I is a happy camper!
Just got my rifle back from HART and am needing to work up some loads but not yet.
The $64 question I got is: how light can I load?
What I have is a 300WM that I want to make some brass for. When I say make, FL size, trim, primer pocket and flash hole uniform and neck turn (just to clean up) and then fire it to fit my chamber. After that I want to just neck size.
What can I do for a light load with some bulk bullets to get a good seal and stretch to my chamber?

Thanks,
Smedley

Smedly,

Try some fast powder....Say 10 grains of Unique with any sized bullet...maybe keep away from the 110 grain ones, unless you bump that 10 grains up to 12 or 14 or so...enough to build up more pressure....

Any cast book, Like Lymans, will give you some ideas....if you don't have any Unique or want to use another pistol or shotgun powder...

Since they don't have a WSM listed, I'd just go with 308 or 30/06 mid to max data recommendations....

That should do the trick!

good luck...

cheers
seafire

Thanks seafire!!!!!!
Just to let you know it is the big brother to the short. The origanal WM!!
I forgot to ask in the first posting, and esecially now that I have started thinking about it, do I need to add filler? If so what is a good one, Dacron, Cream-O-Wheat, Bisquick or Betty Crocker yellow cake mix?

Thanks,
Smedley

PS I will probably just grab some bulk 150grnrs.

Some books give you a reduced load, I know the Speer manual does.

I'm not sure how much experience you have in reloading, but if you take up Seafire's suggestion and use Unique, BE CAREFUL. There is always the chance of double charging or triple charging for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by smedley:
I is a happy camper!
Just got my rifle back from HART and am needing to work up some loads but not yet.
The $64 question I got is: how light can I load?
What I have is a 300WM that I want to make some brass for. When I say make, FL size, trim, primer pocket and flash hole uniform and neck turn (just to clean up) and then fire it to fit my chamber. After that I want to just neck size.
What can I do for a light load with some bulk bullets to get a good seal and stretch to my chamber?Thanks,Smedley

Go with someting between the recommended light loads and max loads of 4350, 4831 or Acc. 3100 for your bulk bullets. From what I hear ,here is that you're not moving a whole lot of brass.What am I missing here? roger

Roger,
All I want to do is get the FL sized virgin brass sized to my chamber without beating the snot out of my shoulder.
What I was hoping for was a real light load, with enough pressure to "form" the brass, so I could get a mess of brass done on A trip to the range.

Thanks,
Smed

Hey Smedly, Sounds like a worthwhile project. I Fire Form all my cases too.

Over the years I've noticed it seems to depend on the particular "Lot" of Cases as to how well they will Fire Form with "Light Loads", some do and some don't.

If the Range is relatively close by, you might want to Reload 5-10 at the Reduced Load and see how well they Fire Form before making up a bunch.
---

By the way, a buddy gave me 1000 30cal 147gr FN-FAL FMJs and they are some of the very best FMJs I've ever seen or shot. Excellent Quality as noted by a Visual Inspection, Weight Comparison and on Target Accuracy.

I use them for Fire Forming and Range Position Practice. He got them from Widener's at a fairly reasonable $63 back in 2002 and Shipping was FREE at that time.

I shot Cream of Wheat several years back to form some '06 cases into 7.65 X 53 ARG. I used ten grains of AA #5, LR primers, filled the case with Cream of Wheat up to the base of the neck, and then plugged the case neck with a piece of toilet tissue.

Worked fine, even did the fire-forming in the mniddle of town in my garage...

I would suggest that you randomly check that your new brass will fit into the chamber (which they should) and then chamfer the inside of the case neck, charge and shoot. THEN do your cartridge work up.

Recoil is the resistance to the "stuff" being sent down the barrel. If you're worried about having the snot beat out of you, you might do well to buy some of the .308 110gr plinker bullets. Also, a sand bag between the butt and your shoulder will go a long ways to reducing recoil. You know you don't have to shoot all of your rounds at one sitting. Once gained, a flinch is hard to cure.

quote:

Originally posted by smedley:
I is a happy camper!
Just got my rifle back from HART and am needing to work up some loads but not yet.
The $64 question I got is: how light can I load?
What I have is a 300WM that I want to make some brass for. When I say make, FL size, trim, primer pocket and flash hole uniform and neck turn (just to clean up) and then fire it to fit my chamber. After that I want to just neck size.
What can I do for a light load with some bulk bullets to get a good seal and stretch to my chamber?

Thanks,
Smedley

I always do fireforming with a moderatly heavy bullet for caliber and a moderate load of the fastest powders listed for that bullet.

In a 300WinMag? I'd go with a 180gr bullet and
58gr of either IMR4064 or IMR4320.

it takes a proper "stiff" load to completely fireform brass, then again when I'm fireforming
I'm usually "creating" from something else, like making 358Norma cases from 300Win cases, of "puffing" improved cases.

For my favorite 30-06 I have a supply of ANCIENT herter's 180gr and 200gr 30 caliber bullets I use to shape virgin cases to my rifle's chamber. I think I paid $1 a box for those bullets about 15years ago... why waste good bullets for fireforming?

Though I do manage to do some informal target practice out of fireforming loads.

My favorite targets for that of late are either biodegradeable clay targets or 10cent a can "seltzer" from the local discount house

Seltzer doesn't have sugar which can attract ants, wasps and Hornets and so you don't risk getting stung when you are picking up the pieces of aluminum can to take them to recycling

AllanD

Roy Weatherby used to make .300 Weatherby cases for his customers from .300 H&H by loading a small charge of a fast powder like Bullseye, filling the case with Cream of Wheat and firing them into the air. It's a time honored procedure that's been used for making many "improved" cases.