Help- what am I doing wrong? Brass binding when bullet seating.

[Tuby27]

What’s going on? 300wsm Norma brass, annealed using torch and driver with socket. Full length sized with Redding type s .333 bushing. Shoulder bump .002, Wet tumbled.

Issue started when I tried to use a hornady VLD seating stem in a hornady custom seating die. I did notice i had to use more force when seating, a lot more force. Prior to changing the seating die, it was fine, even with my annealing. I did put the original seating stem back in but it keeps destroying my brass. I just ordered a Redding competition seating die and .334 bushing, hoping that will fix my issue. Any thoughts?

 

[wapitibob]

i see an inside burr instead of a chamfer in the necks

 

[Tuby27]

i see an inside burr instead of a chamfer in the necks

Brass was chamfered and de-burred, then wet tumbled before loading. I pulled the projectiles. The one on the left, I took a plier to see how soft/hard it was.

 

[deadwolf]

… your die might need to be backed out? Changing stems might have your case running into the collet? Is you die body touching the shellholder when in the fully up position?

 

[nhyrum]

Generally that's caused by having the die body screwed in too far and the die starts the crimp while it's still trying to seat the bullet. Unscrew the die 2 to 3 turns, readjust the seating stem and try again.

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[A382DWDZQ]

Bushing is too small I think. I read that Norma brass for 300 WSM is .0145, x 2 is .029, + .308 = .337, -.002 because not turning the neck so your bushing should be ~.335

*edit - reply above seems more likely.

 

[Sled]

Generally that's caused by having the die body screwed in too far and the die starts the crimp while it's still trying to seat the bullet. Unscrew the die 2 to 3 turns, readjust the seating stem and try again.

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I'd agree and that's most likely it. The other option is wrong size hole. Double check your sizing die and projectiles. Sometimes things get mixed up on the bench.

 

[nhyrum]

Did you measure for your neck bushing? How did your arrive at your numbers?

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[GIS]

Generally that's caused by having the die body screwed in too far and the die starts the crimp while it's still trying to seat the bullet. Unscrew the die 2 to 3 turns, readjust the seating stem and try again.

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This.

If you are not crimping in the same step as seating the bullet you can also unscrew the die several turns. Put a piece of brass in the shell holder without a bullet and pull the lever down so the brass is all the way up in the die. Slowly screw the die down until you feel it touch the shoulder of the brass. Unscrew a half to full turn and then you are good to go.

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[Cahunter805]

I agree with above. The lock ring on your die might have moved also. I’d reset the seating die up and see what happens.

 

[Tuby27]

… your die might need to be backed out? Changing stems might have your case running into the collet? Is you die buddy touching the shellholder when I’m the fully up position?

I'll have to test that, I'm loading on a hornady classic press using lnl bushings. both seating stems created the same results but only after I decided to try the VLD stem from my buddy. the die is not touching the Shellholder, its probably about 1/2" higher from the bottom of the lnl bushing, so I'm guessing maybe like 3/4" from the Shellholder.

 

[Tuby27]

Bushing is too small I think. I read that Norma brass for 300 WSM is .0145, x 2 is .029, + .308 = .337, -.002 because not turning the neck so your bushing should be ~.335

*edit - reply above seems more likely.

that's what I was thinking also, so I'm ordering a size up. I'm shooting Barnes 175gr LRX, Norma brass loaded round neck diameter with the LRX is .336, I didn't think .003 neck tension would that much so I initially ordered the .333 bushing. as I recall my measurement of the LRX diameter is like .307.

prior to removing and installing the new seating stem, I was doing everything as stated above and was able to get the following group from a factory Tikka t3x superlite. 100yrds off bipod and rear bag. smh should've just left it alone.

 

[Tuby27]

Did you measure for your neck bushing? How did your arrive at your numbers?

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loading barnes 175gr LRX, loaded round had neck diameter measured .336, so I initially ordered the .333 bushing and was able to get great groups (0.371" 3-shot group at 100yrds, Tikka t3x superlite) but decided to change the seating stem since it was leaving a ring on the projectile, that's when it started destroying my brass. even when I put the old seating stem back in. I just ordered the Redding competition seating die and a .334 bushing just in case.

 

[4ester]

I doubt your neck bushing is causing your issues.

I’d revisit the setting of the body of the seating die. Pull the stem, run a case all the way up, screw the body of the die in until you feel contact and then back out one turn. Then reset your stem.

You are crimping and seating a bullet at the same time.

You set the seating die off the top of the brass, not the shell holder.

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[Harvey_NW]

Brass was chamfered and de-burred, then wet tumbled before loading. I pulled the projectiles. The one on the left, I took a plier to see how soft/hard it was.

Wet tumbling rolls the chamfered edge over and causes this, clean brass is also sticky without lube. If you're a fan of wet tumbling I would recommend making the chamfer your last step before seating, and also graphite neck lube.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

I’m with those that say the bullet is seating while being crimped. Back that die out. 4ester has the right plan on setup

 

[Jaden Bales]

This is such a helpful thread! I was having this issue specifically with my 300 WSM and norma brass while my buddy and I were reloading on his bench, so I'll pass it along and hopefully can work on some solutions, as well.

@Tuby27 let me know if you find out specifically what fixes the problem if you get around to it.

 

[Overdrive]

I doubt your neck bushing is causing your issues.

I’d revisit the setting of the body of the seating die. Pull the stem, run a case all the way up, screw the body of the die in until you feel contact and then back out one turn. Then reset your stem.

You are crimping and seating a bullet at the same time.

You set the seating die off the top of the brass, not the shell holder.

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This right here is spot on!

 

[Tuby27]

So I reset the seating die, took it apart. Set the lnl bushing in the press first, arm is at highest position with a case in it. Started screwing die (without seating stem and adjustment screw) until it makes contact with the case (without the projectile). Backed die out a full turn to not crimp. Locked die in place.

I insert the seating stem and adjustment screw. I have a seated dummy round that I use as a measurement/guide, I used that to set the seating stem and adjustment screw but I still backed out about two turns on the adjustment screw.

I insert a new case, primed and powdered and projectile, start seating and again resistance is hard, doesn’t feel normal. I can feel the projectile being seated then at the last 10% or so it feels light, and again it binds. See pics if the finished round and how deep my die is in the lnl bushing and press.

So again my suspicion is the bushing makes it too tight and/or my annealing is off. But looks like others I’ve research online (pic of my homemade annealed 270win and 300wsm brass).

 

[madcalfe]

George, i think you bumped the shoulder back a little to far