Reloading 300 WSM - The Firearms Forum

mark95138 · 09-10-2008, 10:10 AM

I am now the owner of a spicy custom 300 WSM. After around 80 rounds, (and saving all of my shells), I'm ready to start looking into reloading so I can afford to shoot this beast.

A couple of things.

I mic'd my empty shells (they're the steel casings from W.) and they are bigger by 5 mils on the neck, 10 mils on the body, and 10 mils in length. Any recommendations on resizing? I'm thinking I want to get the single stage RCBS - what dies to I need for resizing and in general?

Also, I notice the neckdown portion is pretty distorted - not deformed, just looks like it expanded into the cylinder. Do I need to do anything here? Neck turning?

How many time should I be able to reload a casing?

Any help or direction folks can give me is appreciated

LDBennett · 09-10-2008, 04:23 PM

mark95138:

What you need to do is buy the Hornady reloading manual. It includes a very good section on how cartridges cases work in guns with good illustrations. But here is my crack at explaining it.

When the cartridge goes off because the primer starts the powder burning, the pressure get astronomical and push the brass into the chamber walls hard. As the pressure rises, the case, which is really a gas seal for the chamber, stretches in length to fill the chamber. The case distorts in diameter and length from the tremendous pressure. When the pressure subsides the brass springs back somewhat but not to the original sizes but slightly larger.

To reload that case it has to be pushed down to a size that will fit all guns of that caliber. Sizing dies push the outside of the case to that smaller dimension and then the depriming pin, which is also the throat sizer, is pulled back through the case neck to make the inside diameter correct to accept an industry standard bullet. There are more details to the reloading, like case trimming, which insures the cases are not too long for that standard chamber. Neck turning is an advanced technique used for rifles not made to standard specs but with tighter chambers for bench rest competition.

Pistol cases can be used almost indefinitely while rifles case can be used for somewhere between two to 10 times or more, depending on the caliber. Typical hunting calibers (30-06, 308, 270, 243, etc.) are good for maybe 5 relosds total whereas magnum cartidges (like 7mm Mag, 300 Win Mag, all belted cartridges, etc.) are good for maybe two reload or less. It depends on the relaoding techniques, and your gun. The problem is the constant working of the brass work hardens it and the necks will crack or, in the case of some magnums, either the neck will burn through or the base will seperate from the body (you must learn to recognise the indicators or you might get a face full of hot gases). But it is all in any good reloading manual. Just read, read, and re-read until you understand how it all works. Don't buy anything until you understand how it works!

LDBennett

steve4102 · 09-10-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

they're the steel casings from W.)

Steel? I think you may have "nickel plated" brass. Reloading is a great hobby, I'm sure you will enjoy it immensely, but you should first get yourself a good manual and read it. Not just the back half that pertains to load data, but the first have that gives you the step-by-step loading process.

Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of handloading.

mark95138 · 09-10-2008, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the replies...I have the Sierra reloading book, and will buy the Horndy book you recommend.

read, read, read, and reread - I heard this from several folks.

really good info on the life of cases the 300WSM is a pretty wicked round so I'm pretty sure I need to learn what to look for very carefully...I don't want to ask what happens when the pressures colimb to 60K psi and things come apart...

You are right...nickel plated brass - now my knowledge is really showing....thanks!

steve4102 · 09-11-2008, 06:16 PM

[QUOTE=mark95138;348609].

I don't want to ask what happens when the pressures colimb to 60K psi and things come apart...

QUOTE]

Different cartridges run at different psi. Your 300WSM runs at 65K psi. A 60K psi load in your 300 will not harm your rifle in the least. In fact in would most likely be a moderate load. Follow the manuals. looking for signs of high pressure and you will be just fine. High pressure signs include sticky bolt lift, shiny spots on case head, extractor marks, excessive velocity, etc.

Here is some load data that lists psi.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

http://accuratepowder.com/data/Accur...ublication.pdf

http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

Falconry · 12-01-2008, 08:52 PM

I started reloading my A-Bolt SS using Barnes 165s and a selection of powders. I ended up having H414 be the best powder for that weight bullet,even when I changed over to Hornadys for cost. I do need to try IMR 4350 a little more,especially if I decide to go up to 180 grain projos.
I have been using Remington brass and CCI Mag primers. I haven't used the nickel plate brass for reloads, not sure if they don't harden after firing.

I've only been neck sizing the reloads because I'm only loading for my rifle.

The Barnes bullets are great on game,just pricey and my groups weren't super tight, but still easily MOA.

09-10-2008, 10:10 AM	#1
mark95138 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3	Reloading 300 WSM I am now the owner of a spicy custom 300 WSM. After around 80 rounds, (and saving all of my shells), I'm ready to start looking into reloading so I can afford to shoot this beast. A couple of things. I mic'd my empty shells (they're the steel casings from W.) and they are bigger by 5 mils on the neck, 10 mils on the body, and 10 mils in length. Any recommendations on resizing? I'm thinking I want to get the single stage RCBS - what dies to I need for resizing and in general? Also, I notice the neckdown portion is pretty distorted - not deformed, just looks like it expanded into the cylinder. Do I need to do anything here? Neck turning? How many time should I be able to reload a casing? Any help or direction folks can give me is appreciated -->

09-10-2008, 04:23 PM	#2
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Reloading 300 WSM mark95138: What you need to do is buy the Hornady reloading manual. It includes a very good section on how cartridges cases work in guns with good illustrations. But here is my crack at explaining it. When the cartridge goes off because the primer starts the powder burning, the pressure get astronomical and push the brass into the chamber walls hard. As the pressure rises, the case, which is really a gas seal for the chamber, stretches in length to fill the chamber. The case distorts in diameter and length from the tremendous pressure. When the pressure subsides the brass springs back somewhat but not to the original sizes but slightly larger. To reload that case it has to be pushed down to a size that will fit all guns of that caliber. Sizing dies push the outside of the case to that smaller dimension and then the depriming pin, which is also the throat sizer, is pulled back through the case neck to make the inside diameter correct to accept an industry standard bullet. There are more details to the reloading, like case trimming, which insures the cases are not too long for that standard chamber. Neck turning is an advanced technique used for rifles not made to standard specs but with tighter chambers for bench rest competition. Pistol cases can be used almost indefinitely while rifles case can be used for somewhere between two to 10 times or more, depending on the caliber. Typical hunting calibers (30-06, 308, 270, 243, etc.) are good for maybe 5 relosds total whereas magnum cartidges (like 7mm Mag, 300 Win Mag, all belted cartridges, etc.) are good for maybe two reload or less. It depends on the relaoding techniques, and your gun. The problem is the constant working of the brass work hardens it and the necks will crack or, in the case of some magnums, either the neck will burn through or the base will seperate from the body (you must learn to recognise the indicators or you might get a face full of hot gases). But it is all in any good reloading manual. Just read, read, and re-read until you understand how it all works. Don't buy anything until you understand how it works! LDBennett

09-10-2008, 08:23 PM	#4
mark95138 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3	Re: Reloading 300 WSM Thanks for the replies...I have the Sierra reloading book, and will buy the Horndy book you recommend. read, read, read, and reread - I heard this from several folks. really good info on the life of cases the 300WSM is a pretty wicked round so I'm pretty sure I need to learn what to look for very carefully...I don't want to ask what happens when the pressures colimb to 60K psi and things come apart... You are right...nickel plated brass - now my knowledge is really showing....thanks!

09-11-2008, 06:16 PM	#5
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: Reloading 300 WSM [QUOTE=mark95138;348609]. I don't want to ask what happens when the pressures colimb to 60K psi and things come apart... QUOTE] Different cartridges run at different psi. Your 300WSM runs at 65K psi. A 60K psi load in your 300 will not harm your rifle in the least. In fact in would most likely be a moderate load. Follow the manuals. looking for signs of high pressure and you will be just fine. High pressure signs include sticky bolt lift, shiny spots on case head, extractor marks, excessive velocity, etc. Here is some load data that lists psi. http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp http://accuratepowder.com/data/Accur...ublication.pdf http://www.ramshot.com/powders/

12-01-2008, 08:52 PM	#6
Falconry Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Re: Reloading 300 WSM I started reloading my A-Bolt SS using Barnes 165s and a selection of powders. I ended up having H414 be the best powder for that weight bullet,even when I changed over to Hornadys for cost. I do need to try IMR 4350 a little more,especially if I decide to go up to 180 grain projos. I have been using Remington brass and CCI Mag primers. I haven't used the nickel plate brass for reloads, not sure if they don't harden after firing. I've only been neck sizing the reloads because I'm only loading for my rifle. The Barnes bullets are great on game,just pricey and my groups weren't super tight, but still easily MOA.