Worried

[super90]

I loaded some rounds for my Browning A-Bolt in 300wsm yesterday for the first time.I am worried that something isn't right.When I came home from the range and tried to fl size the brass again I noticed that it was much harder than when the brass was virgin.Here is the load that I used.

Winn virgin brass fl sized and trimmed.
Federal GM210M primers
55 grains of varget
Hornady 165 grain interlock bullets

The above load will put 5 shots in a neat little 1/2in cloverleaf at 100yds.There no pressure signs that I can see.I guess that I am paranoid.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Worried

Sounds like you just have slightly bigger chamber and thus slightly larger fired formed brass. So the die is trying to work it back to it's SAAMI specs which is just a little tighter than your chamber. Just use lube and re-size away or swap to neck sizing.

 

[super90]

Re: Worried

Thanks that is what I was thinking.I guess I will have to buy a neck sizer.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Worried

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: super90</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks that is what I was thinking.I guess I will have to buy a neck sizer. </div></div>

Keep that FL sizer though because eventually (~4-5 shots) you'll have to bump the shoulder back.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Re: Worried

Virgin brass comes well undersized. I just loaded 200 rds. of .300 Win Mag. With virgin brass, I was able to sized the necks (to make them uniform) by running them in a F/L die without having to use sizing lube, that's how they come. Measuring the shoulders, they were a good .025" set back from fired cases.

I don't know what brand of sizing lube you're using, but what you described sounds normal. If I'm doing 10-20 cases, I use Imperial wax, If I'm doing more, I use Dillon lube.

If this is a hunting rifle, I recommend F/L sizing for all loads going into the field. All of my hunting rifles get F/L sized every time. Only my target rifles will get neck sized cases a couple of firings before being F/L sized again. A stuck round can ruin a hunting trip.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Re: Worried

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: super90</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks that is what I was thinking.I guess I will have to buy a neck sizer. </div></div>

Keep that FL sizer though because eventually (~4-5 shots) you'll have to bump the shoulder back. </div></div>
I can't say for 300 WSM for certain, but my experience (308) has been that you don't need to bump the shoulder back very often when neck sizing. As the brass hardens it seems to reach a state where it doesn't really change shape at all. Just neck size back down to get good neck tension and load away.