300 WSM reloading issues

[Montana]

Had the same problem with my 7wsm and backing it off resolved the issue. Not wanting to change the subject but what bullet are you starting with and why? I just got a 300wsm as a gift and trying to decide if I want it to be a longe range rifle or an elk dumping thunderstick
Thanks.

 

[bigshot]

I think I figured it out, it came to me while I was on my morning run. The bullet seating die is too long creating a small gap between the case and the shoulder area of die. When the bullet is seated the pressure form the seating process is bulging the base of the shoulder (see picture). I am going to take .005" off of the bottom of the seating die to see if that reduces the bulge. If it works I will post my findings as I go.
View attachment 7163

I myself would not change the length of the die....good luck

 

[Buck8541]

Bigshot, I read of people removing material from the shell holder instead of the die. So I measured all of shell holders, the Lee's were taller than the RCBS, I switched to RCBS and that seems to have solved the problem.

Montana, so far the 180 gr Accubonds, over 70.0 gr H4831, or 65.0 gr IMR 4350 have given me wonderful accuracy and velocity. These loads are at the maximum though and I am working them back down.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Bigshot, I read of people removing material from the shell holder instead of the die. So I measured all of shell holders, the Lee's were taller than the RCBS, I switched to RCBS and that seems to have solved the problem.

One thing thats been a rule for me is using the same mfgrs components while I load. RCBS dies & shellholder, Hornady dies & shellholder, etc. Each manufacturer engineers their own products to work with each other.....maybe not so when they are mixed with other mfgrs stuff. This is a good practice and Buck9541 is right on. I will not modify any of these components in any way.

 

[tim]

I had someone load up some 270 wsm for me. I got the same problem, tough closing of the bolt. It must be common for the wsm.
the brass I had the guy reload was all factory ammo shot once.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I had someone load up some 270 wsm for me.
the brass I had the guy reload was all factory ammo shot once.

Was it full length sized assuming it wasn't fired in your gun the first time? As I said in an earlier post, not all chambers are exactly the same dimensionally as there are =/- tolerances to the nominal engineering dimension. When you shoot the round in your gun the expended brass is fire formed to your exact chamber dimensions. That is why I only neck size my OWN brass thats been shot in my rifle. There are so many variables involved....all rifles chambered for that round are not the same, there are differences in reloading dies and how they are adjusted, There are dimensional differences in the brass we buy and use, etc, etc.

 

[tim]

all the brass came from me and was once fired factory brass in my rifle.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Sound like you are doing everything right. I went back and reread all the posts and the only thing I would do is call RCBS and talk to their tech people. They are very helpful and might have some suggestions on die adjustment. If you have any factory loads left you might use one of them as a "master" and reset you sizing die and then see what happens when you load one.

Other than that .....I stumped.

 

[Montana]

Montana, so far the 180 gr Accubonds, over 70.0 gr H4831, or 65.0 gr IMR 4350 have given me wonderful accuracy and velocity. These loads are at the maximum though and I am working them back down.

Thanks for the info... any idea how fast they are shooting?

 

[Buck8541]

Montana,

Both loads chronograph at 3100 FPS +/- 10 FPS. Keep in mind I have a 27" barrel. As I said earlier I am going to reduce these loads, they are pretty hot.

 

[Elkscent1]

HI All. I am new to the forum. I found this thread while researching information on .300 WSM accuracy. I had the very same problem with my .300 WSM, a Winchester Model 70. Factory loads chambered fine but my reloads would not even though they were resized and properly trimmed. Even though the once fired and resized cases would fit perfectly in a Wilson .300 WSM Case Gauge. I reload all of the ammunition for my firearms & this is the only caliber I have had that problem with. I use Redding dies. Full length resizing dies & a Redding Competition Seating Die. I finally called Redding explaining the problem to them. They have great customer service. They asked me to send them my dies along with some brass fired in my rifle. A few weeks later they sent my brass and dies back to me with no explanation of what they had done. I called again & was told by one of the Techs (I don't remember who) that my resizing die was not properly manufactured causing the problem. He was famaliar with my case and said they had sent me a new resizing die. I still don't know what the exact problem was but I have not experienced it since they replaced the die. All of the cases fit perfectly now. I hope this helps someone else.

 

[Sawfish]

Specs. for the .300 WSM were changed shortly after the cartridge was introduced. It is possible that your original dies were manufactured to the original specs.

 

[Buck8541]

After getting a new set of RCBS dies and shell holder I have not had any problems. Well... other than my primers falling out after three loadings, but that's because of my speed addiction and a whole other topic of discussion;-)

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Glad your main problem is now fixed. There are some very knowledgeable folks here that really help a lot.