Good afternoon,
I was wondering if anyone could give me some help/advise? I have been reloading for about 20 years and am having an issue with reloading my 270WSM. It seams that I’m doing something wrong because I keep cracking the neck once I’ve removed the primer and pull the de primer back threw the neck. It doesn’t always happen but at least half the time it does. Brass has been shot once amd then I’m reloading it. Any suggestions?
that hand loading site that guy posted is a scam if you guys didnt figure it out
Grandpa, try here: https://handloadingsupply.com/product/imr-4831-smokeless-powder-1-lb/
its out there but I have found IMR 4451, and Reloader 17 and 19 to run much better in my .280's I prefer IMR4451, not temp sensitive like IMR4831. Understand you are probably looking for something a tad slower if trying to feed a 280AI both 17 & 19 I have found superior to 4831. Caveat all rifles are different. ; )
Good luck
I don't know if you have solved your problem. Here are a few thoughts. Are you using the same batch and make of brass? If you use other batchs or makes of brass, do they also split at the neck? If the manufacturer of the brass does not make a difference on neck splitting, then we have eliminated one area, its not the brass. I don't know what make of reloading dies you have but could your expander ball be out of spec for your cartridge? You would need to micrometer check that. If the expander ball is in correct spec and you are lubing correctly and correct die depth setting standards are being used. You have eliminated another possible area. Also recheck your reloading data. If your pressures are a little high this will lead to quick cartridge fatigue and split necks. Are you checking your cartridges closely after firing for splits necks at that time. A final thought is you might consider having the the neck area of the (barrel chamber) mic checked by someone with the proper equipment. If the neck is minutely too large, it would cause very quick cartridge neck fatigue. I don't know what you could do about that highly unlikely problem, other than rebarrel. These are all just speculations. Please let us know if you have solved your problem.
Use a small brush wiped with a bit of case lube and brush the inside of the necks. That will ease the withdrawal of the expander dramatically. I have two old mascara brushes I got somewhere. They are tapered and I roll the bristles on a tin of Imperial sizing wax.
If neck splitting continues to be a factor I would suggest annealing the neck and shoulder area. I anneal with a propane torch in a dimly lit room with a sink with a few inches of water in it. I rotate the case, holding it by the head between my thumb, fore finger, and middle finger rolling it back and forth in the blue cone of the flame. I do not want to see the case starting to glow, that is too far. As soon as I feel heat in my fingers I drop the case in water. Typically I count in my head to about 9 or 10. A little practice and it will get easy. I feel I should get at least 10 reloads out of a case.
Granpa,
Looks like Brownell's has what you're looking for:
https://www.brownells.com/reloading/reloading-dies/rifle-dies/280-ackley-improved-full-length-die-set-prod111230.aspx#:~:text=This%20280%20Ackley%20Improved%20Two-Die%20Full%20Length%20Die,brings%20the%20case%20to%20SAAMI%20minimum%20cartridge%20dimensions.
Had this happen to me a few years ago with one of the calibers I was reloading. For some reason the de-primer pin (rod) inside the sizer die was adjusted too deep. I backed the pin off until it just was able to remove the old primer. That solved my problem. However, I also agree with the other comment to contact one of the reloading customer service centers (I use RCBS). They have been helpful to me in the past.
