"Belling" .300 Blackout Cases...

[RLinNH]

I am looking into purchasing some Missouri Bullets. They are a lead bullet that has a coating on them. In my research, I have found that I would have to add a step to my loading process. I would need to "bell" the case. I do not reload for handguns, yet. I am aware of "belling" the handgun case prior to pressing the bullet into the case. My questions are...
-How would I go about "belling" a .300 case on an RL550? Where on the head would I place that die?
-What die would I buy to "bell" a .300 bo case?

 

[Bullspotter]

Dillon makes a powder funnel for 300 BLK that goes right in the powder dispenser just like what you would use to bell a 9mm or 40 case. Do not need an extra die if using the Dillon powder dispenser.

 

[mdmp5]

I have the belling powder funnel for 300 BLK. It helps for sure, but does slow down the loading because you have to sometimes guide the belling part of the funnel into the case mouth or else it will crush the case. But useful for flat based bullets like 110 vmax

 

[alamo5000]

I experimented with cast bullets in 300 BLK before. I got 1,000 of them to run just fine. When you bell the mouth out do it just enough to get the job done and crimp when you are done. Not a crazy crimp but enough to get the job done. If not the 'bell' can prevent chambering.

The biggest deal you will face is figuring out seating depth. If you get it wrong your rifle can basically shave off lead in the jump and leave you with a nice lead ring in your chamber until rounds won't chamber anymore.

Both of the above can lead to more serious problems if you are not aware. Same with converted brass. For example I had my first ever firearms accident because I used some converted brass that had really thick necks. The brass alone could pass any case guage test but when loaded it prevented chambering. I had an out of battery detonation that split my bolt carrier group like a banana. It was just barely out of battery when I got a big boom during a string of fire.

If you are using brass that you are not sure of maybe cycle each round from a mag by hand. You only need to do this once but it could save you from expensive or potentially harmful mistakes.

Again the lead ring that can form in your chamber is a big deal. Until you get the kinks worked out of your load and until you are 100% sure of your brass try not to do any crazy mag dumps.

 

[alamo5000]

I forgot to mention that I use a Lee die for belling the case mouth. It's super easy to use and really cheap.

 

[alamo5000]

On a side note I've only used bullets from Gallant Bullets. They work really well. They are snowed under with covid ordering but in normal times they are very reasonable.

Also another side tip...cast bullets will give you lots more velocity than jacketed bullets at least in ways. Such as-- if you want to load subsonic rounds, the same charge for a jacketed bullet with the same grain weight will still be a lot faster with cast bullets. Your load data cannot be directly interchanged with jacketed bullets.

 

[alamo5000]

Here is a link to the die I use.

Amazon.com : LEE PRECISION 90798, Universal Neck Expanding Die.25 to .45 Caliber : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : LEE PRECISION 90798, Universal Neck Expanding Die.25 to .45 Caliber : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[flatsix-]

If you are using the Dillon powder dispenser, the Dillon powder funnel C for 30 carbine will flare the case mouth. I used one when I had a batch of flat base bullets and it worked well.

 

[RLinNH]

Dillon makes a powder funnel for 300 BLK that goes right in the powder dispenser just like what you would use to bell a 9mm or 40 case. Do not need an extra die if using the Dillon powder dispenser.

Is this powder funnel a special funnel, or is it just one funnel for .30 and I wasn't aware that it bells the case? I think I have 3 powder funnels for the .300 black. Got overzealous when I started loading for this cartridge...

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

Is this powder funnel a special funnel, or is it just one funnel for .30 and I wasn't aware that it bells the case? I think I have 3 powder funnels for the .300 black. Got overzealous when I started loading for this cartridge...

It should have a taper on the end, like the pistol calibre funnels, and will bell the case mouth if you use it with the dillon powder measure.

 

[Bullspotter]

Is this powder funnel a special funnel, or is it just one funnel for .30 and I wasn't aware that it bells the case? I think I have 3 powder funnels for the .300 black. Got overzealous when I started loading for this cartridge...

It is a special one to flair the case, I assume its close to the same as the pistol case funnels, goes inside the case to make the flair, (part 13564 .30 carbine flaring 300 BO) The only rifle one i have is 223 and its got a flat inlet on it so the end of the neck will not flair as it pushes on powder unit, I assume a .30 funnel for normal rifle will be this way and not flair the case. (part 13587 .30 cal Rifle)

 

[Winningdog]

I load a lot of flat base Barnes and Hornady bullets and have not had to bell the brass. I do load on a single stage press and don't get in a hurry.

 

[RLinNH]

Just placed the order for the flared powder funnel. Thanks to everyone for the clarification and direction.

I load a lot of flat base Barnes and Hornady bullets and have not had to bell the brass. I do load on a single stage press and don't get in a hurry.

I am going to be loading a cast lead bullet with a Hi-Tek coating on them. If you don't bell the case, you run the risk of sheering off the lead and/or the Hi-Tek coating when seating the bullet.

 

[Winningdog]

Just placed the order for the flared powder funnel. Thanks to everyone for the clarification and direction.


I am going to be loading a cast lead bullet with a Hi-Tek coating on them. If you don't bell the case, you run the risk of sheering off the lead and/or the Hi-Tek coating when seating the bullet.

Sorry, guess I didn't see the lead bullet part of the post

 

[vinniedelpino]

I give the lead rounds a little extra chamfer on the inside of the case mouth and I haven't had any issues. Without a decent chamfer the coating shaves right off during seating. I shot the shaved rounds unsuppressed without any issues. I'm only anal about chamfering/flaring the mouth on rounds run through a can.

No issues thus far. Once you iron out the kinks they run like a top. Shooting 209gr. Hi-Tek coated projectiles.

 

[mmlj]

I have used the Lyman "M" dies that are designed to flare case necks for use with cast bullets. They are included when purchasing 3 die pistol sets and rifle calibers that are loaded with cast bullets, 38-55, 40-65, 45-70, etc. They have two sizes, one for longer rifle cases and one for shorter pistol rounds. I can usually buy them at gun shows for $5.00 each. One die can be used with several different size expanding plugs as shown in the picture. These plugs can be made on my lathe to gradually expand the neck, rather than leave a large flare. I've also used these to make compression dies for loading BP and for making seating stems for specific bullet shapes. I prefer to put a gradual taper on the neck of 300 BLK cases. This allows the subsonic bullets to be seating into the case by finger pressure before fully seating the bullet in the seating die.