Improving ES in 300 WM is it just powder selection

[Calvin45]

Is it new brass? If not how many times has it been fired? Do you anneal your cases? Seems to me with that level of case preparation and load consistency, neck tension would be on top of my list. Followed by primers then powder.

Hadn't thought of that. Good point!

 

[Calvin45]

I agree with trying H1000 instead, but I had another question. Do you get your brass squeaky clean before loading? In particular, is the inside of the neck VERY clran?

What are you getting at? Actually want to know what difference this makes as I deliberately do NOT do this and it seems to work better that way, but maybe I'm hindering the rest of my efforts by not inside neck cleaning?

 

[ShtrRdy]

What are you getting at? Actually want to know what difference this makes as I deliberately do NOT do this and it seems to work better that way, but maybe I'm hindering the rest of my efforts by not inside neck cleaning?

I'm just trying to help. Brass that is squeaky clean tends to stick to other surfaces especially if there is interferance fit and dissimilar metals. This can cause inconsistent release of the bullet or, in the extreme, a "cold weld" of the brass and bullet.

 

[Calvin45]

I'm just trying to help. Brass that is squeaky clean tends to stick to other surfaces especially if there is interferance fit and dissimilar metals. This can cause inconsistent release of the bullet or, in the extreme, a "cold weld" of the brass and bullet.

Cool, I had wondered about this but didn't know for sure. It was for this reason I opted not to get to carried away with cleaning my cases. I observed that once fired was producing better results than brand new. I'm sure this has something to do with why. That film of carbon is a good thing I think. Thanks.

 

[hudel]

Getting low es can be a witches brew. Seating depth,powder, powder charge all have to come together.Primers? I have seen a week striker spring throw all in a heap. Are you shooting a savage? They are known for their springs giving up. Being you are getting that much variance with a 180 steers me to not getting lit right or you are too close to the lands and the variance in the ogive of the bullet. I built a 300 PRC. Not shooting as I thought it would. Seated a touch deeper and then it shot in the 1,s

No sir shooting a Tikka, as far as seating length I seated the same length as similar factory rounds, im way off the jam or the lands as the magazine length in a factory tikka wont allow geting there

 

[hudel]

Is it new brass? If not how many times has it been fired? Do you anneal your cases? Seems to me with that level of case preparation and load consistency, neck tension would be on top of my list. Followed by primers then powder.

I tried with new and once fired, i did not anneal, no difference in either noted. It is Sig Sauer brass as thats what was available, as far as neck tension I madrel set it and didnt make a difference on ES either

 

[Bobcape]

This is a great video on reducing ES and SD. Shawn give some specific steps and what their contribution can be towards lowering ES. Personally, brushing the necks out and then using the graphite made a huge difference to me. Give it a watch.



Bob

 

[Gord0]

You are quite possibly dealing with case fill issues from the powder you have selected. Low case fills will sometimes give you higher es. I would go with a powder that gives you more case fill. H4350 for 150gr and less, H4831 for 150-180gr, and H1000 for 180gr and up. There's many more choices, but those 3 are popular.

 

[hudel]

Well fellas, did my rest run of H1000 yesterday to get a flat spot in velocity and settled on 81.4 iirc. Today I took 6 to the field and chronod and ES of 19 and SD of 8.6. I'll take that. Thanks for all the help

 

[smokey3]

Well fellas, did my rest run of H1000 yesterday to get a flat spot in velocity and settled on 81.4 iirc. Today I took 6 to the field and chronod and ES of 19 and SD of 8.6. I'll take that. Thanks for all the help

What was your FPS? Just curious because mine maxed out for accuracy around 79 to 79.3 grains in Winchester and Peterson long brass with 180 Nosler AB, 3100 average FPS or thereabouts.

 

[hudel]

What was your FPS? Just curious because mine maxed out for accuracy around 79 to 79.3 grains in Winchester and Peterson long brass with 180 Nosler AB, 3100 average FPS or thereabouts.

2975, I was using hornady 168 match, ran all the way up to 82.8 testing and no pressure signs I believe I was still below max.

 

[smokey3]

2975, I was using hornady 168 match, ran all the way up to 82.8 testing and no pressure signs I believe I was still below max.

That's not bad. I never showed any pressure and I stopped at 81.0. Velocity seems a little low though. Is it a new barrel? The 300WM likes a little heavier bullets in my gun, 26" Krieger. The H1000 will probably work better for you with a little heavier bullet due to the burn rate of that powder. If you want to shoot the lighter bullets, IMR4350 shot lights out in my gun with 180gr and below, just my experience in what I have, may not work for everyone's gun though.

 

[hudel]

That's not bad. I never showed any pressure and I stopped at 81.0. Velocity seems a little low though. Is it a new barrel? The 300WM likes a little heavier bullets in my gun, 26" Krieger. The H1000 will probably work better for you with a little heavier bullet due to the burn rate of that powder. If you want to shoot the lighter bullets, IMR4350 shot lights out in my gun with 180gr and below, just my experience in what I have, may not work for everyone's gun though.

I tried H4350 with 180 ttsx and no luck at least on #s. I realize it would like heavier bullets, I'm just perfecting the process before I waste any Berger's , I have a few hundred 185 classic hunters on the bench and before I waste any I wanna make sure I've worked out the variables that I can.