300 wsm powder issues

[Homersipes]

So my wife has a 300wsm and been trying to hand load it. It's been quite a few years since we have shot but in the past we have tried handloading it and cant get the minimum powder charge in case without a drop tube over 30". We have tried multiple powders and every one of them we have to have a huge drop tube to get the minimum charge in and none of the books mention this. I have tried Barnes, Sierra, Hornady books, each with the respective bullets. I did find a guy on a forum that has been reloading his that posted the load, gonna give that a shot as well. Has anyone else had this problem? I should add that I thought maybe my scale was off so I tried a buddy's as well. Thanks in advance

 

[lancetkenyon]

What powder? What bullet? What brass? What length (CBTO or COAL)?

You could change to a ball powder that takes up less case space than an extruded.
You could run a different, higher energy powder, like an RL or N5 series.
You could run a different, or lighter bullet.
You could switch brass to one with lighter brass content and more case capacity.
You could seat the bullet out further (if you are not already on the lands) to gain case capacity.
If you are seated at max mag length (in a BDL style), you could get a Wyatt's extended box to give you more box length to seat them out.
You could not worry about any published data and just test your own recipe.

 

[toddlouis]

Like above, what powder, case, bullet?

my 175 federal edge loads with any of the Alliant powders need to be compressed with starting loads, which they prefer anyways.

 

[rsmithsr]

WHO SAID IT WAS A MIN CHARGE ?
did they use your case ?
books are tools
tools are only as good as the users
find the volume of YOUR CASE
and work from there

 

[Homersipes]

Winchester cases, been a while so don't really remember all of the exacts that we had tried. But we tried imr4831, there were several others we tried as well that my buddy had in his garage. We tried 180 grain Sierra spbt, Barnes 180 grain and Hornady 180 grain bt. I want to say we tried a vht powder as well. ok so if I was to shoot 4831 would I measure how much fits in the case and go from there? If memory serves me well I want to say the Sierra book minimum charge with 4831 was something like 62 gr, we could only fit somewhere around 40 without having to have a drop tube. I'll have to get some cases tomorrow and do some measuring

 

[Homersipes]

WHO SAID IT WAS A MIN CHARGE ?
did they use your case ?
books are tools
tools are only as good as the users
find the volume of YOUR CASE
and work from there

I've always been Leary of veering away from stuff in books. I mean if I couldn't fit the max powder charge, ehhh ok, but when I fit half of a minimum load, I get nervous. Never had issues loading before til this

 

[dok7mm]

I think you should get with someone who is more experienced and has the right tools to verify your chamber and case capacity. Something doesn't sound right here. How are you measuring your charge weight?

 

[Homersipes]

I think you should get with someone who is more experienced and has the right tools to verify your chamber and case capacity. Something doesn't sound right here. How are you measuring your charge weight?

Yeah my point exactly, I been handloading for over 10 years and never had this issue. My buddy shoots competition and loads thousands of rounds a year had no idea and we moved from the state so he can't help much now. I have an rcbs scale and I've also used a Lyman, both results are the same. When I get home will measure how much 4831 fits in the case

 

[crystalgayleguy]

Yeah my point exactly, I been handloading for over 10 years and never had this issue. My buddy shoots competition and loads thousands of rounds a year had no idea and we moved from the state so he can't help much now. I have an rcbs scale and I've also used a Lyman, both results are the same. When I get home will measure how much 4831 fits in the case

he might be weighing in grams

 

[rsmithsr]

I have 7 300 wsm cases in my data base. 71 of imr 4831 is 100 % in 2 of them. for you to get 50% means something in what you are saying is WRONG.
I suggest you ignore the past ant start over fresh. then tell us what happens.
my win brass 300 wsm is 100% at 71 gr of imr4831.
something is way off in your story

I've always been Leary of veering away from stuff in books. I mean if I couldn't fit the max powder charge, ehhh ok, but when I fit half of a minimum load, I get nervous. Never had issues loading before til this

 

[aushunter1]

Do not move away from published data!
Yes most of it is conservative & it can be pushed a little further usually but its there for a reason.

My Sierra manual(#14) states 63gr min & 67gr max(compressed) for IMR 4831.

IMR states 62gr min 66.3gr max(C) for IMR 4831

What's the issue with using the drop tube funnel??
If it works use it!!

Otherwise move to a faster less bulky powder like IMR 4350

Winchester cases, been a while so don't really remember all of the exacts that we had tried. But we tried imr4831, there were several others we tried as well that my buddy had in his garage. We tried 180 grain Sierra spbt, Barnes 180 grain and Hornady 180 grain bt. I want to say we tried a vht powder as well. ok so if I was to shoot 4831 would I measure how much fits in the case and go from there? If memory serves me well I want to say the Sierra book minimum charge with 4831 was something like 62 gr, we could only fit somewhere around 40 without having to have a drop tube. I'll have to get some cases tomorrow and do some measuring

So are you saying you cant seat these bullets with the minimum load of IMR 4831??

 

[cohunt]

Winchester cases, been a while so don't really remember all of the exacts that we had tried. But we tried imr4831, there were several others we tried as well that my buddy had in his garage. We tried 180 grain Sierra spbt, Barnes 180 grain and Hornady 180 grain bt. I want to say we tried a vht powder as well. ok so if I was to shoot 4831 would I measure how much fits in the case and go from there? If memory serves me well I want to say the Sierra book minimum charge with 4831 was something like 62 gr, we could only fit somewhere around 40 without having to have a drop tube. I'll have to get some cases tomorrow and do some measuring

something is really off if you cant fit 40 grains in the case, 60-70 is the norm for 300wsm depending on powder

hodgdon web page shows 62-66.3 grains of 4831 with a 180 grain bullet in a winchester case (66.3 does show its compressed https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

you sure you have your numbers correct? a 308w will only hold around 40 grains

 

[dok7mm]

Yeah my point exactly, I been handloading for over 10 years and never had this issue. My buddy shoots competition and loads thousands of rounds a year had no idea and we moved from the state so he can't help much now. I have an rcbs scale and I've also used a Lyman, both results are the same. When I get home will measure how much 4831 fits in the case

I see why you would be confused. Solving reloading questions long distance is tough.

My guesses are your charge weight is wrong or your bullet is seated way too deep in case, if you're having trouble getting a starting charge in case.

We need to know the distance from base of case to where the bullet ogive touches the lands with your bullet of choice.

 

[Homersipes]

I have 7 300 wsm cases in my data base. 71 of imr 4831 is 100 % in 2 of them. for you to get 50% means something in what you are saying is WRONG.
I suggest you ignore the past ant start over fresh. then tell us what happens.
my win brass 300 wsm is 100% at 71 gr of imr4831.
something is way off in your story

Ok so broke out all of my stuff, I can fit the suggested amount of 4831. Was my bad, I honestly don't remember now been so many years since then. Haven't done much in past 15 years as far as shooting goes. I will agree, something was WAY off. Thanks for the replies. Gonna stick with 4831 as that's what my gun shoots as well. I remember having to use a drop tube to get all the powder in the case. Now that I made myself look like an ***