Smokey Joe
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,617
I have successfully used Norma brass rifle cases in the past, and they have a deserved reputation for excellence and consistency among the reloaders of my acquaintance. Thus, the following was a surprise:
Recently I bought 200 Norma cases, in .300 WSM. Loaded a number of them and fired them without incident in my Savage Model 12BVSS. Then planned to reload them and develop a nice accurate load for the rifle.
Resized 95 of the cases in my RCBS Rockchucker, using a Lee Collet die. I discovered in measuring the resized necks that 10 of the cases' necks were greater than 0.309" inside diameter. The bullets I was loading were 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, which are a consistent 0.308" in diameter. An exact 0.309" neck just holds the bullet friction tight, but the 10 cases in question allowed the bullets to slide into their necks, and slide right out again. The 50 cases I did load had necks that were at 0.309" inside diameter, or very slightly less, allowing the seating of the bullets.
I'm not sure if I did something wrong or if the Norma cases are varying in neck wall thickness or the die is malfunctioning some way, or what. As per the die maker's instructions, I tightened the die on each case, then lowered the case, turned the case in the shellholder, part of a turn, and raised the case into the die a second time. Most of the time, this worked, and the case was sufficiently neck-sized. I'm an experienced reloader, and frankly, I'm puzzled.
Any advice or suggestions?
Recently I bought 200 Norma cases, in .300 WSM. Loaded a number of them and fired them without incident in my Savage Model 12BVSS. Then planned to reload them and develop a nice accurate load for the rifle.
Resized 95 of the cases in my RCBS Rockchucker, using a Lee Collet die. I discovered in measuring the resized necks that 10 of the cases' necks were greater than 0.309" inside diameter. The bullets I was loading were 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, which are a consistent 0.308" in diameter. An exact 0.309" neck just holds the bullet friction tight, but the 10 cases in question allowed the bullets to slide into their necks, and slide right out again. The 50 cases I did load had necks that were at 0.309" inside diameter, or very slightly less, allowing the seating of the bullets.
I'm not sure if I did something wrong or if the Norma cases are varying in neck wall thickness or the die is malfunctioning some way, or what. As per the die maker's instructions, I tightened the die on each case, then lowered the case, turned the case in the shellholder, part of a turn, and raised the case into the die a second time. Most of the time, this worked, and the case was sufficiently neck-sized. I'm an experienced reloader, and frankly, I'm puzzled.
Any advice or suggestions?