My Redding die does the exact same thing with My 6.5 PRC lapua brass. I finally just grabbed a cheap Hornady die, put more lube on the body and web and I no longer got those stretch marks.
*PRICE DROP*
I have a NIB Maven RS.4 5-30x56 SHR-MIL reticle and brand new never mounted or torqued 34mm PMR Vortex rings medium height for sale. Now Asking $1600 shipped for scope and rings. The scope alone goes for $1800 and the rings $150. This is a hell of deal guys! I’ll FaceTime, FB video...
If anyone’s curious, I loaded them up and the results were fantastic.
I started at 52gr. CCI-250, 2x Lapua brass, 40k off lands (which put me at 93% load density at my starting charge) and went up .3 grain increments 10 steps.
Charge weight/ Avg. velocity and SD (3 shots each)
52gr- 2899- SD 6.2...
Hey I know it’s been a while since this post, but I’m literally in the same bot right now. Low on H-1000 but have 7 pounds of N-165. Loading 143 ELDXs. Gordon’s Reloading Took shows suboptimal velocities at pressure.
What did you find out? Were you able to load some up?
I bought them for a shameful 65/lb plus tax at a local gun shop but would sell them for a slightly less shameful 60/lb. I’m willing to eat the 5 per pound on principle
I know a few guys who use their barrel blanks and have their local GS chamber them and they work great. I’m no gunsmith, but I think those production reamers get beat up.
To make a very long story as short as possibly, I had a Ridgeline, shot the worst, sent it back, they spun up a new barrel, sent it back, shot good. Their customer service is top notch. The question is, why is it even needed?.. They admitted that the barrel I had was bad “so try this one out”...
Literally the exact same thing happened with my Redding Die in 6.5 PRC. It was so unreasonably tight. If I put enough lube to not get it stuck, it would dent the shoulders. I just kept cleaning the die and denting shoulders in the process. The die had to kind of break-in and I didn’t mind...
Short answer to this is yes.. Fireform fresh brass to form to chamber, bump shoulder 1-3K. If you size your brass back to SAAMI, you’re overworking it. When your brass is truly fireformed (sometimes 3 firings depending on what brass) add more powder. The goal is for 90-100% load density...