That isn't good.

[KineKilla]

Shot a handful or rounds yesterday and as you can see...Houston, we have a problem.

Load is relatively mild and has always shot excellently in this rifle. I have always shot my brass a total of 4 times and then scrapped it.

Process has always been the same as well. Clean, FL size, trim to published trim length then reload to published specs and seating depth.

Never have I had any excessive wear nor case head separation in this rifle in the past. I don't know if I have a headspace issue that has suddenly manifested or if it's a case prep issue.

No flattened primers, no hard to lift bolt handle, no hard to close bolt, no loss of accuracy out to 350yds. Didn't even know there was an issue until I got home and started sorting brass.

X-Bolt Stainless, 7mm Rem Mag
61gr rl-22
160gr Accubond
Fed GM215M primer
2,945fps

The cases marked with a 3 were on their final loading, the 2's had one more to go...not now obviously.

Sent from my SM-N976U using Tapatalk

 

[ckleeves]

I would guess over sizing is the issue. How far are you bumping shoulders?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KineKilla]

Hard to say.

Measured the brass pictured and most if not all are at 2.22 (measured from base to top of shoulder).

New, loaded but unfired brass ran through my sizing die (as is my standard process) measures 2.20.

So, if I had to guess I'd say .02 is the bump back amount.

Sent from my SM-N976U using Tapatalk

 

[BRTreedogs]

Hornady brass is known to be soft.
Most only load it once or twice.
Why have you been trimming every time? there is a min and max limit, if your getting that much brass flow and cutting it off every time that brass has to come from somewhere.
Those primers are awful flat for no pressure.
Do you have a local Smith that can check headspace?

 

[KineKilla]

I contacted a couple local smith's. One said he was on vacation, the other offered to check the head spacing. I'm waiting on him to get back to me with a drop off time and date, etc.

As for trimming, I am just in the habit of trimming back to the Hornady published trim length on my rifle brass. I understand that brass is coming from somewhere and most likely it is coming from the base (where separation occurs) but since cases do not headspace off of the case mouth I never felt it was much of an issue to trim it off. Once the sizing has occurred leaving the case necks long seems pointless as the brass has already flowed up from the base.

Always learning even though I've been reloading for a number of years.

I have had loose primer pockets using Nosler and Winchester brass, thus my preference for Hornady brass.

 

[rayporter]

i would recheck the bump and be certain it is .02. if it is .02 you need to change something -it should be closer to .002

headspace issues dont suddenly pop up. it has either been there or it has not.

 

[Axlrod]

i would recheck the bump and be certain it is .02.

headspace issues dont suddenly pop up. it has either been there or it has not.

.02 is 20 thousandths which is about 18 thousandths too much. Should be moving the shoulder back .002- 2 thousandths.
Most likely getting incipient case separation due to excessive sizing.

 

[KineKilla]

Just measured a brand new piece of brass, FL sized, trimmed, chamfered, etc. @ 2.1025"
Measured one of the brass from yesterday that did not separate, primer removed @ 2.1185"
Measurements were using a Hornady Headspace Comparator on my digital calipers.

So, actually just less than .02 difference.

I have a shop locally that I'll be dropping brass and rifle off to this afternoon. My guess is that the FL sizing 3 times stretched the brass and then some mystery part of the equation resulted in a perfect storm that caused the end result. Could be temperature sensitivity (was 75 here) although I've shot this rifle with this load many times in hotter and colder temps, variances in primer burn, powder burn, altitude, etc.

Like I said though this load is about a mid-range load in the Nosler reloading manual so I should have had some wiggle room in pressure tolerance. I have also shot brass through this rifle 4 times without an issue before using all the same components and methods so I'm not sure why it happened now and in such consistent fashion.

I am now in the market for a Neck Sizing Die for this caliber. I've never cared for trying to size just the neck using FL dies...wish LEE still made their Collet Neck Sizing Die for the 7mm Rem Mag. Will likely end up with and RCBS version.

 

[rickjames80]

I had a headspace problem. Replaced barrel and no longer an issue. Might be able to just neck size, but I didn't want to risk it

 

[Cahunter805]

I agree it could be a bit of over sizing and hornady brass isn’t known to last.

How is your FL die setup? Have you measured a once fired but not sized piece of brass? That’s the measurement I would use and bump the shoulder .001-002 from there.

Norma/Nosler brass might be a better choice also.
I highly doubt it’s a headspace issue. It’s a weak brass/sizing issue.

 

[KineKilla]

I don't have any once fired brass that doesn't already have a bullet loaded into it. Best I can do is the piece from yesterday that did not split. I feel the split ones would give long measurements due to the split.

No time to re-barrel. I need this bad boy for a bear hunt in 19 days and counting. Also, it shoots fantastic out to 400+ with the factory stainless 28" barrel.

Appreciating the discussion and input. I agree with most sentiment that it is most likely the fault of the reloader (yours truly) but appreciate any and all thoughts as I work through the issue to determine root cause and solutions.

 

[Cahunter805]

Take a fired but not sized piece of brass from yesterday and measure it with your headspace gauge. What is that measurement?
All new brass stretches quite a bit on the first firing in a Saami chamber. The belt is what stops the case and what headspace is set off from the factory. After that you can just bump the shoulders .001-002 not .02.

 

[wind gypsy]

The solution has been shared in this thread. Scrap any brass you’ve been over-sizing and start only bumping the shoulders back a thou or 2. You’ll get more than 4 loadings that way if you’re not loading very hot.

Think about it, you’re stretching the case body 20+ thousandths with every shot, of course it’s going to separate eventually.

It’s not uncommon for for belted magnums to blow the case shoulders forward a bunch on first firings compared to beltless cases. It isn’t a big deal for that to happen once, just don’t repeat it unnecessarily. If you want that first firing on virgin brass to minimize body stretch and maximize the shoulders getting “blown out” instead, fireform virgin brass with the bullets loaded long so they are jammed hard into the lands.

edit: saw that OP is looking into a neck sizing die. You don’t need a neck sizing die, adjust your FL sizing die so it’s not sizing so much.

 

[KineKilla]

You're right where .02 each time adds up to .06-.08 over the life of the case and is too much in the end. I don't worry about case life and would still hand load my bullets even if I only shot them once and tossed them.

Fortunately almost all of the loaded rounds I have now are either new, unfired or once fired re-sized. This appears to be almost all of the rounds that were shot more than once so far.

I have tried to neck size .270WIN brass using FL dies and didn't trust the results. I prefer to use a neck sizing die for its intended purpose rather than using a different tool for its unintended purpose. Just me. I'll buy a Neck sizing die and use it moving forward.

 

[ericwh]

Take a fired but not sized piece of brass from yesterday and measure it with your headspace gauge. What is that measurement?
All new brass stretches quite a bit on the first firing in a Saami chamber. The belt is what stops the case and what headspace is set off from the factory. After that you can just bump the shoulders .001-002 not .02.

What he said. Measure a fired and unsized piece of brass. Screw the FL sizing die into the press in small increments, sizing and re-measuring your brass until you have moved the shoulder back .002".

You are still moving the shoulder back and also resizing the body of the case - it is still FL resizing. This is not neck sizing. You're just not pushing the shoulder back as much as you were before.

 

[ckleeves]

Buy a set of Redding comp shell holders and use them with your FL die. FL size using the correct shell holder and you will be good to go. There are other methods that accomplish the same result for setting bump but the comp shell holders are easy to use and give very consistent results.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KineKilla]

I like the premise these are built on. I may contact them to get a feel for price.

 

[rayporter]

you are right, i was not paying attention big time.
i edited that.
for all practical purposes you can call these separated cases a perfect match for your chamber. just measure them if you have the tool.

 

[wind gypsy]

I have tried to neck size .270WIN brass using FL dies and didn't trust the results. I prefer to use a neck sizing die for its intended purpose rather than using a different tool for its unintended purpose. Just me. I'll buy a Neck sizing die and use it moving forward.

Limiting the shoulder bump of a FL sizing die is the ideal way to use them for their intended purpose. It's brass sizing 101.

All SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL Products for Sale Online - 236 Products

Brownells has 236 SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL products for Sale Up To 91% Off including Reloading, Tools & Cleaning, and Gear.

www.sinclairintl.com

Redding Reloading Equipment

Thank you for visiting Redding-reloading.com. We are currently in the process of bringing you a new website experience! For immediate assistance, please call 607-753-3331.  For Technical Issues [email protected]  For General Inquiries [email protected] *

www.redding-reloading.com

 

[KineKilla]

Everyone is correct, the dies in their current setup are the main issue. Had the rifle over to the Gunsmith/Custom Rifle Builder and after inspection of the rifle and the brass it was concluded that these dies, when installed in the press as instructed, are pushing the shoulders back too far.

Guess who gets to pull bullets and load new rounds now? Not the end of the world, I like doing it. Have to get a piece of once fired brass first to set the dies up where they should be.