300WM Brass Question

[chriSRT8]

So I am fairly new to reloading so if this is a stupid question I am sorry, I would really hate to be "that guy."

I have noticed that most of (about 80%) of my once, twice, three time fired brass has very tight necks. The necks almost feel like I have re sized them without even sizing them. About 20% of the brass will allow a projectile to fall straight through the other 80% I cant even force a projectile into them via hand. Is this normal? It almost seems pointless to re size the neck if they already have way too much tension on them.

Specs
Rem 700
Win Brass
Redding type S dies

Thank You in advance for you advice

 

[Yasherka]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Are you sure the brass is only twice or three times fired? Same lot? Factory load or bulk purchased and reloaded?

It may be time to anneal the brass, although twice seems pretty soon to have to do it.

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

yes they have a confirmed round count. I purchased 100 new pieces of brass when i first started to reload. Some other Win pieces are were factory loaded. I also have some privi brass that was factory loaded. Roughly 80% of all the brass have tight necks. Is it possible that I have a very tight chamber from the factory? Also all of my loads so far have been very mild, close to minimum charges

 

[Mayday]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chriSRT8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I am fairly new to reloading so if this is a stupid question I am sorry, I would really hate to be "that guy."

I have noticed that most of (about 80%) of my once, twice, three time fired brass has very tight necks. The necks almost feel like I have re sized them without even sizing them. About 20% of the brass will allow a projectile to fall straight through the other 80% I cant even force a projectile into them via hand. Is this normal? It almost seems pointless to re size the neck if they already have way too much tension on them.

Specs
Rem 700
Win Brass
Redding type S dies

Thank You in advance for you advice </div></div>

All the necks in my Winchester 300WM brass are all over the charts. Annealing helps even the neck tension, but i have scrapped cases before for being to loose and to thin of necks. I could change bushings in my neck die, but it just isn't worth it for those cases. On average i scrap 10-15% of win cases for defects and inconsistency.

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

One thing I also forgot to mention is even if I use the large expander that comes with the Redding die it still is not expanded enough. The larger expander barely even touched the necks when trying to expand

 

[Yasherka]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chriSRT8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">yes they have a confirmed round count. I purchased 100 new pieces of brass when i first started to reload. Some other Win pieces are were factory loaded. I also have some privi brass that was factory loaded. Roughly 80% of all the brass have tight necks. Is it possible that I have a very tight chamber from the factory? Also all of my loads so far have been very mild, close to minimum charges </div></div>

There are a lot of factors at play here. Looking at the cases, do you notice different manufacturers having the different tension? Such as the Privi brass being loose and Win being tight? Try measuring the necks of the fired brass...are they differing sizes? While it may be you have a tight factory chamber, that should not matter as to the differences in tension.

Concentrate on the brass. I believe that's where the problem is. Sort by manufacturer, and by weight. You can also check volume. It sounds like you are dealing with differing neck thicknesses.

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Ok when i get home i will take some measurements. As far as the different manufacturers go, i have some privi that is fine and some that isnt. I have some bulk win brass and factory loaded brass that has the same issue.

Thanks again for all the help guys

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

OK so I did some measuring of the cases. I measure 25 case of tight neck and 25 of "normal necks"

Cases with tight necks
Outside neck diameter ranges from .328-.331
Inside diameter ranges from .291-302
Case thickness at neck .014-.0145

Cases with normal necks
Outside neck diameter ranges from .337-.339
Inside diameter ranges from .3075-309
Case thickness at neck .014-.015

Any Ideas?

Thanks Again

 

[Rob01]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

My Win 300WM brass gets sized with a .330 bushing and it gives .003" of neck tension. Loaded the necks are only .333". Never seen any that was as big as your "normal necks".

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Rob01 what is your neck diameter prior to resizing?

 

[Rob01]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Fired cases are around .339" if I remember correctly.

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

So all of my measurements are fired brass none of them have been resized. Sorry i guess too clear. With knowing that Rob01 having u ever seen brass with more neck tension after firin

 

[Rob01]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Never seen more neck tension after firing.

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

Yea I know it really weird. I am starting to wonder if this is a potentially dangerous situation

 

[Rob01]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

It's definitely an odd situation. All my brass is the same after firing. So you have brass after firing that is .328-.331" outside diameter of the neck? How long is your brass? Has it been trimmed?

 

[chriSRT8]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

This is completely unprocessed brass.
Length on the cases are 2.613-2.615

 

[Woj8541]

Re: 300WM Brass Question

I just ran some numbers on my 300 WM brass. It's all Winchester and 2x fired. Has not been trimmed, nor annealed yet. Out of 25 cases these are the numbers:

Fired Neck OD: .337" +/- .0005"
Loaded Neck OD: .333"
Fired Case Length: 2.62" +/- .002"

This is a new .300 WM, with about 75 rounds total through the tube. I'm new to loading for .300 WM myself, but so far, so good.