|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
February 5, 2014, 02:25 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
Cracked shoulders on 300 Weatherby
I noticed that all 6 cases that I fired today cracked at the shoulder. I had fired the factory load, neck sized only and fired again, then they needed a FL sizing so I did that and when they were fired again the necks cracked.
I loaded with 82gr of IMR7828 and used a 180gr SBT with large rifle magnum primers. I also noticed when the cases came out of the FL die and the shoulders looked crimped if that makes sense, now the cracks are coming in where those creases were. Is this a problem with my die, signs of high pressure, or both? |
February 5, 2014, 02:29 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 18, 2006
Posts: 7,097
|
Not uncommon to have neck cracks on the first reloading of factory brass in my experience. Not a sign of high pressure, just a sign of hard brass in my experience.
Try annealling the neck and shoulder before reloading next time, and use less lube to keep from crumpling the shoulders. Jimro
__________________
Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one. |
February 5, 2014, 02:39 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
If i bought unloaded brass (like norma) would this problem still be as bad? I'm using Remington core lokt brass right now. I will try using less lube in the future but these were still fairly hard to work with, I'm guessing because the brass was hard to start with?
I've never annealed any brass before so I guess I can look that up and see exactly how that's done because I certainly hope to get more loads than this out of each case, they're too expensive to throw away. |
February 5, 2014, 02:54 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 11, 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,766
|
Are you putting case lube on the shoulder?
|
February 5, 2014, 03:20 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
Honestly the first one came out looking like that so I thought I needed more lube and yes I did put a little bit on the shoulder which obviously didn't fix the problem. Could this be what caused the cracks or would I still need to anneal the shoulder if I don't over lube it?
|
February 5, 2014, 03:58 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 11, 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,766
|
What kind of lube are you using? I use RCBS Case Lube and learned very quickly to not put any lube on the outside of the case neck or the case shoulder, and that very little lube is needed on the case body and inside the neck.
|
February 5, 2014, 04:18 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
I'm using Hornady lube it comes in a round tin and has a vasoline type texture.
I already sized the other 14 cases, is there anyway to fix them before they cracked as well? |
February 5, 2014, 04:20 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 18, 2006
Posts: 7,097
|
If you haven't loaded them yet, try annealing them.
For 14 pieces of brass, a plumbers propane torch will do the job quickly. Jimro
__________________
Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one. |
February 5, 2014, 04:26 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 5, 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 316
|
I agree with AllenJ. No lube on shoulder or neck, only on the body(and not much there). I use a tiny, tiny bit on the end just inside of the case mouth. When you think you have a tiny bit reduce the amount by 75%.
You might consider neck sizing only if the brass was first fired in your rifle and you are not hunting dangerous game. |
February 5, 2014, 05:02 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
I tried neck sizing only but that only works once usually. After that they will not chamber. I will try annealing the rest of these cases and see what happens. Also, does anyone know of a good place to find these brass? Mostly all websites I see are out of stock or don't carry it. I would really prefer Norma as well.
|
February 5, 2014, 05:25 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 18, 2008
Posts: 7,249
|
Quote:
F. Guffey |
|
February 5, 2014, 07:01 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 25, 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 110
|
Remington brand brass is one of the WORST to use in 300 Weatherby Magnum, sometimes they split on the first firing.
For better case life I recommend Weatherby or Norma brass. |
February 6, 2014, 12:19 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
Thanks for the link. I saw those but honestly I hate the look of nickel cases and I've heard that they don't have as good of a life expectancy as regular brass, is this true?
|
February 6, 2014, 09:50 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2012
Posts: 6,161
|
Definitely use WBY/Norma (same brass). I never buy brass for my Weatherbys. Weatherby factory loads are amazingly accurate in their rifles and they blow the chronograph up. They chronograph faster than published and they are published higher than anything you can hand load at safe pressure. I buy their ammo and start reloading it when I get about 100 pieces of brass.
|
February 7, 2014, 01:51 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
Reynolds, unfortunately I can't afford to buy factory ammo for this caliber. When you do reload, what do you use? Have you ever loaded with IMR 7828?
|
February 7, 2014, 04:16 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 26, 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,730
|
If the FL die is clean, then i would think defective die. Adjust the lube first. The die may be pushing the shoulder back to far & too small in diameter. What brand of neck die are you using?
|
February 7, 2014, 09:44 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2012
Posts: 6,161
|
Ramshot Magnum, Rl22, Rl25, Norma MRP
|
February 7, 2014, 09:59 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
The neck die is a Lee collet die, the FL die is RCBS.
Yes I tried again without lubing the shoulder and it still did it. The die is brand new, it has only done about 10 cases now. Is it defective? |
February 7, 2014, 10:30 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2012
Posts: 6,161
|
Need more info. Who made the rifle? Have you shot it a lot and this is only happening with this particular brass? Is it a new rifle and this is the first brass you have tried to reload for it? The problem may very well be that the chamber in your rifle is cut wrong.
|
February 7, 2014, 11:07 PM | #21 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 26, 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,730
|
Quote:
Last edited by 243winxb; February 7, 2014 at 11:36 PM. Reason: after cleaning ..................... |
|
February 7, 2014, 11:08 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2013
Posts: 208
|
The rifle is a Weatherby Vanguard, looks like one of the older ones, but I'm no expert. It is Remington brass, they did not split until they were FL sized. They were fired 2-3 times prior with no defect. The shoulders do change radically when fired from the factory or after a FL sizing. Yes, this is the only brass I have for this rifle. I have just ordered 25 pieces of Norma brass so I will let you know how they perform.
|
February 7, 2014, 11:15 PM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 26, 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,730
|
Quote:
|
|
February 7, 2014, 11:33 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 10, 2012
Posts: 6,161
|
Since it seems your chamber is generous; try using your full length die like a neck sizer. Set it up according to the neck sizing instructions and then slowly run it in just to the point the cases quit being sticky in the chambers. I had/have a .300 WBY mag made by Remington that did the same thing. The chamber was cut entirely too deep. I have no idea how Remington did it. As best I can tell, the reamer would have to have been out of spec. Head space was perfect, but the shoulder way a long way forward of where it should have been. I turned it into a .30/8mm Rem mag, no taper, 45 degree shoulder pushed forward. Now it shoots wonderful.
|
February 8, 2014, 12:27 AM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2013
Posts: 263
|
I've got a Remington 700 300 Weatherby and so far no issues. I set up the sizing die to just allow the cases to chamber and I also don't push the envelope on hot loads. I would think if you neck size you should get more than one firing before having to go to the full length sizing again.
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|