I just started reloading and am loving it. However, I have having a problem with loads for a 300 Win Mag. I have a RCBS press and Redding dies. I have been loading 300 WSM as well and having no problems. However, with about 2/10 cartridges I load for the 300 Win Mag the bullet will move within the neck of the brass once set. It does not come out when pulled by hand but you can pop it back and forth about an eighth of an inch. This play in the position of the bullet concerns me. Also, a few of the shells (3/120) have been hard to remove from the chanmber once fired. Are these problems connected?

None of my reloads for my WSM are doing this.

Why is it doing this and are these safe to shoot?

Thanks for your help,

What kind of Redding dies? are they the S bushing type, FL or Neck? If they are the S bushing type you can just go down a size in bushings and it should tighten up your bullet tension.

Have you measured the size of the expander ball?

A friend was having a similar problem with a 30-06 and it turned out his dies had been shipped with an expander ball for a 303.


AllanD

I am going to try to answer the questions posted so far, but my knowledge is very limited. The Die says 300 Win Mag. FL T5 but I have no idea what that means. When I measure what I am guessing is the expender ball (the thing with the pin that punches out the primer) it measures .305 inches at the widest point and .278 inches at the rough portion at the head just behind the pin.

I'm not sure if that helps.

Thanks for trying to help. This is all new to me and I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,

OK so from searching some of the other topics here, I see that I have a Full Length Die. Should I get another die and start using it? Although I have not had a problem with my 300 WSM die it is FL as well. Should I order one of the other types for it as well? I also have a 375 H&H 3 die set that I have not tried yet. Are these what I need?

Help!?!?!? Please

HB: Ok so you have a FL die set, how are you setting it up. Are you screwing the die down till you get a good "camming" action on your press? The suggestion above might be it although I've never seen that myself, what are you measuring with, calipers, micro meter?? If you are setting the die correctly and are still having a problem the die may be flawed, you might try calling Redding and asking them the same question, if it is the die's problem I would hope redding would stand behind it.

Does your bullet have a canulere? The grove in some bullets. If so you may need to crimp the case neck onto the bullet. This can be accomplished with a seperate crimping die (best) or it can be done with most bullet seating dies(check the instructions that came with your dies).

Another possible cause may be hardened case necks. Work hardened brass will not have the springback that annealed (soft)brass will.

muck

Remove the stem and resizer ball from you resizing die. Chuch the stem into a drill motor and using #0000 steelwool or super fine emery cloth, buff the resizer ball down a bit. I don't have any measurements for you but just shine it up good. Maybe .0001 or 2. Should clear up your problem.
What bullet are you loading? I prefer a flat based bullet for my 300wm.
I can't help you on the occasional hard bolt lift.

what ever you do,dont crimp any of your cases, it causes too much pressure. i had the same problem with my 223 cases,take your press ram up all the way and set the resizing die to touch it,if that dosent work,it will be with your dies.
hopefully you wont be givin a bad time by redding like my friend was.

I would agree about the expander ball is alttle large and expanding your necks alittle too much

quote:

Originally posted by huntinbuddy:
I just started reloading ..... with about 2/10 cartridges I load for the 300 Win Mag the bullet will move within the neck of the brass once set. It does not come out when pulled by hand but you can pop it back and forth about an eighth of an inch. This play in the position of the bullet concerns me. Also, a few of the shells (3/120) have been hard to remove from the chanmber once fired. Are these problems connected?...

Hey huntinbuddy, The other folks may be correct, but since the problem is not happening on " all " the cartridges, I'd suspect something else.

You might be occasionally " Short Stroking " the Ram during your Resizing. Not at all uncommon for someone just beginning to reload. This could cause a loose grip on the bullets and for sure create a problem during extraction.

If you can locate the cartridges with the loose bullets, let me know and we will try a short Test to see if we can fix them.

Are your loads on the warm side? I think the other posters have you on the right track on the loose bullet. I have some concern about your difficult bolt lift. When that happens to me I usually figure it is a warm load and need to check velocity with a chronometer. If you don't have one find a reloading friend who does. In my opinion that needs to be part of every reloader's bench. Possible exception is if you are going to find one load for your one "do anything" rifle, and load that one load forever. What fun is that though. You can start out without one but if you are going to get into this as a regular hobby you will need it for safety. Welcome to the reloading fraternity. I hope you have as much fun with it as I have. Good hunting. "D"

I bought an new Deluxe Redding Die set for my Win 300 Mag after resizing the bullets were to big to go into the case mouth without buckling the shell. I measured the bullets they were the right size I measured another 30cal Redding expander ball and found out the new set had the wrong ball. It was to small I sent Redding an email the sent me 2 new expander balls No Charge problem fixed.

To diagnose the neck tension problem we would be best off having the Redding part number for the die set you are using. It will be on the label along with the caliber. If you measured your expander ball accurately, that is not the problem. Please post the die part number ASAP.

Gabe