Neck sizing questions, and Forster trim/neck turn device...

[Buckskinner]

I'm reloading .300 Win Mag on a rockchucker, using RCBS dies. I haven't been reloading long, so have some questions for you guys.

I clean, lube, decap and full length resize, and polish my brass. Then measure and hand prime. When my charged case is under the seating die, the bullet is VERY tight in seating. Actually, a very small round sliver of copper is removed from somewhere on the bullet during seating. I should say these cases are untrimmed. I also didn't chamfer the inner or outer edge of the case opening. These rounds are accurate as heck, so the copper doesn't seem to be doing much. But for consistency's sake, and also because I don't want to shoot slivers of copper down my stainless barrel, I'd like to figure out what this is all about.

To make matters more interesting, I recently picked up a Forster Appelt case trimmer at a yard sale for $15! When I opened the box and checked it all out, I found the "Outside Neck Trimmer" accessory. So I installed that, but the tight neck issue reared its head again. The pilot seems to be too big for the neck. I can wiggle the cases on, but can't pull them off the pilot. Twice I've had to use pliers. And the pilot is definitely .30 caliber.

Anyone have any clues for me?

 

[308win]

A couple of thoughts, first chamfer your cases - you don't need to remove much material, a 1/4 turn usually does it from my experience.

Second, your sizing die/expansion bell may be undersized. (Have you mic'd your cases' inside diameter? Check the expansion bell with a mic. Also, you may want to send the die to RCBS to have them check it (call them first and see what they think, they may send you a new die and/or expansion bell rod). I have had excellent service from them in the past.

The mandrels on my RCBS neck turning set fit tightly as they should to eliminate runout when turning the cases.

 

[Buckskinner]

Mic results

Inside case = .303
bell dia.= .305
pilot= .300

By these measurements, there should be no problem...I'll chamfer a few and see how that goes.

Any ideas about the removal of copper from the bullet when seating?

 

[308win]

I would chamfer my case necks first and see if that solves the problem. If it doesn't then I would take my seating die apart and make sure there are no burrs or anything like that.

How do your case measurements compare to the specs in the loading manuals? Five thousanths is quite a bit of difference as the spec for a 30 caliber bullet is .308-11 I think (check the loading manual for the bullets you are using) and your mandrel is three thousanths under your inside neck diameter so the mandrel shouldn't bind unless your trimmer isn't square and the mandrel is binding in the neck because it isn't square with the neck.

 

[Buckskinner]

I'll check manual, and call RCBS.

Does Forster still exist as a company to support these older trimmers?

Checking square makes sense, but not sure how to do it..

The case head chuck is a little strange. These .300WM cases are almost too long for the set up. In fact, when I'm cranking down the chuck to hold the case in place, it is forcing it onto the cutter pilot. Does that sound right?

 

[308win]

It doesn't sound right but I have never used one of the Forrster tools. My rcbs is adjustable for the length of the case.



Forster Site

 

[lee n. field]

Does Forster still exist as a company to support these older trimmers?

Forster certainly still does exist as a company. They're about 20 miles from me, and are a customer of the company I work for. Good people.

 

[Buckskinner]

Happy to see them still going strong!

I've already sent them an email regarding this. I'll post when I get an answer. I may just buy their benchrest dies for this caliber.