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reloading 300WM...

22_250

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 20, 2010
114
0
43
Midland, TX
Question I have heard of problems reloading for the belted magnums... However I puchased a lee collet die which only sizes the neck since I had surpurb accuracy results with the same type of die for my other rifles. Has anyone used the Lee collet dies with the 300WM and how was your brass life?
 
Re: reloading 300WM...

Ignore the belt and it will cease to concern you.

If you're going to use the Lee collet die you're also going to have to purchase a body die to bump the shoulder back every few firings so the rounds will chamber.

I've been using that combo with very good results. Less than .001 runout and very good accuracy. I have over 20 firings on some of my Nosler brass.

Be sure to check for incipient head separation every firing. File a chisel point on a thick paper clip. Bend it 90 degrees so you have about .150" on the short leg and run it up and down inside the case near the belt. If it catches at all, toss the brass.

Notaguru from here on the Hide gave me a tip for lengthened belted magnum brass life. Fireform your brass with a bullet loaded just into the lands and a load from the low end of the data book. This keeps the brass pushed against the bolt head and minimizes stretch in front of the belt upon first firing, alowing the shoulder to push to the front of the chamber. YMMV.

John
 
Re: reloading 300WM...

well said John.but to add I can say that in my 5R 300wm I have 5 fireings on remington brass.but have made the call to anneal the brass before I load it again.but still haven't had to FL size the brass yet.the bolt lift is still good for my rifel.and too use the Lee collet die,bought the delux set.

you may want to try h1000 and the 208/210gn bullets.the two together work great for me with a fed mag primer.@ 76gn of H1000
 
Re: reloading 300WM...

As far as bumping shoulders, here is what I've been taught.

As you load a round hotter and hotter, it will get to the point where it actually causes the action/bolt to stretch (then spring back), enough that the brass can stretch to a dimension longer than the original chamber it was fired from. This is what causes heavy bolt lift. This is the extreme end of shoulder movement. But lesser loads will do this incrementally.

The stronger the action and weaker the load, the less likely that this will happen. I've heard of guys NEVER bumping shoulders. But they're not speed junkies.

.02

John