How many firings out of .300WSM case?

[Cameron SS]

Just started reloading for .300 WSM. I've heard repeatedly that this calibre is hard on brass. Was looking for some people with experience with this calibre to share some info.

How many firings before brass is done?
What type of brass?
What type of loading methods/dies?
How hot are the loads?
Does the more expensive Norma brass pay off in terms of case life?
Anything other questions that I should be asking?

Thanks for the help folks.

 

[sp260]

fps from 43.5 gr of h 4350

I get 2550 out of the striker 15inch barrel and 2855 and 2890
out of my prone guns. They have broughton barrels 31" and 32".
Its nice now that someone big won with a 260 Lapuas gona make me brass.
Tim

 

[ballistic64]

I have to believe that the chamber size and how much the brass is having to be resized will be the major factors of the brass life.

 

[Larryh128]

I'm not having any problem getting 5+ out of Win brass in 300 WSM. I do use RL-17 in it which has a longer pressure curve & I'm not sure if that contributes to the longivity of the case or not. I bought some Norma 300 WSM brass & honestly it is the worst stuff I've ever had. 1/3 of the cases won't slide into the shellholder & the stuff is soft. At $1 a case it's a joke. I'm praying that Lapua starts making 300WSM or IMI.

 

[dmg264]

I haven't dealt with the 300WSM but i have loaded several for the 270 and 7 WSM. The only problem I have had is primer pockets loosening up. If I load maximum charges 5 loadings is about the most I can get out of the cases before they get to loose for my liking. I have tried Remington and Winchester brass in the 270 with the same results. I haven't tried the Norma brass, it may hold up better.

 

[338Lapua]

I don’t have the 300 WSM but do have the 300 Winchester mag I neck size for 5 loadings and body size on the 6 loading, using Redding Competition Shellholders. keep head space to minimum. I also use there bushing die set…. Iv had 12 documented reloads from Norma cases, before pockets got to lose & I anneal every 6 loadings, never had a split neck.

 

[rogn]

Im useuing primarily WW brass in the 300 and 7mm. Ive had 2 split necks in the 7mm. I have reloaded some of the 300WW brass in excess of 30 times with very little primer pocket loosening, not lost the first case to it yet. I rarely have any stiff bolt lift but on more than 1 occasion Ive had prominent ejector prints on the casehead. This is both with plunger ejector and mauser type ejector. Case head expansion is unacceptable by normal standards, but the brass is thick and strong, so this expansion seems to fall in the catagory of "fireforming". Once this expansion is realized there is no further expansion. FL sized cases require a trim about every 5-10 firings and is dependent on expander ball stretch. A few 300 cases have been fired more than specified, but I dont have accurate count except > 30. The head stamps are ironing off to a great extent. In both calibers the cases have been switched between 2 different chambers without any issues. Just weighed in 150 7mm WW cases and More than 2/3s were within 1gr or less. 225-226 gr per case. A relatively small # were over and a small number were under, this is pretty good QC for factory brass.

 

[Cameron SS]

Thanks for the responses.

LARRYH, sorry to hear about the NORMA brass. Anyone else have the same results?

I'm still on my first batch, just getting ready to do my 4th loading. Already have a few split necks. Have used H414 and R22. Can anyone tell me more about the pressure curve and how that effects case life?

 

[Cameron SS]

After some measuring, I learned that my neck is .008 larger than my loaded rounds, judged from a fired round +.001 for springback. I think this is the cause of my split necks, and will be rectified on my next chambering.

 

[fdshuster]

Cameron SS: That big, sloppy factory chamber neck diameter is probably the main contributor for short case life, as it relates to split necks, any case, be it a "little" 223 Rem. or one of the really "big ones". I've seen factory chamber necks that were as much as .010" to .012" larger than cartridge loaded round neck diameter, one of many reason's why many of us spec out and buy our own chambering reamers, either no-turn or tight-fitted if we want to outside neck turn. If you ever go that route, measure the outside neck diameter of your loaded rounds, with the thickest necked brass you will be using, add .003" maximum to that dimension, and have the reamer cut. This is also the time you will decide on the all important freebore length: what you want/need for the bullet you will be using, not "one-size-fits-all". That prevents the age old problem of not being able to touch the lands and keep the bullet well into the case neck.

 

[Larryh128]

I just annealed my 300wsm brass for the 1st time & thinking That I should be doing it every 2-3 loadings instead of 5-6. ???
All I need now is for the warm up to melt off enough snow to try them out.

 

[Cameron SS]

FDShuster.

Yes, the factory chamber has been the bain of my existence since I started reloading, and learning just how sloppy it is.

I've measured the maximum case length, and it is .027 longer than spec, making trimming all but unnecessary, asides from keeping the brass uniform for accuracy.

Also, the free bore is about .080 longer then spec, which means I can't use my magazine at all if I want to seat on the lands.

When I burn out the barrel, I look forward to going the custom reamer route. I don't see any point buying premium brass until I do.

I'm looking forward to the warm, so I can wear that barrel out as soon as possible. ha ha ha .

 

[boltman13]

My 300WSM is a factory Model 70 hunting rifle, and my hunting loads are all with virgin Win brass. My practice rounds are a little less intense, 180 gr bullets at 2,875 fps, and I am on my 5th reload on some with no issues. After that first time at maximum intensity, I always full length resize and trim with a Lee trimmer. I only subject each case to one full intensity load, Barnes 180 gr TX at 3,025 fps with Re-22.