I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

[jwoolf]

Been loading a LOT of pistol and, I've started over the last year after a long time off reloading rifle. I've been loading for my supermatch M1A but, this is different.

I'm going to begin my long path down loading for a bolt gun. ( 300 win mag ) and, I'd like some advice from the pros here.

As you all know, reloading for a semi-auto ( precision gun ) is completely different than a precision bolt gun.

I'm in no way new to reloading, trimming, sizing etc. but, I'd like to know what dies you all have used and, since this is a bolt gun, I'd guess I can go with neck sizing but, that's why I'm here to hear your responses.

My M1A has such a tightly headspaced chamber, I actually HAVE to small base size the brass or, it just flat won't eject. Even when you FL size it and the damned piece of brass goes flush with the bottom ( very bottom ) of the case gauge and, the thing is trimmed to 2.005, it's just not going to eject unless it's small based sized so, I guess, I'm a bit paranoid about brass prep.

I know a bolt gun is a completely different ( and more forgiving animal ) but, I kind of want to know what the best practices are for accuracy and brass life... what are the best dies?

I've had sort strange way to load my 7.62x51 lately... I've used an XL650 and lubed and sized the cases... tumbled them and changed the dies out after trimming then I load the cases up and take each one out and trickle charge each one. I guess there's no way out of trickle charging them but, it's not too bad.

I think I'm going to go ahead and get the rapid trim case trimmer to go on the 650 now and get it over with.

Anyway, I'm wondering about doing 300 win mag. I don't mind fussing over my reloads but, I'm not currently set up with a single stage press. The 650 will do it just fine when I take the cases out and trickle charge them.

So, what dies? Neck sizing only?

I'm ordering a case gauge for it first, of course.

 

[nicholst55]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

Are you asking about neck sizing for the M1A or the .300 Win Mag? You won't have much success neck sizing for the M1A. If you use a Ball powder in your Dillon, it will load perfectly acceptable ammo without trickling powder charges. The U.S. Palma Team loads their ammo on Dillon machines.

For your M1A, I recommend a Small Base X-Die by RCBS. It will eliminate a lot of case stretching, and give you much better case life. Any good seating die will work; I use a Forster. I also use and recommend an RCBS Precision Mic to measure shoulder bump. I set my sizing die to give .003" shoulder bump.

A Gracey or Giraud case trimmer are the only way to fly when you're loading in quantity. The Giraud trims, chamfers, and deburrs simultaneously. The X-Die will eliminate most of your case trimming however, after the initial trim.

Glenn Zediker has a couple of excellent articles on loading for the M1A here: http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html

 

[jwoolf]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nicholst55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Are you asking about neck sizing for the M1A or the .300 Win Mag? You won't have much success neck sizing for the M1A. If you use a Ball powder in your Dillon, it will load perfectly acceptable ammo without trickling powder charges. The U.S. Palma Team loads their ammo on Dillon machines.

For your M1A, I recommend a Small Base X-Die by RCBS. It will eliminate a lot of case stretching, and give you much better case life. Any good seating die will work; I use a Forster. I also use and recommend an RCBS Precision Mic to measure shoulder bump. I set my sizing die to give .003" shoulder bump.

A Gracey or Giraud case trimmer are the only way to fly when you're loading in quantity. The Giraud trims, chamfers, and deburrs simultaneously. The X-Die will eliminate most of your case trimming however, after the initial trim.

Glenn Zediker has a couple of excellent articles on loading for the M1A here: http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html </div></div>

I'm asking about the 300 win mag bolt gun.

I've got the M1A down to a science. My Supermatch has a very tightly headspaced chamber and, I have to small base size the brass for that, no exception. I only load IMR4895 and, for both 168s and 175s I load up 41.5gr in LC match cases and call it a day. My gun loves both of those loads and the velocity matches the M118 white box I have in the 175s. Great accurate load when I trickle charge them.

Going to start with the high dollar bolt gun that's in the mail now for the 300 win mag. I ordered 250 pieces of win new brass and some bullets, H1000 and the caliber conversion kit. Not sure what to do about dies yet.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

Redding dies are my fave and I FL everything. You can neck but eventually you have to FL it anyway.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

This might be a great time for you to sit down and think about what the hell you're actually doing.

 

[jwoolf]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Winchester 69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This might be a great time for you to sit down and think about what the hell you're actually doing. </div></div>

LOL, Yep, that was kind of the point of the post.... Looking for input and I'd like to hear what all of you are doing and use some of the input and make my own way.

I know you can take this to the Nth degree and, with pistol, of course there isn't much to do. I've got the M1A figured out but, this is a little different.

I figured this would be the place to come for asking what all of you do.

How much case prep do all of you do, for example? Obviously, you all size and trim but, what else? Do you jack with the primer pockets and/or turn the necks? Do you weigh each case into lots of cases?

I don't mind fussing with reloading but, I'm still finding my way with accuracy loads.

I already trickle charge but, for the M1A, I haven't bothered weighing cases.

Not sure what set of dies to get yet but, I figured there may be a set or two that most of you prefer for good reason so, I thought I'd ask.

Since I spent the cash on the XL650, I'm going to trim using their case trimmer more than likely since it's so fast and I HATE trimming brass. The dillon trimmer just goes in a toolhead and you just run the brass through after it's sized on the stage before so, it's like you can skip the entire trimming experience.

I've never lubed case necks, for example. Do you all find that it helps with accuracy? Turning the case necks? Weighing the brass?

This rifle that I'm getting is capable of 1/4 minute groups or better if I do my part on the bench so, I'm just looking for friendly advice on accuracy loading. I've got the loading part down but, I'm simply looking for tips or tricks that YOU think are important.

What better place to ask than this one?

 

[jwoolf]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captain Kick-Ass</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Redding dies are my fave and I FL everything. You can neck but eventually you have to FL it anyway. </div></div>

Think I may do that too... FL sizing is a little harder on the brass and, if you eventually have to FL size again, it would be more consistent to just FL size every time, not to mention that you can load and eject cases better, I'd assume.

I'm planning on shooting some of the precision comps around here once I'm set up properly with this rifle so, I'm trying to get a good repeatable process that I can live with.

Hey, Captain, we need to hook up for lunch again. I need some scope rings and that other bikini cover! Rifle should arrive probably thurs or friday and, it's got a NF scope that needs mounting! haha

 

[Country]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

You got to cut down your posts and ask shorter specific questions or confusion will result.
First off for a belted magnum you will very likley need this die.
http://www.larrywillis.com/
If you use hard bushings the you can get away with no lube but I always dry lube with a mixture of 50% Moly and 50% lock graphite mixed .
Neck turning can help with a standard chamber but it requires very specific neck sizing techniques and usually new dies .
You only skim turn to about 75% cleanup to save brass thickness. There is a lot in it.
Match preping the brass will give better results than just weighing alone.

 

[jwoolf]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Country</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You got to cut down your posts and ask shorter specific questions or confusion will result.
First off for a belted magnum you will very likley need this die.
http://www.larrywillis.com/
If you use hard bushings the you can get away with no lube but I always dry lube with a mixture of 50% Moly and 50% lock graphite mixed .
Neck turning can help with a standard chamber but it requires very specific neck sizing techniques and usually new dies .
You only skim turn to about 75% cleanup to save brass thickness. There is a lot in it.
Match preping the brass will give better results than just weighing alone.

</div></div>

Well, You've already given me lots to think about so, this post is already a success!

I can now start my "search function" on "Match prepping" for brass and get more information on that! LOL

When I was a Jr. shooter and was a Perry so long ago, I remember watching the AMU guys weigh cases and even bullets because the bullets they were getting weren't all that consistent. That was LONG ago and, they were only doing it for service rifle then ( when I was watching ).

You don't have to be quite as good to make a semi-auto shoot to it's abilities.

So, it's safe to say that I've got a lot to learn about accuracy loading.... I guess that it will all be case prepping techniques.... I know how to load etc. and, I can make my supermatch sing and shoot sub moa groups. ( albeit it shoots just under moa )

I'm looking for the next level but, as in most things, it won't come overnight and without much woe and gnashing of teeth.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jwoolf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captain Kick-Ass</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Redding dies are my fave and I FL everything. You can neck but eventually you have to FL it anyway. </div></div>

Think I may do that too... FL sizing is a little harder on the brass and, if you eventually have to FL size again, it would be more consistent to just FL size every time, not to mention that you can load and eject cases better, I'd assume.

I'm planning on shooting some of the precision comps around here once I'm set up properly with this rifle so, I'm trying to get a good repeatable process that I can live with.

Hey, Captain, we need to hook up for lunch again. I need some scope rings and that other bikini cover! Rifle should arrive probably thurs or friday and, it's got a NF scope that needs mounting! haha </div></div>

yeah man give me a call

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: I'm needing some advice on dies and technique

savvy this...