300 Blackout resizing the neck

**jim Glass** · 08-13-2016, 10:21 PM

Recieved more projectiles for reloading 300 blackout rounds. The projectiles were 150 grain but 1/4" longer than expected.
I think these are tracer rounds. I loaded up 6 rounds to take to the gun range and learned tracers are not allowed at the gun range. Went back home, cut off the extra length to eliminate the tracer propellent and went back to the range. The reloads still would not transferre from the magazine to firing chamber. The reloads appeared to long. So I fired off some store bought 300 blackout ammo and some 223 that I had reloaded from a different AR-15.

Back home I determined the neck part of the shell casing enlarged after the projectile was inserted. I turned down a couple of thousandths on a few projectiles and assembled them. These seemed to enter the firing chamber just fine but turning down these projectiles in my lathe was going to be a pain so I made up a sizing die to size the projectiles and the shell neck after assembly.

These projectiles I ordered off the internet were out of round by .002 or .003 or .308 to .311. I thought the resizing die would make the projectiles round if nothing else. The resizing die helped but resizing the neck after assembly seemed to be the best solution. I'm thinking the more expensive projectiles are worth the money.
Jim

**kyratshooter** · 08-13-2016, 10:32 PM

Sounds like someone was selling broken down military ammo for Russian, Enfield or Jap rounds.

I have never found any commercial or military ammo that was out of round, seems very unusual.

BTW, how did you dispose of that phosphorous tracer chemical. Some of it will ignite when exposed to air.

**jim Glass** · 08-13-2016, 10:52 PM

You are correct, they were pulled bullets, no mention of origin but it was 250 bullets for $39.95, FREE shipping.

The out of round bullets caused the neck to be oversized. Not by much but enough to cause feeding problems in the AR. These 300 Blackout rounds seem to be rather delicate when doing reloads. The 223 reloads are working fine. My resizing technique could be incorrect. I'm squeezing the bullet where pushing the bullet through a tapered hole might be better sizing technique.

I machined away the phosphorous and even tried to ignite particles of the phosphorus with a lighter but couldn't get it to burn. I'll fire some off in the near future and see what happens. Always wanted some tracers for duck hunting back in the day. Probably illegal to use anyway.

**hunter63** · 08-13-2016, 11:14 PM

Some time a good deal....isn't as good of a deal as you might think......

Had a friend and co worker that used to buy bullets at a bullet factory in Missouri....that wasn't far from our wire roped factory.
When he visited our plant he would also visit the bullet factory and buy up "seconds and blems"....then have them shipped by our trucks....so no shipping costs......
Point being... I would get a lot of really great deals on bullets....and didn't realize how much they cost if you paid full retail price.

So I see where you are looking for the lower cost.....as the latest shortages have jacked up every thing about triple from 5 years ago.

**DSJohnson** · 08-14-2016, 12:55 AM

Mr. Glass,
I strongly recommend that you buy a Lyman Reloading Manual. I think it is one of the better ones out there.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lyman-49th-...ading+handbook

I am sure you know this but I have found that when I am working on a new caliber it seems it goes much, much simpler for me if I stick to name brand components and documented loading date. Particularly in a self loader. What I try to do is find the right combination to make sure it shoots, accurately and loads reliably first, then I start working on trying to save money.

The resizing die does not/should not ever touch the projectile. It only "resizes" the case, which has "moved/stretched" during the firing of the cartridge. Bullet swages are used to "true" cast lead bullets. I have never heard what tool/device you will need/use to "true up" a jacketed projectile. Turning the projectile down to make it more concentric will increase the chance that it will not preform as it was designed to. IE it will fail to expand or it may fragment on impact. Because you have removed some amount of the jacket, in that process. If it was out of round when you do that then it takes metal from the "high" side making the jacket thinner there.

I know the urge/need to be conservative/thrifty is paramount but to me the priorities are making sure my loads are 1. safe 2. accurate 3. cost effective

**hunter63** · 08-14-2016, 01:10 AM

Have to agree.......and JMHO
I am a manual follower myself....and generally load close to bullet size and weight as a factory as possible.
If I do run short or ammo, I can get more and be reasonable sure where it shoots.

Then start messing with reloading for cost or different performance..

Have a friend that used to shoot a hot rod .30 Gibbs.....fire formed 30-36 case.....all reloads.
Twice we were out west, and he ended up borrowing my back up rifle as he was out of ammo....couldn't pick it up at a gun store and didn't re-load for himself.

I can see where you are coming from.... and know your ability to use your knowledge, skill and machinery to do you problem solving.

**jim Glass** · 08-14-2016, 03:25 AM

The Lyman Reloading Manual is on order. Yep, it is time for me to start reading instead of learning through trial and error.

I sure find bullet swaging an interesting topic???

Thanks, Jim

**DSJohnson** · 08-14-2016, 10:17 AM

I shoot a .50 caliber Sharps and the slug I shoot weighs in at 515 grains if everything is right. I swage all those slugs to insure there are no voids and that the slug is .500 in diameter. I shoot a paper "patched" slug. I use 22 pound linen rag paper for the patch. Two wraps makes the total diameter of the slug .512

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**kyratshooter** · 08-14-2016, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by jim Glass

The Lyman Reloading Manual is on order. Yep, it is time for me to start reading instead of learning through trial and error.

I sure find bullet swaging an interesting topic???

Thanks, Jim

If you need data between now and the arrival of the manual do not hesitate to give us a yell. I have Lyman, Speer, Hornady manuals and there is all the data available on the internet.

I have always been a "follow the manual" guy too, but some of the manuals I have are from the 1950s and have starting loads that are over max in today's books! I even have a Speer manual that does not include .308 or .243 data because they were not invented yet!

In the past 8 years I have become a bit more "experimental" in my reloading practices, especially with pistol loads, due to turning to some nonstandard powders which were available when nothing else was. The available data was one powder charge with one bullet weight and no velocity numbers offered. That was why I bought a chronograph.

**jim Glass** · 08-14-2016, 10:47 PM

So far I have been following info that comes with the Lee reloading dies. The back side has charts for type of powder and grains for certain bullet weights. A 1 pound jar of powder had recomended powder amounts for certain loads. I bought a digital scale for checking amounts of powder. I also have 2 Lyman powder measurers. One is an Ideal model #55. So far I have taken precautions against blowing myself up. But, countless people have recomended reloading books so I'm buying at least one.

By the way, I made new powder reservoirs for both Powder measurers. The model #55 needed a 2"-24 thread for mounting, the other measurer needed .030 machined off one end for mounting. I made an arbor to mount the 2" diameter polycarbonate so it could be machined. These turned out great so if anyone needs a new reservoir I have enough polycarbonate to make one or two more. I can post pictures of the setup is someone is interested.

Jim

**hunter63** · 08-15-2016, 12:29 AM

Just like to see your work......LOL....
"I need this so I'll just make one....."

I love shop guys....we had a factory shop full of them...

You walked in the shop office at noon, Told the boss....."I need some thing that is this long,... this wide, ...(Measurement numbers written on your palm).....that has to swing around and catches the tab on the purple whatchacallet...and I need it by 2:30 today"
Boss says. "Yeah, give it to Joe"

I was trying to drill a 3/4 hole, with a 3/4 bit..... in a piece of 2" angle.... today with a big 90 angle drill...bought ripped my arm off and I was expecting it......LOL
I miss that shop.

**kyratshooter** · 08-15-2016, 02:51 AM

Jim those Lee reloading charts are wildly conservative, always have been.

They also just give one load and often no range between minimum and maximum.

And if the .300BO is like most centerfire cartridges you need a range to work with because usually the most accurate load is going to be on the hot side of the middle just below max.

I miss having access to a good shop too. I have things I have been saving for years just waiting to get to a lathe and milling machine. Machine work was one of the things I really enjoyed doing. I did that as a second job for years until the shop closed and I never found a second or third shift job anywhere else. Nissan hired the shop owner to run their tool and die shop at the Smyrna, TN plant and paid him more than the shop was making.

**jim Glass** · 08-16-2016, 08:43 AM

My shop work tanked in June. The shop was doing fine when I returned from Florida in early March then nothing. I was turning away work a year ago. I wanted to slow down this year anyway but I have not had a job in over 8 weeks. I separated myself from 2 customers but the others disappeared unexpectedly. So I'm signed up for Social Security, turn 66 this Thursday.

I'm afraid my shop may indicate the state of the economy.

Test fired some 300 Blackout reloads yesterday. The tracer feature must have been cancelled out because I did not see indications of a tracer. I went to great pains to indicate in each bullet in my lathe and turn down the portion that fits into the shell. They were tapered and out of round, .311/.308, no wonder they enlarged the neck of the casing. I removed about .0007 per side to .3066 finish diameter. They fired off pretty well but still have an occasional miss feed . These bullets are junk!!!! But I had to try them. Jim

**hunter63** · 08-16-2016, 10:46 AM

We all love a deal......and we know that maybe it might not be as good of a deal as we thought....BUT what the heck.....Go for it at least once.....
LOL