.300 BLK Reloading Woes

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GravelRider

GravelRider

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Hello all, I'm having some trouble with loading the .300 BLK round.

I'm new to reloading for the 300 blackout, but not new to reloading. I've been reloading for nearly 20 years. The 300 blackout is the first round in which I've ventured into case forming. And it is giving me a run for my money so far.

I'm loading on a Dillon XL650 and Redding T7 turret press. I used the Dillon to decap/form and prime. I then have been hand measuring the loads and using the Redding to seat the bullet and crimp. Eventually I will be using the Dillon exclusively to load once I get things ironed out. I am using Hornady Custom grade dies and a Lee factory crimp die.

Recipe: Berry's Bullets 200 gr .308" plated SP bullets over 11.5 gr CFE BLK. Obviously, I'm loading this for subsonic.

I started with mixed once-fired 556 brass. I dry tumbled in corncob media overnight for a high shine. I sorted the brass according to the good/bad list on this site. I built a jig, and cut down the brass to around 1.370."

I then deprimed and sized/formed the brass.

Then I trimmed the brass to 1.358."

I then dry tumbled again in corncob media, and ensured there was no media stuck in the primer pockets afterward.

Then I checked each piece of brass in a Sheridan slotted case gauge. They all fit with no issues (well, I had to toss about five cases that wouldn't fit out of about at thousand I had formed).

Then I finished loading the rounds, with on average OAL of 2.239."

I lastly test fitted each finished round in the case gauge, and only 2 out of 20 fit!

It appears that the neck is too wide (see picture below), but the neck diameter measures 0.332." This is well within specs. I also measured the case body diameter near the rim and along the case body toward the neck, and all was within spec.

20221207_132327-X2.jpg

I loaded up five of them (all that wouldn't fit in the case gauge properly) into a magazine and chambered and extracted them with the charging handle, and they all chambered properly, though extraction required a healthy pull on the charging handle, so clearly they're not fitting into the chamber as they should.

The dimensions are all where they should be, yet they're not fitting in the case gauge. I'm quite stumped.

I'm hoping you guys may be able to point me in the right direction.

I should also mention that I did not anneal the brass at any time during the process. I have since purchased the Annealease annealer, but didn't use it on these, since I purchased it after I already formed the brass.

I also posted this on the 300blktalk forum, but it's pretty quiet over there, so I figured I'd also post here.
 
I will be willing to bet it is too much crimp. That little bitty shoulder on 300 Bo will not tolerate much crimping force at all without collapsing. The thing is it you over do the crimp just a touch the shoulder just swells a little bit, it still looks good but will cause issues chambering the rounds just as your gauge shows. I had the exact same issue with my 300 BO reloads when I first started.

Also plated bullets really don't do well with very much crimp. I have shot a heap of the Berry's 220gr version and use almost no crimp with them. With bullets with a cannelure I use just enough crimp to get the case mouth to the bottom of the cannelure and no more.

Back your crimp off completely and load one and see if it will pass your gauge.
 
Use a black marker on a round and chamber it what ever gets scraped off is likely the problem.
It appears you are using a lee factory crimp die, it shouldn't move the shoulder but try one with no crimp.
Some brass varieties are thicker and you have to turn down the neck after forming.
What brass are you using?
 
Thanks for all the quick replies everyone!

I painted one of the bullets with a Sharpie, and the ogive was definitely hitting the lands. So I loaded a dummy round to 2.200," and it was better, but still not quite fitting in the gauge.

Next I loaded up a new dummy round at 2.239" (the previous length I was using), but didn't apply any crimp. This also was better, but still not quite fitting.

Finally, I loaded up a dummy round at 2.200" and with no crimp, and it fit perfectly. I then loaded up four more, and they all fit.

Turns out it was a combination of too much crimp and too long of an OAL. Though, I'm surprised on both accounts. I didn't think the Lee factory crimp die could affect the shoulder, which is why I've always used them. Also, 2.239" is over 20 thousands less than max OAL, so I'm surprised that OAL had the ogive in the lands.

Is anyone loading 200 gr in 300 BLK? If so, what OAL are you using? SAAMI spec minimum is 1.780," but I doubt that is with a 200 gr projectile.
 
I am loading the 220gr version of the Barry's plated spire point bullet at 2.190 inch OAL.

index.php
 
Berrys recommends a 2.150 COAL for their 200s and 220s. If your rifle can handle it without jamming the lands and it will feed properly, a longer COAL is advantageous due to lower pressure in the brass because you have less bullet in the case, with the same charge weight.

Glad you got it sorted!
 
GravelRider said:
Thanks for all the quick replies everyone!

I painted one of the bullets with a Sharpie, and the ogive was definitely hitting the lands. So I loaded a dummy round to 2.200," and it was better, but still not quite fitting in the gauge.

Next I loaded up a new dummy round at 2.239" (the previous length I was using), but didn't apply any crimp. This also was better, but still not quite fitting.

Finally, I loaded up a dummy round at 2.200" and with no crimp, and it fit perfectly. I then loaded up four more, and they all fit.

Turns out it was a combination of too much crimp and too long of an OAL. Though, I'm surprised on both accounts. I didn't think the Lee factory crimp die could affect the shoulder, which is why I've always used them. Also, 2.239" is over 20 thousands less than max OAL, so I'm surprised that OAL had the ogive in the lands.

Is anyone loading 200 gr in 300 BLK? If so, what OAL are you using? SAAMI spec minimum is 1.780," but I doubt that is with a 200 gr projectile.
Click to expand...
You may want to find an ojive with more taper if you want to load longer.
 
GravelRider said:
…Then I checked each piece of brass in a Sheridan slotted case gauge. They all fit with no issues…

(Completed) The dimensions are all where they should be, yet they're not fitting in the case gauge. I'm quite stumped.
Click to expand...

Each step is its own. If the case fits the gauge after sizing, does it fit after a powder charge? If yes, move on to seating a bullet, does it still fit? If yes, crimp the bullet, does it still fit? If no, your crimp is what did it. If it doesn’t pass the gauge after seating but before crimp, I would eliminate the crimp operation as the culprit.

I don’t crimp my 300blk rounds but I also don’t use bullets that have a cannelure and if they do, they are in the wrong location anyway.
 
Way to long for that profile, its bumping lands. I load my Berry's 220, and my gallant 217's about 2.14 to run consistently in all guns.
 
Another thing to watch out for is the neck thickness. Some brass is thicker so after forming you end up with the neck wall thickness too thick. I ended doing a bunch of brass sorting due to it. My Ruger Ranch rifle seems to handle it all, but my AR's don't.
 
Kaldor said:
Berrys recommends a 2.150 COAL for their 200s and 220s. If your rifle can handle it without jamming the lands and it will feed properly, a longer COAL is advantageous due to lower pressure in the brass because you have less bullet in the case, with the same charge weight.

Glad you got it sorted!
Click to expand...
Where did you find that information? I was on Berry's website and couldn't find any COAL recommendations. All I could find was a link to SAAMI maximum COALs.
 
I can’t speak for others but I have not. If an empty sized case drops and the bolt can be closed and opened as normal but then just seating a bullet jams it up. It obviously can’t be the crimps fault, because you haven’t got to that step.

Testing like this after every step, will let you know where you are introducing the error.



Your upper won’t lie to you.
 
Last edited:
GravelRider said:
For those of you not crimping this round, has anyone had any bullet setback issues?
Click to expand...
Only in ragged out, unannealed, converted brass with poor neck tension, and in that case a crimp is the wrong solution anyway. If you anneal, the crimp is completely unneeded unless you are expanding for a bullet feeder or cast bullets...and in that case you just need enough crimp to remove flare.
 
Lennyjoe said:
Not sure about anyone else but I don’t crimp my .300 BO subs.
Click to expand...
I do because I use a Lyman M die to expand the neck for smoother bullet seating. Just enough to take that slight bell out, plus a slight extra squeeze.

I wouldn't put too much stock into the Sheridan gauge other than setting up your reloading die. If the completed cartridge fits into your chamber without jamming into the lands the gun should have no problems running.
 
chevrofreak said:
I do because I use a Lyman M die to expand the neck for smoother bullet seating. Just enough to take that slight bell out, plus a slight extra squeeze.
Click to expand...

I’m doing subs only and only add a light chamfer on the inside of the case mouth. If I ever go to supersonic loads I’d probably add a light crimp but the only .300 BO I’m running is an SBR with suppressor
 
I load the 300BO subsonic with a 10.5" barrel and Berrys 220 grain bullets. I went through a lot of different powders looking for one that was both quiet, accurate and gave consistent velocities. There was a wide range of results. I can't recall offhand what worked the best for me. Will have to look through my notes, but it was a fun test.

I do not crimp 300BO. Only neck expanding and de-burring. The Berrys are nice, as no case flaring/crimping is required... saving steps over cast/coated bullets. Now if RMR would make a good subsonic expanding 300BO bullet, we'd really be in business!
 
Thanks for all the replies and help. I have 20 test rounds loaded up, all of which fit in the case gauge with ease now. :)

I did flare the case mouth slightly to allow the bullet to more easily sit atop, which helps with getting the Dillon in a good rhythm. \

I seated to a COAL of 2.160."

I'm hoping to get to test fire them within the next day or two, and I'll report back.
 
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