Shoulder dents on casings

[Swamp Hunter 38]

After resizing 40 300wsm casings I noticed that each casing had a dent on the shoulder in the same place. I cleaned the die but didn't find any obstruction. I've seen this before.What causes shoulder denting?

 

[R Flowers]

This problem is pretty common and is simply an excess of case lubricant.

Some dies are more prone to this than others. Some have a small vent hole in the neck area, some don't. In any case, it is simply a problem of case lube building up as the cases are sized and causing dents in the shoulders.

Try to use less lube to solve the problem. I am not sure what product you are using now. I use Hornady One Shot on cases that are easy to size (like 223, 22-40, 6mm Remington, 25-06, etc.). On cases that take more effort to resize I use Imperial Case Sizing Die Wax (now sold by Sinclair).

In fact, my common procedure is to spray the cases with the Hornay One Shot, including the case mouths. Then I try to size them, if they size easily, I am done. If they show resistance to resizing I apply the Imperial wax to the bottom third or so of the case. It does not take much, this stuff is magic! I do not see how they stay in business, a tin of it lasts for years and years.

I have sized literaly thousands of cases in this manner and very, very, seldom ever see case dents.

The case dents are really not a huge problem, they will blow out when the ammo is fired.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

This problem is pretty common and is simply an excess of case lubricant.

+1

 

[DrMike]

This problem is pretty common and is simply an excess of case lubricant.

+1

Full agreement. We've all had 'em.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Ditto

 

[Scott Spencer]

Add me to the list. I had my first ever with my .280 cases earlier this summer. I am now very lightly rolling them on my pad.

 

[ACLakey]

Switch to Imperial and problem solved.

 

[SJB358]

Switch to Imperial and problem solved.

Same here, switched to Imperial Sizing Wax and my problems with my 270WSM getting dents was over. Plus, like the others have said, I don't think you can actually use an entire can in a lifetime. Scotty

 

[Elkman]

Yes you can I am on my second one and I used graphite and oil before that.
Good to see you up on here.!!!!!

 

[SJB358]

I guess your the hope for the company Bill. They know they will sell at least two cans of the stuff to the average reloader during his lifetime!

Thanks for the welcome, been working quite alot. Scotty

 

[Elkman]

That was mean, I am not average!!!!!! That stuff beats the h-- out of graphite and oil. I might try a couple of cans of the spray stuff before I die.!!!!
Good night

 

[SJB358]

Nah, what I meant was the average lifespan of a reloader! Not your reloading capabilities!! I figure we have a good 30 year split between us Bill and since you are on your second can, I figure around my 60 year mark I will start looking for my 2nd can!!!! Scotty

 

[DrMike]

I seldom buy in moderation. Consequently, when I first bought Imperial Sizing Wax, I bought three tins, thinking I do go through a fair amount of lubricant. I wonder if I'll ever fully us the first tin! Consequently, you can still get oil dents with Imperial if you aren't careful.

 

[Elkman]

DrMike Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 5:01 am Post subject:
I seldom buy in moderation. Consequently, when I first bought Imperial Sizing Wax, I bought three tins, thinking I do go through a fair amount of lubricant.

I know that I bought at least two, but actually may have another, "somewhere". I am like you I still get a dent every now and then mostly with the .300 win mag. That one seems to be the hardest (physically) to load. I only get three or 4 cases per lube then they get sticky and noisy.
How many days?????? are you counting hours yet. Is the Whelen going?

 

[DrMike]

The Whelen is on target. August 15 (nine days and twenty hours) I'll be scoping the valley at first light (about 4 a.m.). There will be a flurry of shooting next week in final preparation. My reloading bench has a number of projects related to this fall's hunt.

 

[SJB358]

Mike. That is great to hear the Whelen is accompanying you. Is it shooting the way you want and what load did you end up with? I would love to get a crack at a Grizzer bear with mine. It shoots so well, and those big 250's seem like they would do one heck of a good job. Need to get Nosler to make some 250's so I can grab some 2nds. I managed to get some 225's for the 358, but want to grab some 250's for the Whelen. That would be a true big bear killer I believe..

Good luck at the range! I am waiting for your hunt almost as much as if I was going myself. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

I booked off from all pastoral duties next week to focus on the Whelen. It will be a daily trip to the range. The focus will be on 250 grain PTs and 250 grain Speer GSs. The load I have in reserve is a 225 TSX with a stiff charge of A2520. It shoots one inch consistently and gives me 2600 fps. Actually, I won't purposely hunt grizzly for a couple of weeks. I've booked off the the first three weeks of September to focus on grizzly and elk. I'll be scouting and looking for a young moose in this early season that begins in approximately 8 days, 11 hours and 51 minutes (but who's counting?).

 

[Elkman]

Dr. Mike

We are all vicariously counting with you!!!!!! :grin: :grin: :grin:

 

[SJB358]

That TSX is a good bullet in the Whelen. It did very well for me on elk and black bear. I would feel just fine using that if I had too. It was pretty accurate and fast for me in my Whelen. I hope you can get the 250gr PT's to shoot. I will grab some of them as soon as I see them come up for sale on SPS. I still have not tried the 225gr AccuBond either, but with a lower BC than the 225gr PT, I don't know if I will. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

I've tried more loads built around ABs than any other bullet in the Whelen. I have not found one yet that shoots better than other bullets. I'm coming to the conclusion that it just won't work for me in this cartridge. I actually have a decent load with the 225 AB in my 358 Hawkeye, though it is somewhat slow. It has not worked for me in my 350 RM, either. However, the 225 PT has worked reasonably well in each of these 35 calibre rifles, as have 225 grain Sierras.