WSM Case Life?

[mcfred]

How many reloads are people getting with their WSM brass? I've got a couple batches with the heads falling off, and it doesn't seem like I'm getting good life out of them. I sectioned this one and it's pretty clear:

I'm only resizing enough to feed nicely from the magazines, and I'm not pushing it all that hard because I like them to extract easily for comps. I would've thought the necks would go first. Is there a particular brand that lasts longer? (the one above is winchester)

 

[excaliber]

Re: WSM Case Life?

I`ve loaded some of mine 5 times with no seperation. I have not cut mine into to check for seperation but they look good. I`m using Norma 300WSM.

 

[rusty815]

Re: WSM Case Life?

I'm looking at about 5 loadings as well, some of my brass is on its fourth loading and I haven't encountered any problems yet. Maybe its a headspace problem?

 

[AMOK!]

Re: WSM Case Life?

Sako Grey Wolf 270WSM: Norma brass currently at 10 reloads. No issues. Brass is NO-sized using RCBS dies for 3 uses, then Annealed, then FL-sized with RCBS dies, then repeat....

Estimating 20+ reloads with the Norma brass.

 

[turbo54]

Re: WSM Case Life?

McFred: no offense intended whatsoever, but that ICHS you've got there comes from one thing only...stretching brass from oversizing.

I think you need to investigate your sizing procedure.

What case HS measuring tool(s) are you using?

 

[excess]

Re: WSM Case Life?

Very interested in this topic - Turbo do you have a headspace gauge you recommend?

 

[turbo54]

Re: WSM Case Life?

I'd say an RCBS precision mic is probably the easiest to use, and works well. I've also used the hornady insert type, and they work well to give a relative measurement between fired case and sized case, but a relatively poor job of providing an absolute measurement. I've never used the Sinclair stuff, but I'm sure it's good.

Another thought is slop in your shell holder/press/die arrangement. For example, the toolhead on a Dillon is notorious for inconsistent shoulder bump. It's important to have a shellholder/die arrangement that will camover the press - and at the same time, bump the shoulder properly. If the press doesn't cam over, there can be slop/play that will manifest itself as inconsistent bump.

My experience is ICHS can start showing up after 5-6 reloads with only .003-.004" excessive head space each firing. 6*.004"=024". Those .024" come from the WEB of the case, remember.

 

[freeflight]

Re: WSM Case Life?

My Remington 300WSM brass survived a few neck sizing so far.

 

[Cacciatore]

Re: WSM Case Life?

That's a really nice cut on the case.

 

[bohem]

Re: WSM Case Life?

I think Turbo54 hit it on the head. I've got 12-13 reloads on my Winchester 7/300WSM brass and my headspace is TIGHT on the rifle, bumping the shoulder occasionally for smooth feeding, I'm only going back 0.001" on the bump and I anneal every 3rd firing. The brass is still in great condition.

 

[mcfred]

Re: WSM Case Life?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">that ICHS you've got there comes from one thing only...stretching brass from oversizing.

I think you need to investigate your sizing procedure.</div></div>


Hmm, the chamber is right on (light resistance on the go gauge), and I use a redding body die adjusted to size just enough for the cases to run smoothly. If I neck size only, then the bolt gets a little hard to run which can cause problems in comps where it seems like I'm always in a big hurry. For F-class I only neck size and that seems to help case life, but I have not kept detailed records. Since I've spotted this problem I'm watching things more carefully now. I'm just wondering what other people have experienced with the WSM cases.

 

[mcfred]

Re: WSM Case Life?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Another thought is slop in your shell holder/press/die arrangement.</div></div>

Thanks for the idea, I hadn't thought of that. I have the body die up off of the shell holder, so maybe the bump is inconsistent without the cam-over on my RCBS press. I'll look into it...