Problem resizing - help wanted from people who reload 300 wsm

Hi OP, this problem isbnot unique to your caliber, but many once-fired brass in different calibres if fired from big chamber guns.
As some mentioned already, RCBS small based die is your solution. It fixed mine on my 308 and to be on the safe side, I bought the same rcbs dies for my 223 semis even though I already have lee fl dies. Never have the problem again like with Lee FL die. You only need to use small base to fix the problem brass. Once it's fire formed in your rifle, you can go back to regular neck sizing and fl sizing

The OP did buy the brass from someone else. I think you are onto something. Maybe it's not the OPs dies or rifle, but the brass that is causing all the issues.

I am assuming these cases are the ONLY ones the OP has? No cases that were originally fired in your gun to compare to?
 
I got the SBD this morning. I only resized a few cases, but I got mixed results:
1-Trying to re-resize cases that were resized with the Lee FL die barely works. A cases that was impossible to fit in the chamber will now fit with a lot of force. A case that could hardly fit will now fit more easily. FC cases fit better than Winchester. Overall, that would not be an acceptable situation.

2-Resizing cases that were just once-fired (but never resized with the Lee FL) works much better. After re-sizing with the SBD, the force required to close the bolt is somewhere between a little harder than a snap cap to hard AF but I can do it. Again, the FC are better than the winchester.

I'll resize the whole lot and see which case can be reloaded on a case by case basis, then I'll get to statistical conclusions, but from here, everything points out to winchester nickel brass being a bit too elastic. I'll consider the success rate when buying 1Fired brass.
 
1-It's a brand new rifle, never shot it, will do as soon as I have time to go to the range. I have one box of 20, and at 45$+tx per box (that's for the cheapest Win SuperX 150gr), I don't exactly intend to buy too many more.

2-I bought a bag of 50 winchester brass at the LGS (50$ for 50, is that expensive? Seems rather expensive to me but I wanted to try new brass). It's not nickel, it's brass brass. They all fit totally fine in the chamber of my rifle.

If I suppose factory ammos are 3-4$/round for factory, and reloaded are:
1$/case
5¢ per primer
80¢ per bullet
40¢ for powder

I end up with 2.25$ per round if I never even reuse the same case.

My plan was to use the nickel cases with campro 147gr bullets for plinking ammos, and more expensive, new cases (Norma, lapua, whatever) with nosler/sierra/Barnes bullets for hunting.
 
The winchester brass and factory ammo fitting makes me think its not the rifle, and the fact the small base die sorta fixed the problem but not really makes me think it's definitely the brass that's the problem.

I have a feeling once fired brass from your rifle will size in either die without issue.
 
Hi OP, just to make sure. when you put on the SBD, once it touches the shell plate, did you turn in another 1/8 to 1/4 of turn depending on your press?


1-It's a brand new rifle, never shot it, will do as soon as I have time to go to the range. I have one box of 20, and at 45$+tx per box (that's for the cheapest Win SuperX 150gr), I don't exactly intend to buy too many more.

2-I bought a bag of 50 winchester brass at the LGS (50$ for 50, is that expensive? Seems rather expensive to me but I wanted to try new brass). It's not nickel, it's brass brass. They all fit totally fine in the chamber of my rifle.

If I suppose factory ammos are 3-4$/round for factory, and reloaded are:
1$/case
5¢ per primer
80¢ per bullet
40¢ for powder

I end up with 2.25$ per round if I never even reuse the same case.

My plan was to use the nickel cases with campro 147gr bullets for plinking ammos, and more expensive, new cases (Norma, lapua, whatever) with nosler/sierra/Barnes bullets for hunting.
 
The winchester brass and factory ammo fitting makes me think its not the rifle, and the fact the small base die sorta fixed the problem but not really makes me think it's definitely the brass that's the problem.

I have a feeling once fired brass from your rifle will size in either die without issue.

That's what I also think. That's a shame though considering the price of once-fired nickel brass (<50¢) versus the price of new brass brass (>1$). Rustywood sells 25 cases (Norma) for 90$. That's more than factory ammos. Ridiculous imho.
 
I have a 7wsm that is like this. Bought a cheap set of 300 RUM dies, they're .550 at the base. One quick pass through and good to go. My 7wsm dies are all redding type S bushing...I'm betting it's a small chamber.
 
So, How'd you remove the case from the die when you jammed it in ontop of the shell holder? Or did It fall out?

Didn't fall out.
1-Lower ram. Case stays in die;
2-Remove shellholde from ram;
3-Raise ram until it's close to case, but not touching it;
4-Insert shellholder in ram and case at the same time;
5-Lower ram. Case is now in shellholder.
 
Didn't fall out.
1-Lower ram. Case stays in die;
2-Remove shellholde from ram;
3-Raise ram until it's close to case, but not touching it;
4-Insert shellholder in ram and case at the same time;
5-Lower ram. Case is now in shellholder.

then its not in further than if it was in the shell holder
 
I haven't read all of the pages. Like some others have said the solution may be to set the die up to cam over. I had this problem with my Winchester Super Grade in .300 WSM.
Previous to owning this particular rifle I had never found it necessary to set a die to cam over. This seemed to solve a problem of the neck not being set back enough. Since the sizing die was adjusted I have never had another problem.

At one time I also had a .270 WSM that I was never really satisfied with. Eventually I sold it. In hind sight I now wonder whether this might have also been the problem in the .270.

Hope you resolve your problem.

Jim
 
Have you tried using a body die? (Bump die )?
I had bolt close issues, sako, till purchasing the bump die. The problem solved. Win brass.

I have a set of redding dies on the EE now in 300 wsm. Contains a body die.
 
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