how are the lee dies for 300 blackout?  any issues?  thanks

No issues here, but then almost everything I have is LEE, down to the case lube (Resizing Lubricant).

Well, my reloads won't chamber.  Factory reloads chamber and fire without a problem, but mine don't.



LC 5.56 converted brass using Hornady New Dimension 2 Die set.



Base of my reloads measure out at .375" and just below the shoulder measures .359"



Factory reloads measure .372" at the base and .355" just below the shoulder.



My loads are within SAAMI spec for the measurements.  I'm at a loss here as to what's happening.

       
 

Bottom out your fl resizing die, load a dummy and try again.

yup, make sure it overcams just a bit..
I'm using Lee dies part no 90575.. no chambering issues here..
base measures0.373 and 0.355 at the shoulder...
147/148gr Hornaday FMJBT and 15gr of IMR4227.
COAL is 2.055 with a pretty heavy crimp. its a compressed load
best group to date is 0.876" @ 100 yds... although I admit I haven't been out in awhile..
I have been playing with a L1A1 I got for dirt cheap...

Well, that seems to have worked.  Dummy chambers fine.  I was scratching my head trying to figure this out and as is normally the case, it's something so simple that it doesn't even occur to you.



Now, I just have to break down the 100 I had already loaded and do it all over again.





 

Cool beans!
now go punch some paper and post the dope

Maybe if I can get these others broken down and reloaded tonight, I'll be able to go tomorrow.  Got make a few dump runs today.



 

You loaded 100 rounds on your first go without even checking anything?

I just take out the decapping pin and run them through the resizing die while loaded.




 
 

Measured everything out and it was within SAMMI spec.  Loaded up enough to test powder loads with.  Should have run a couple dummy rounds through the rifle, but with everything in spec, I didn't think to.



 

Probably 147 grain pulls.  I don't know who has the best prices on them though.



 

In my experience the Speer 125gr TNTs provide the best performance/cost ratio.

I just opened my 12th 500rd bulk pack, so I would say I have shot 6 to 7k of them.

Hi guys,

I am new to reloading, and have been trying to learn on the 300BO.  From reading this section, I have learned the best responses are given to those who provide the most info on their question.  So I have tried to give detailed info below, hoping someone can answer my question. So far, I have

POWDER
IMR 4227
Hodgon H110

BULLETS
Barnes TTSX Boattail 150gr (30875)
Barnes TSX Flat Base 200gr (30848)
Nosler Spitzer 180gr (59180)

My initial goal is simply to learn to properly reload the 300BO safely and effectively both with subsonic and trans/supersonic loadings.  From there, I figured I would then work on some hunting loads and also some "plinking/tac class" type loads.

My reloading equipment is mostly passed down (and some purchased) RCBS RockChucker, Lyman balance scale, RCBS hand priming tool, RCBS manual powder measure tool (not sure on correct name) and all the other basic necessary hand tools to reload.  Nothing fancy (I do have a wood working shop in my basement, so I have access to a drill press, etc. as necessary).  

Dies are the RCBS "Black Box" AR 300 Black Out SB T/C Set (22407).

My gun is below (AAC Upper, on a Noveske lower), so I am only reloading for a 9", pistol length gas tube, 1/7 twist.  ETA: Yes, I have all my stamps for the below.



What I have done/figured out:
I have decapped/deprimed and resized my brass.
I have primed it using the hand tool.
I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on the RCBS manual powder measure tool (and balance scale) to figure out how to get it to dump correctly.  Got it.
I have created endless dummy bullets trying to get the seating depth just right.  Got it.


Now my question:  
I was trying to create a subsonic, 200gr loading with the above 4227 powder.  Using Hodgon's website load data, I can only find data for 180gr & 208gr bullets for this powder. Using the 208gr loading, it calls for only 10.3grs of 4227 (no start load, just that one number).  And max overall length 2.260".  When I measure that out, and load the above Barnes 200gr bullet to max OAL, it does not seat properly in my magazines, and did not like being chambered.  So I loaded a dummy to 2.25, which chambers fine, and seems to work better in my magazines (I have all available: USGI 20 & 30, PMAGs 20&30 and Lancer 30).  
My first question, loading up 10.2gr, it appears to be a compressed load.  No call out for this on the Hodgon website.  Am I fine? Should I not shoot this?  Any suggestions?  Should I just seek out a better powder for subsonic?  Is my old, well used, balance scale off?

I realize that this is not an optimal powder, but I am just trying to use it to get reloading down.  But if I should keep it for the lighter weight bullets only, I can do so.

I appreciate any thoughts on this.

For grins and giggles, I tried it.  Not an option.  It pushes the bullet in and buckles the neck.



 

Measure the neck diameter on a sized but unloaded round, then measure the diameter of the neck on a loaded round, not the same....

I honestly never had an issue. Perhaps it's because I use a Lee Factory Crimp die.

The bullets I use are 220 grain Sierras or 225 grain Hornady.



I use lanolin and 99% Isopropyl for case lube



 

I know.  I was just curious as what would happen.



 

4227 tends to fill a case enough to be compressed for the loads I've worked up with it (sub and supersonic).  For your OAL, you should measure and find the best length that will feed from a magazine.  The procedure is outlined in a Dryflash post in the first few pages of this thread.

Your 10.2 load should be fine.  If it were me, I'd probably start at about 9.5 and work up from there.  Just be very careful in not going too low, and risking a squib load.  Shoot one at a time, and make sure they're getting out of the barrel.

Also, I don't think I'd feel comfortable developing subsonic loads without a chronograph.  Especially not something that wasn't a direct, published load.

Read this thread for some good info as well:
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=78639

The subsonic load I worked up is this:

Hornady 220 gr RN Interlock
10.5 gr IMR 4227
2.00 OAL
Wolf SRM primer
Avg velocity 1001 fps (10.5" bbl)

EDIT:  Also, do all of your testing without the suppressor until you know they are stable, so you don't risk a baffle strike.

Thanks for the advice, i'll be getting in touch with the manufacturer to confirm...and I see your pic of the deer you took, actually saw that one pop up when searching for pics of 300 cast boolits...congrats

+1  I for one don't/haven't at this point loaded any subs for my 300.  But take the mans advice and stow the can until you get your load worked up.  After you get your load where you want it fire a few rounds to make sure it is good and stable.  you wouldn't want a round to tumble and waste a nice can.  Good luck and share your results and videos if you can.

I love your setup by the way.  If it wasn't such a pain in the butt I would have one just like it.

Steve, thank you for the 4227 info and advice on working up.  Is your load fired out of a short barrel?  I will load, fire and check the barrel for sure on these new loads.  I have seen DF's post, and your are correct, it need to make the jig with a 1/4" drill bit to better figure out bullet seating/magazine issues.  I just got nervous on the compressed load look.  Really don't want to KB my gun on a rookie mistake!

Howdy & Steve, I definitely won't be firing any initial reloads with the can attached! . At least until I can fully test them for safety and stability.  I don't think a Chrony is in my immediate future, so I may have to powder hunt for a well know subsonic load, test it, and use that instead of trying to use the 4227.

Howdy, IM sent with video link.

Yes, mine is a 10.5" barrel 1:8.

I posted earlier about using 4227 for subs.

I did not have much luck.

I was using 200gr SMKs

All loads cycled my 9 inch pistol, but it runs well super or subs. None of the 4227 loads would cycle my carbine with or without a can. It runs well on 1680 loads.

I also got some pressure signs at under factory max loads. I have no pressure signs with 1680 at near trans-sonic loads.


I am going to try to use it for some super loads to have as a back up if I ever run out of Lilgun and H110.

Do you mind sharing that load data? Either here, or PM is fine with me. But you have me interested in using this lb. can of 4227 that I've had on the shelf for 6, or 7yrs. before it goes bad. If you're getting that good of accuracy with those 125's, and 4227. I'd love to hear about it.

I am also interested in some4227 loads

Collected some data yesterday:


Rifle Used- Spikes/Core15 upper
Barrel Maker- Core15, 416R Stainless, Gas Length- Pistol/Port Size- Unknown
Barrel Length and Twist- 9.5", 1:7 5R
Magazine Brand/Size- Magpul 30
Powder -  H110
Case Used- LC
Primer Used-  WSR
Chronograph- MagnetoSpeed v2

Shot from bench at 50 yards with Eotech, no magnification.

Hornady Vmax 110 #23010 - 18.5gr, AOL 2.050"
Min-2052 Max-2077
Avg-2061
SD-10
ES-25
Group- 1.9"

 Speed  
2067 ft/sec
2077 ft/sec
2052 ft/sec
2061 ft/sec
2052 ft/sec
----------------

Hornady Vmax 110 #23010 - 19.0gr, AOL 2.050"
Min-2077 Max-2137
Avg-2097
SD-23
ES-60
Group- 1.02"

 Speed  
2137 ft/sec
2090 ft/sec
2077 ft/sec
2083 ft/sec
2099 ft/sec
----------------

Hornady Varmint 110gr #3010 - 19gr, OAL 2.030"
Min-2088 Max-2167
Avg-2129
SD-33
ES 79
Group- 1.0"

 Speed  
2159 ft/sec
2088 ft/sec
2167 ft/sec
2120 ft/sec
2111 ft/sec
----------------

Hornady Varmint 110gr #3010 - 19.5gr, AOL 2.030"
Min-2087 Max-2215
Avg-2156
SD-51
ES-128
Group- 1.46"

 Speed  
2087 ft/sec
2148 ft/sec
2199 ft/sec
2133 ft/sec
2215ft/sec  
----------------

Sierra 110 HP #2110 - 19.0gr, AOL 1.960"
Min-2031 Max-2079
Avg-2060
SD-19
ES-48
Group- 1.14"

 Speed  
2031 ft/sec
2051 ft/sec
2077 ft/sec
2079 ft/sec
2062 ft/sec
----------------
Edited to include group sizes.

Yeah, but what size groups?

I've edited to include group sizes.

Anyone tried Vihta Vuori N130 for subs?

Is there any one manual out there that has the most up to date 300blk load data in it? My Sierra and Hodgdons I bought last or two years ago has ziltch on 300AAC or Whisper.

Sierra recently came out with this info for 300 BLK: http://sierrabullets.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/300-aac-blackout.pdf
 Hodgdon has 300 BLK data in their  Annual Manual but they recently updated their on-line site with additional data.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Awesome, thanks!

 

Edited my post before saying that Hodgdon has data in their Annual Manual and recently updated their on-line data with additional loads.

Yeah, I actually picked that book up and found the info then put the book down and looked at some guns. I forgot to buy the book on my out

 

Anyone running multiple toolheads on a 550 Dillon press?  I am loading cast sub projectiles and wondering if the lee universal expander die or the Lyman m die would work for final loading in spot 1.  I will full size and trim on another toolhead.

Quick newb questions

Would imr 4227 be ok for 180 grain projectiles?  I have seen data for lower grain projectiles (125,147,150, etc) but I cannot find any for 180.  Looks like there are some people using as little as 10 grains to keep the rounds sub sonic as well, so I assume a 180 grain bullet will work just fine.  

Edit:  Read the post at the top of the page about the 200 grain projectiles so I am going to assume this is ok.

I see people using AK bullet pulls to reload.  Does the extra diameter of those rounds cause any issues in a standard .300 barrel, or are people resizing them after they are pulled or does it just depend on the barrel?

I wanted to check the 150gn Barnes tac-x load to make sure they were going to reliably expand at the low velocities of the .300blk.. The load penetrated 14" of gelatin, and 7" of water, and the round kept going to hit a small limb, then bounce off the limb to hit the ground 20yds. behind the gelatin.

I screwed my gelatin up in that I let the temp. get to 29*F cause I fell asleep. So it sat in 29*F overnight. So it turned out to cloudy to take pictures. But the point was to make sure these were going to expand. Which they do!

In the next few days, I will be testing the same load at 150yds., and will get the velocity of the round on target also. The point of this post is to let everyone know that these absolutely expand even with the low velocities of the .300blk.. So load em' up, boys/gals!

150gn Barnes Tac-x @ 1950fps. @ 100yds. through ballistic gelatin.



ETA: BTW, this test was done in 33*F temps. FWIW.

More info please?  Load data!

Pg. 50

I did some initial testing with 300-MP powder today.  

125 gr Nosler BT
2.100 OAL
Alliant 300-MP
Wolf SRM
10.5" bbl, pistol gas

18.0 gr   1848 fps Avg  ES: 104  SD:  56

18.5 gr   1872 Avg  ES: 108  SD:  57

19.0 gr   1909 Avg  ES: 52  SD:  26

19.5 gr   2014 Avg  ES: 27 SD:  13

No real pressure signs at all.  Very slight primer flattening at 19.5, just enough to notice a difference.  The others showed zero change to the primer.

No groups, I'm not set up to shoot accurate groups through my chrono.  I'll load more now and do the accuracy testing later.

What was your ES and SD with the batches you shot? Were they all over the place or close together?

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The ES and SD got better as the charge went up.  I'll edit my post with more data.

I should note that I don't throw out any shots, and my first shot always has a higher velocity that makes the data look worse.

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Sorry for size of pictures :
125 gr sst
17 g lil gun
2.10 coal
wsm primer

50 yards

Edit: its also Jan. not Dec.

The answer (just went though this) is to buy a Sheridan case gauge.  I was working with 220gr SMKs and I was having the ogive hit the rifling.  After the first hit, I later found with the gauge that the shape of the ogive changed and sizing them shorter with the bulged bullet was not getting me there.  The Wilson gauge just checks the case, the Sheridan represents an SAAMI chamber.  Sectional gauges are also sold by them so you can see inside.

Now that I have a good reference, I have a workable OAL and now need to test fire.  I dislike how much the bullets are in the case, but apparently from others here, it is not an issue. I think I am at 2.09 MOAL, but need to confirm from my records later....

Just started reloading .300 black out. I that Serria lists the Hogden H4198 for there 180grn. Rounds. Has any one tryed IMR 4198?