I will soon be taking delivery of a brand new custom 300 WSM with a reamed Krieger barrel that my gunsmith is reaming with a reamer I bought. I have heard that special care needs to be taken with this type of setup when I reload.

Anyone have any insight as to what hazards I may face?

Depends. If your reamer is either short throated (minimal freebore) or tight necked, you'll need to back off a bit. Max data in a reloading manual would probably be over max in your chamber. Also, if neck is really tight, you'll need to turn necks to allow for clearance.

Martindog

Definite hazards ahead. The first true custom rifle I had built was a 300 Win with a Krieger bbl. Within 6 months I was having a 257 built, then a 270, then a 338 then a 416, and a 6.5, another 257 then a 7X57... You get the picture.

Before you know it you could have your own indoor range and website. Stop now! Hazards ahead!

[This message has been edited by ForrestB (edited 12-09-2001).]

Martindog is correct, watch your loads for pressure. I have a 270 win with a tight, short throat chambered Walther barrel that gives 100 fps + over what the books say I should get with my loads,(2930 fps with 56 gr H4831 under a 130 Hornady) and max is 3+ gr under what the manuals say they should be. I turn necks to just clean them up and insure clearance-a bullet can`t be inserted in a fired case by hand with out turning.....The accurcy though:< )

The first thing you do is fire 3 fast factory rounds through it. Then check the brass.

If there were no abnormalities during the firing, and if there is nothing "strange" about the brass...you will not have any hazards.

If there are problems, then you simply give the gun back to the builder and tell him to do it over again....

(You should have a set of loading dies made with the same reamer that was used on the gun...)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think dies are made from the same dimension reamers as chambers are made from?

There is a simple answer to this...ask your gunsmith. Hopefully he will know what he chambered...in fact it should say on the reamer.

Second source..... Where did you buy the reamer? They should know what they sold you and should be able to tell you clearly about any special considerations.