Winchester Brass - Reloading

[matthewusmc8791]

Another question for all you shooters... I sure like this place.... As you know i have been shooting my Savage 300 win mag using Winchester brass and IMR 4350 (69.0gr) and Federal 215M primers with some good results....

Purpose of this thread is does anyone have any issues with measuring up the COAL with Winchester brass???? i use a Mitutoyo Caliper #500-196-20 and the Hornady comparator and measuring from the base of the case you never get the same reading...

I notice that from the very begining... to tell ya my procedure for reloading is not nearly as intense as some since this really is a factory huting rifle except for the replacement stock i have on.

I square up the primer pockets, debur in/out flash hole, full length size the brass with a forester die(only new brass) if its fired brass i only neck size using redding dies and then i trim to length, deburr the necks in/out, i use a redding competition seating die and i try to mic up each case to exactness. see nothing too crazy in my process.

The biggest probelm i found is that the brass base is never flat. I know they are punch out on a machine, but damn, they are out .002-.004.. so i tyically just have a range of what my actual COAL is... my rifle using the nosler 168BT, touch at 2.931 using the Hornady guage, and shooting them they like its at 2.920-2.925 with the hornady comparator. so when i mic it up,its some where in that bull park... i just thought you buy Winchester brass and your good to go.... guess not.

what can you do to the bras to fix it the basses for a much for exact measurement.

 

[Preacher]

Shooting it once should square up the bases and then you can trim them, and do whatever needs done...
I never do a thing to brass until it's fired once unless it needs neck turned to fit...

 

[Gearheadpyro]

Fireforming the brass will square anything up, unless it's actually your bolt that's not square.

I had a very similar problem when I first got started reloading. Turns out I wasn't seating the primer quite far enough into the case. The caliper was hitting on the primer, not the case. This would throw my C.O.L. measurements all over the place.

Just something else to check.

 

[Rust]

What case trimmer are you using? Quality of the trimmer can affect the quality of the trim. And unless you've fired the brass or unless the brass is just too long, don't trim until the brass has been fired.

 

[Skeeter]

Everyone has given you good advice. Measure and work your brass up after you have fired them once and things should measure up for you.... at least for OAL.

Skeeter

 

[watercam]

I second primers not quite fully seated as the culprit. They should be around .005" deeper than the case base surface. I struggled with the same issue for longer than I should admit.

 

[matthewusmc8791]

First thing i checked, its not the primers because I did some checkign last night and this is what i found....

Measuring using th Hornady guage and my calipers i mic'd up factory ammo fired and brand new brass prepped and once fired brass and i have the same problem for all. nothing is square...

 

[Dgd6mm]

The boltfaces on the Savages are usually cupped, some worse then others. After fireing it could be worse.

 

[doubleDarms]

Pretty good chance the bolts not square.

 

[acloco]

Savage boltheads float.

You can check if the lugs are fully engaging the action by using a black sharpie to color the back of the lugs, install a FIRED case, and close/open the bolt a couple times (after allowing the ink to dry).

Check the face of the bolthead in the same way.

About your COAL measurements, have you measured bullets first? You might be surprised how much bullets can vary. Start there first.

Next, rub the high spots off of the stamped letters/numbers on the brass but LIGHTLY using a piece of 400/600/800 grit paper on a FLAT surface.