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300 PRC update

338LM

Sergeant
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Jun 20, 2003
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If I am getting high pressure signs with my handloads using Hornady brass, will a higher quality, more robust brass like Lapua or ADG allow me to use that same load without the pressure signs as seen using the Hornady brass?
For example, using 76.0 grains of Retumbo or H1000 I start to get a sticky bolt. Not any pressure signs on the primer except a little bit of primer flattening with the 76.0 grains of Retumbo. Bullet is a Berger 220 Hybrid.
 

b2lee

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  • Dec 30, 2018
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    How many firings on that brass?.....did you measure the diameter of the brass right before the head?...see if it has grown past 0.532?
     

    338LM

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    I am using brand new Hornady brass. Primers are Federal 210M's. This is a brand new rifle with 13 rounds down the pipe. 30" SS Proof Heavy Palma.
     

    b2lee

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  • Dec 30, 2018
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    I am using brand new Hornady brass. Primers are Federal 210M's. This is a brand new rifle with 13 rounds down the pipe. 30" SS Proof Heavy Palma.

    oh...so...wow...you are having sticky bolt with 76 grains of Retumbo and a Berger 220 Hybrid...wow...can you tell us what speed you are getting out of that 30" barrel?

    I've had much better luck with Lapua than I did with the ADG...and the Hornady 300PRC brass was pretty humbling...I did have good luck with the Hornady 375 Ruger brass I necked down to 300PRC...

    I had ZERO luck with Retumbo....didn't like H1000....settled on RL-26 with a back up of N565....until N568 comes out.

    Also, make sure that bore is DRY....if you have any kind of fluid in that thing.....cleaning solvent....cutting fluid...whatever...you will see some serious pressure issues. Hence...those that do the one shot...clean....one shot clean.....can see some pressure.
     

    338LM

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    Jun 20, 2003
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    76.0 grains of Retumbo 2823 fps (1 shot only out of a clean new barrel) Very sticky bolt.
    75.0 grains of Retumbo 2770 fps {1 shot only) Bolt opened easier.
    74.0 grains of Retumbo 2701 fps (1 shot only) Bolt opened easily, not sticky at all.

    76.0 grains of H1000 2856 fps average (5 shots starting with a clean barrel) Not as sticky as the Retumbo at 76.0 grains, but close. .280" group
    75.0 grains of H1000 2818 fps average (5 shots starting with a clean barrel again) Not as sticky as the 76.0 grains of H1000, but still stiff. .260" group

    Both loads of H1000 shot 5 shots into 1 raged hole that is easily covered with a dime at 100 yards. Group size above. Could not believe it. Especially out of a clean barrel.

    I definitely make sure that my barrel and especially the chamber are dry. I do know that is not the issue.
     
    Last edited:

    JBarton

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    After all the messing around I finally have a good shooting 300PRC with multiple loads shooting 1/2 moa or better. I'm running a 28" proof ss M24, 9 twist barrel, area419 Sidewinder muzzle brake. I'm running the 225gr ELDM and 220gr scenars.
    225gr ELDM with 0.020" jump CBTO of 2.877"
    75.5gr RL26 average speed of 2942fps. With average es in low teens..thanks to my V3 Autotrickler...
    77.6gr H1000 average speed 2944fps with average es in low teens.
    220gr scenars with 0.020" jump CBTO of 2.900"
    77.5gr of IMR7977 Average speed at 2945fps with average es in the mid to low teens.
    My barrel/brake combo likes 2935fps to 2955fps so I'm trying to stay in that accuracy node. Just so happens all three powder charge nodes match up pretty damn close. The loads listed are my loads for my 300PRC.
    I have recently loaded up on 225gr ELDM and a few extra pounds of RL26 so that's what I'm going to run until I run out. I'm also shooting some factory ammo I've been sitting on for the brass.
    I was finally able to reach out to a mile today shooting factory 225gr ELDMS. The wind was running 15mph with 20+mph gusts at 3:00 o'clock. Damn wind was giving me hell. I managed to get 6 out of 15 shots on a 24x24 plate. Not my best day today and not my worst.
     
    Last edited:

    Rocketmandb

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  • Nov 2, 2018
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    76.0 grains of Retumbo 2823 fps (1 shot only out of a clean new barrel) Very sticky bolt.
    75.0 grains of Retumbo 2770 fps {1 shot only) Bolt opened easier.
    74.0 grains of Retumbo 2701 fps (1 shot only) Bolt opened easily, not sticky at all.

    76.0 grains of H1000 2856 fps average (5 shots starting with a clean barrel) Not as sticky as the Retumbo at 76.0 grains, but close. .280" group
    75.0 grains of H1000 2818 fps average (5 shots starting with a clean barrel again) Not as sticky as the 76.0 grains of H1000, but still stiff. .260" group

    Both loads of H1000 shot 5 shots into 1 raged hole that is easily covered with a dime at 100 yards. Group size above. Could not believe it. Especially out of a clean barrel.

    I definitely make sure that my barrel and especially the chamber are dry. I do know that is not the issue.

    Could you measure the base of the fired brass just above the web of the case and post it here?
     

    Rocketmandb

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  • Nov 2, 2018
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    I've quit shooting the 300 PRC till my smith gets a reamer to correct the undersizing issue. Third firing on my RL26 75 grain, ADG brass load makes for *very* firm bolt lift.

    Good read here...
    PRC Die Problem

    What bullets are you using to get to 75 gr of RL 26? I only get to 74ish with 230s and my undersized chamber.
     

    338LM

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    Jun 20, 2003
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    Hornady brass new measures:
    .530 dia at base
    .513 dia at shoulder

    Hornady fired brass measures:
    .530 dia at base
    .515 dia at shoulder

    Headspace on the fired brass is .003 longer on most, a couple almost .0035 longer.
     

    Rocketmandb

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    Hornady brass new measures:
    .530 dia at base
    .513 dia at shoulder

    Hornady fired brass measures:
    .530 dia at base
    .515 dia at shoulder

    Headspace on the fired brass is .003 longer on most, a couple almost .0035 longer.

    Your chamber is a bit small (~.002") which is causing higher pressures than normal. Mine comes in at .003" under.

    As @DellaDog mentioned, there are some small reamers out there.
     

    338LM

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    Rocketmandb,
    I was suspect from the first couple shots if it was my chambering job. Guess I should have a talk with my barrelmaker.
     

    themightytimmah

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    Dec 12, 2010
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    If I am getting high pressure signs with my handloads using Hornady brass, will a higher quality, more robust brass like Lapua or ADG allow me to use that same load without the pressure signs as seen using the Hornady brass?
    For example, using 76.0 grains of Retumbo or H1000 I start to get a sticky bolt. Not any pressure signs on the primer except a little bit of primer flattening with the 76.0 grains of Retumbo. Bullet is a Berger 220 Hybrid.
    I did notice my Lapua brass started to develop ejector marks when the primers were much flatter than with Hornady brass. I think the internal volume is smaller though - you might be able to get better velocity on not quite as much charge.

    I also saw a decent decrease in SD/ES with the Lapua brass.
     

    solocam

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    Apr 15, 2013
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    I just read through the thread on LRH about PRC die problems. Anyone experiencing a problem with their die not sizing enough at the case web area? How many loads are you typically getting on a Lapua brass? What dies would you recommend? What’s Hornady new dimension die mean?
     

    bunny too

    Just a cook
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    May 5, 2020
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    I just read through the thread on LRH about PRC die problems. Anyone experiencing a problem with their die not sizing enough at the case web area? How many loads are you typically getting on a Lapua brass? What dies would you recommend? What’s Hornady new dimension die mean?
    There is a whole thread on it here. (this thread.)
     

    PRCdude

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    Jan 7, 2020
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    I have Redding dies so I use the Redding version, but yeah, a VLD stem is highly recommended.
    I
    Those who load the A-Tip do you use Hornady’s special seating stem? Item 397140

    Those who load the A-Tip do you use Hornady’s special seating stem? Item 397140
    I use the VLD stem from LE Wilson on my inline seater. It works much better than their standard stem. The standard stem would leave lines on the ogive sometimes if seating pressure was on the higher side. I havent had it happen since using their vld stem. I would recommend using one.

    Loading 230g atips
     

    parshal

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    I searched the thread but didn't see this so, if I missed it, please forgive me.

    Does anyone have data for N570 or N565 with the 250 a-tips? Vihtavuori has 565, 568 and 570 for the 225's but that's as heavy as their data goes.
     

    LongRangeAggie

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    I searched the thread but didn't see this so, if I missed it, please forgive me.

    Does anyone have data for N570 or N565 with the 250 a-tips? Vihtavuori has 565, 568 and 570 for the 225's but that's as heavy as their data goes.
    Call Berger and they will give you data for their 245 EOL.
     

    themightytimmah

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    I searched the thread but didn't see this so, if I missed it, please forgive me.

    Does anyone have data for N570 or N565 with the 250 a-tips? Vihtavuori has 565, 568 and 570 for the 225's but that's as heavy as their data goes.

    I worked up a load for 250s, N570 and Lapua brass (CCI mag primer) - 78.0 gr, 2.900 CBTO (mag length). Started at 75 and worked up - got minor pressure signs at 78.5 and mild ones at 79. Didn’t push it any farther than that - getting 2775 out of a 26” barrel and can.
     
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    parshal

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    Thanks! That's faster than I plan on shooting them depending on the recoil since I buy my shotguns in the women's section.
     

    themightytimmah

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    Thanks! That's faster than I plan on shooting them depending on the recoil since I buy my shotguns in the women's section.
    I shoot a gas Beretta with an oversized gel pad… so I know what you’re thinking! N570 seems to help with recoil - it’s slow burning and more of a push than the snap I’ve gotten out of some magnums.
     

    b2lee

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    This past Sunday, a friend and I did a local team match. The format was a sniper style match of calling headshots for bonus points or going for the easier-er body shots. This match was at TVP. I've shot here hundreds of time and recently have won 1k and 1 mile bench rest matches and an ELR match. Sunday's match should have been a cake walk of targets ranging from 385 yards to 1140 yards with a bonus shot at 1 mile. Targets were generous since we were shooting IPSECs and 8" rounds for heads. I failed miserably. Why? Hard head and being tired from a long week of work and no sleep?.....PFFT!!! No excuse...but it is what it is. My partner asked me more than once if I had checked my torque on my action screws....and more than once I acted defiant and said yes...at home before the match.

    Clue #1. You shoot 40 rounds in the sight in period and still have no clue.
    Clue #2. You call a head shot at 385 and center punch it and then transition down a few inches to the body shot and hit 2 feet in front of the target.
    Clue #3. You come in 2nd to last place.
    Clue #4. Everyone around you is asking WTF is wrong today?
    Clue #5. Go to put rifle away for the day and feel a rattle from stock to Barreled action.


    Yep...I'm a dumbass and cost my partner a chance at winning...or atleast placing high for the match. SO, I don't like losing. I don't mind it...if someone has a great day and beats me...I'll shake their hand. I don't mind if I know I just don't have it that day, but I did my best and managed a top 10 finish. However, when I have no friggin clue, and my head is no where in the game...I get frustrated. So, today I started a complete tear down of my rifle. I will build it back and check the torque on everything...and I mean EVERYTHING. I will end up replacing most of the bolts, screws, pins and springs with new. I'll also check certain things just before the match starts. This weekend was embarrassing...and I brought it all on myself.

    Today so far:

    rifleteardown3.png
     

    parshal

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    Clue #1. I had that at an ELR match, too. Turns out both the rail and action screws were loose which I discovered 8 stages in!
     

    TripleBull

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  • Feb 13, 2017
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    Yep...I'm a dumbass and cost my partner a chance at winning...or atleast placing high for the match. SO, I don't like losing.

    Experience often includes pain, but pain is a great teacher. You probably won't make that mistake again. At least the target wasn't shooting back.

    To cheer you up, I'll include my latest 300 PRC family add:

    568.jpg
     

    parshal

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    Dang it. Limit of two one pounders, out of 8. That's just enough to say I love it and have to find more. Two pounds would be gone in, what, 28 rounds? LOL
     

    Fishkat

    Aka Fishcricket
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    Feb 14, 2017
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    Dang it. Limit of two one pounders, out of 8. That's just enough to say I love it and have to find more. Two pounds would be gone in, what, 28 rounds? LOL
    My math is better then my shooting so here you go; 2 pounds = 14,000 gr. so say 76gr per round for your 300PRC = 184 rounds.

    Anyway I to would like to hear if anyone has actually used this powder and what they think. I've tried the N565 and found it to be just OK for my rifle.
     

    jmornoinf

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    What neck dies are you guys running on Lapua brass? Please provide a range or the best one you found?
     

    jmornoinf

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    334 bushing in a Redding neck die.
    Is that Lapua Brass...334 bushing? I am measuring the neck .335 out of the box. In my estimate from measuring the brass thickness and inside diameter I estimate .335 = .004-.006 neck tension...tad too much.