoulder.

I'm a bit concerned about the lighter crimp and I don't want the bullet being pushed back when I load it (Remington 700). I will be using the loads for hunting..

any advice?? different die set??

if there a way to manually crimp it?

 

[spooksar]

How are you sizing the case? It sounds like you are not sizing the case, you should have to use a bit of force to seat the bullet. Has you bullet got a canulare to crimp the bullet into?

 

[ultimate_monkey]

What lee die set ?? If you can simply push the bullet back in a resized case there is incorrect neck tension (to little) I don't crimp any of my target bullets , run 1or2 thou. Tension and can't just push them back deeper with my hands ..

If your using a collet sizer , you've got the wrong collet

 

[zuke]

Sound's like you need a LEE crimp die.

 

[stubblejumper]

I can move the bullet by hand if I push hard enough

Then your real problem is that the sizing die isn't leaving the case neck the correct size to provide the proper neck tension. Fix the real problem, rather than resorting to crimping, as a band aid.

 

[supernova]

Exactly, insufficient neck tension is your problem. Are you using a collet neck sizer or an FL die? If its a collet die, is it adjusted properly? After the initial adjustment you can turn it in a little bit to increase clamping force thus increasing neck tension. If its an FL die you can chuck the expander in a drill press or lathe and polish the OD down with fine sandpaper to increase neck tension. Even a hand drill will work, 800 grit is a good choice. Remove .001" at a time and retry. It won't take much work so go slow and check the OD often. You don't want to end up shaving jackets as you seat your bullets, just increase neck tension a small amount.

 

[ckc123]

Ok.. a few things.. after doing a bit of digging.. I found out that the 2 die set I have does not "crimp" and I need a separate die. (if I want/need to crimp)

to answer a few questions

1) yes I am doing a full length size with the sizing die
2) When I insert the case/bullet into the seating die, there does seem to be enough tension/size on neck to prevent the bullet from going in "by hand" and will seat properly when I insert it into the seating die.

it does seem like something is up though with what I am doing tough.. strange..

maybe I have the seating die to low?

 

[Boomer]

Crimp as an additional step to bullet seating, rather than attempting to do both at the same time. Seat the bullet so the case mouth is even with the top of the cannelure. After all your bullets are seated, unscrew the seating stem to the extent of its travel so it is well above the seated bullet when you crimp. Loosen the lock ring of the seating die, and unscrew it a turn or two. But a loaded cartridge in the shell holder and run the ram to the top of it's travel. Now turn the seating die down until you feel it touch the case mouth, ad another eighth of a turn, then remove the cartridge and examine the crimp. If you want more crimp, add another eighth of a turn, then examine the cartridge again. Continue until you obtain the results you want, then lock down the die, and crimp the rest of your rounds. If you find that your case length varies sufficiently that some rounds crimp little while others buckle the shoulder, crimp each one individually without locking down the die. A quick and dirty method I use from time to time, is to turn in the die until I feel contact then continue to turn the die in until refusal, using only my thumb and two finger tips; when the die won't turn, your done. This has been known to result in sore finger tips if you're crimping more than a few rounds.

 

[supernova]

Factory crimp die (if they make one in .300RUM)

 

[ckc123]

ok.. I'm a dummy. found out the problem.. Duh.. the seating die was to low.. once I redid the process of inserting it (with case /ram at the top of the travel) then the problem went away.. it's a lot tighter now and I can't move it by hand.. I wonder if it was putting a very small bell on the shoulder when it was too low, and affecting the tension on the neck.

 

[nevanevan]

be careful, I have found that if you screw the seating die down from certain manufacturers all the way, that you will put on an extremely heavy crimp. I have never needed to screw the seating die down before with any of my 300 win mag brass because if properly resized there is "lots" of neck tension to hold that bullet, you simply have to push it in without crimping with the seating die. Take supernovas advice and look further into your FL size die, something is still wrong there.