Recent content by Andouille

  1. Andouille

    Tikka T3X lite 300 Win Mag barrel with a Giraffe throat

    Not sure I trust the manuals and website specs as several folks have pointed out that they don't match their rifles. I believe that the newer 1:10 barrels are stamped with 10" based on the one that came on my 300 WM T3X Lite bought last December, and that the 1:11 barrels may not have any...
  2. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    I somewhat disagree because go-no-go gauges just do what the name implies, without providing a measurement of chamber headspace. I believe that the scotch tape test does provide an indication of sufficient headspace for safe firing in my case, because I had easy bolt drop/lift with factory ammo...
  3. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    I did not check headspace with a gauge, but I did the "scotch tape" test with a factory round and determined I had about 0.002" clearance if I recall correctly. Seemed like a slightly tight chamber as I'd expect more clearance with factory ammo. I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of...
  4. Andouille

    Tikka updating 300 wsm twist rate- 1-10”

    There are 175gr copper bullets from Hammer and Badlands that supposedly won't stabilize in a 1:11 twist. 175 badlands are stable for me at l 100yds in cold temps at sea level, but I haven't shot them any farther to see if they destabilize over longer ranges. There's a fair but of WSM ammo...
  5. Andouille

    Tikka updating 300 wsm twist rate- 1-10”

    Large rifle primers work great for me, and I think WSM doesn't require magnum primers, which is great news for reloaders. I'm reloading WSM with 175 LRX and 190 Speer Impact, GM210 primers and great velocities with no pressure signs. Shot 10 rounds with GM215 primers and 0.5gr reduced charge and...
  6. Andouille

    300 wsm barrel lengths

    I have a 20" barrel Tikka getting 2960ish FPS with 175 LRX and 2770fps with 190gr Speer Impact. 200 ELD-x was a bit slow at 2660ish fps which calculates to a lot of drop at 500 yds. I'm still about 150fps faster than my 22" barrel (soon to be 18") 30-06 for the same weight bullet. WSM is very...
  7. Andouille

    Do you skip the expander mandrel?

    "Ideal" depends on you! @TxLite has a valid point that ignorance can be bliss if the result works. I like to tinker and optimize, so I'm looking for less than 0.005" of neck diameter change during the resizing process with bushings and maybe "light" touch with mandrel if necks aren't round.
  8. Andouille

    Do you skip the expander mandrel?

    Standard FL dies and expander balls play the case necks like a brass accordion! For example, I just measured the OD of a FL sized 300 WSM case neck at 0.326" after sizing without an expander ball. Then I expand using a mandrel and it ends up around 0.338" with a bullet loaded. 0.018" of overall...
  9. Andouille

    Haul road gps and mapping

    With Gaia, it's only possible at very low resolution, if at all possible, because the file size for Alaska would be dozens of gigabytes. Just download a medium or high-resolution area for your map layer of choice in boxes drawn along the haul road areas of interest.
  10. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    Well, I'm still stumped on my WSM shoulder "rounding" issue that is preventing cases from chambering after full length sizing less than 0.006". I've now tried Hornady Custom Grade, Lee, and LE Wilson full length dies and all get the same result of rounds not chambering until I bump at least...
  11. Andouille

    Full Length Size vs Neck Size

    Inefficiency aside, what about FL sizing in a bushing die without bushings or expander, then neck sizing with a collet die? This would give the benefit of FL sizing and the concentricity and low stress on the necks of the collet die. The collet and internal mandrel of a Lee collet die should to...
  12. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    Interesting issue, I have a few questions: what ID are the necks sized to without the expander and what's the diameter of the expander ball? The ball should be about 2-3 thou above projectile diameter.
  13. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    Well not by design, but rather by setting up incorrectly which I now deduce is my issue. I may need to verify my die setting and if I can't adjust to reduce pressure on the case, then I'll place a thin washer around my case so that the shell holder effectively engages the collet die earlier. Or...
  14. Andouille

    Resizing question?

    Follow-up: neck-sizing with a Lee Collet die allows fired brass to chamber and shoot, and I also tested a Lee FL die which bumped back the shoulder 0.002-0.003 without damaging the shoulder, but sized the neck a little smaller than I'd like. So my issue is definitely with the setup or use of the...
  15. Andouille

    Mono metal discussion

    Raptors in 150gr are on my short list for my 30-06, and maybe a slightly heavier bullet for my 300 WSM. The cost of the Makers is very reasonable. At a glance cost increases from Maker< Badlands < Hammer< Cutting Edge bullets. I like how the expanded bullets look like a peeled banana, with the...
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