Guys, I could use some help. Reloading for a bone stock Savage 16 Bear Hunter in 300WSM. Using new Winchester brass (that's all I could find at the time), once fired in this gun, with standard Redding dies. I'm having to use Hornady Concentricity tool to fix nearly every completed round. The RO is as much as .005". In most cases I can correct to sub .002", but not always.
I am convinced something is not right in my sizing process. My process is as follows. Tumble brass, remove primers, clean remaining carbon on outside of necks with 0000 steel wool. Use a brass brush in drill to clean inside of necks. lightly lube outside of case with Imperial Sizing Wax (by band), dip necks into dry lube (Mica), blow off excess and attempt a smooth resize stroke.
I am bumping the shoulder .002 doing so by using a thin shim between the shell holder and die to properly square the die in the press. I tighten the die down when it makes firm contact. I have tried several ways to set the decapper/expander, but nothing seems to work well. I've tried locking it down after the pin ejects the primer. I've tried locking it down per the directions, which basically say just lock it down when the pin sticking out the bottom by "X" amount. I've tried locking it down as I expander passes through the neck. Even with the dry lube it is difficult the lift the handle. FYI, The dry mica is 15+ years old, but it should be fine right?
Now getting the expander to pull through smoothly is nearly impossible. I polished the stock expander ball with chrome polish and I can almost see my reflection is it so smooth.
What is you technique to set-up the sizer die to make straight necks?
Sometime the shoulder get tiny little kinks, like I'm using too much lube, but I don't think i am. I think the stress of lifting the handle is doing this. I'm so frustrated. I wish I had purchased a different concentricity tool so i didn't have to load the case to check RO.
Thoughts?
Replace with Carbide Expander?
Bent Decapper/Expander rod?
Bad Lube?
Bad die?
Excessively thick necks?
Bad reloading?
Thanks.
I am convinced something is not right in my sizing process. My process is as follows. Tumble brass, remove primers, clean remaining carbon on outside of necks with 0000 steel wool. Use a brass brush in drill to clean inside of necks. lightly lube outside of case with Imperial Sizing Wax (by band), dip necks into dry lube (Mica), blow off excess and attempt a smooth resize stroke.
I am bumping the shoulder .002 doing so by using a thin shim between the shell holder and die to properly square the die in the press. I tighten the die down when it makes firm contact. I have tried several ways to set the decapper/expander, but nothing seems to work well. I've tried locking it down after the pin ejects the primer. I've tried locking it down per the directions, which basically say just lock it down when the pin sticking out the bottom by "X" amount. I've tried locking it down as I expander passes through the neck. Even with the dry lube it is difficult the lift the handle. FYI, The dry mica is 15+ years old, but it should be fine right?
Now getting the expander to pull through smoothly is nearly impossible. I polished the stock expander ball with chrome polish and I can almost see my reflection is it so smooth.
What is you technique to set-up the sizer die to make straight necks?
Sometime the shoulder get tiny little kinks, like I'm using too much lube, but I don't think i am. I think the stress of lifting the handle is doing this. I'm so frustrated. I wish I had purchased a different concentricity tool so i didn't have to load the case to check RO.
Thoughts?
Replace with Carbide Expander?
Bent Decapper/Expander rod?
Bad Lube?
Bad die?
Excessively thick necks?
Bad reloading?
Thanks.