RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

[HOGTRG42]

Hello All,

I wanted to share my recent experience handloading for my new Sako Trg-42 in 300 Win Mag. This is my first time loading for this caliber, but not my first time handloading (I load 308Win for my 700 LTR). Using the RCBS Gold Medal Seater Die Seater Die (P/N: 15349) I was not able to seat the bullets deep enough (208 Amax 3.340 OAL). I called RCBS to work out the issue and they confirmed that the 208 Amax and 210VLD are both too sleek for the seater plug to contact the O-give. I asked them if they had a solution and they said they would ship me a 7mm bushing and seater plug to see if it will work, but that at the moment they don't custom make a seater for those bullets. I have to say that I honestly have my doubts about how well this will work if it does at all. Can someone please suggest another die and shell holder that works well (to "bump" the shoulders and has a micrometer turn knob for bullet seating depth) with both the 208 Amax, 210Vld, and 190-220SMK?

BTW - I'm using Winchester Brass, R22, & Win Mag Primers. If anyone has load data for the 190 SMK & 208 Amax using R22 and Win brass in a Sako Trg42 I'd appreciate sharing what works well.

Thanks,
HOG

 

[woodspider]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

I dont have any experience with RCBS dies but take a look at the Forster Dies, they are great. also give them a call (Forster) to see if your set up will work with their dies? they might have an answer. I load mine to 3.60 OAL because my gun likes it. I have to hand feed em though.
good luck

As for my load I go with H1000 here it is

My current load and speeds out of a bone stock 300 WM Sendero 26 inch .
Hornady cases,, ultra-sonicly cleaned after each use.
Fed 215
76.8 H-1000
208 Amax
3.608 OAL just into the lands
~2988 Fps.
It is compressed but not too bad as the brass is now fully fireformed.
It cuts the wind like a YOSHI BLADE

 

[MALLARD]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HOGTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hello All,
I asked them if they had a solution and they said they would ship me a 7mm bushing and seater plug to see if it will work HOG </div></div>

that sounds like it would work to me , but i would think you would have to send them some bullets so they can make the stem match your ogive , dont you think? or , they're just sending you a factory replacement 7mm stem , ... or am i thinking wrong?

forster can make you a custom seater setup , i like redding dies for bumping shoulders. Good luck with your problem

 

[HOGTRG42]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

RCBS is sending the stock unmodified 7mm mag seater plug and bushing. I hope it does work, but if not I'll return the die's and go with the Forster dies. Forster along with Redding seem to be the best choices based on the post here, and people I have spoken about the problem with have also suggested the Forster die. I'm going to take WoodSpider's suggestion and call Forster about a custom die if I can't get the RCBS to work. Thanks for the feedback!

HOG

 

[stevewix]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

Hornady makes an A-Max seating stem specifically to address your problem. Buy the Hornady seating die and A-Max stem, load 5 cartridges with each stem and measure bullet runout. You'll see what I mean.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

Yes, when you go to the heavy-for-caliber, VLD shaped bullets, some seating stems will not work. I use Redding comp dies (sizing and micrometer seating), and they work great. You can also get a standard set of Hornady FL dies, and get the 208 A-max seating stem for it, and be GTG.
Redding dies, then Hornady, are the best out there. I do not like RCBS since you need pliers, screw driver, and wrench just to make adjustments.

 

[LOBO151]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

Im shooting R-22 with 190SMK's out of my TRG 42 300WM.

I use:
73gr R-22
190gr SMK
Mag. FGMM primers
Win. Super X brass
3.512" over all
@ 2990fps.
sub. MOA

I have took this load, in the TRG out to 1,650yrds.

Hope, this helps!

LOBO 151

 

[Driftwood]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

I bought forster "benchrest" full length resizing and seating die set. I didn't have any issues loading the 208 Amax bullet for my 300WM. I am still working on developing a load using H1000. I had good results near 76 grains and again at 78 grains. No pressure signs, but then it was cold. I will have to see if I can duplicate my results and hopefully refine them a little better when I get home and its a little warmer next month.

 

[HOGTRG42]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

Thanks for the load data. I ordered 200 count of the 190 SMK's that should arrive tomorrow. Once I do my own load development I'll post what worked well for myself.

HOG

 

[HOGTRG42]

Re: RCBS Gold Medal Seat Die 300WM w/ 208 Amax - FAIL

Good information! Looks like I'll be getting a set of Forster dies! lol

HOG