Bertram brass sticking in shell holder?

[helidriver72]

I got some Bertram .338 edge brass which I really like except for almost half of them are almost impossible to get in my rcbs shell holder. The rim appears to be a little too thick. Anybody else having the same problem? Any quick easy remidys? I tried sandpaper and a file without much luck.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I got some Bertram .338 edge brass which I really like except for almost half of them are almost impossible to get in my rcbs shell holder. The rim appears to be a little too thick. Anybody else having the same problem? Any quick easy remidys? I tried sandpaper and a file without much luck.

Well, the .338 Edge uses a .404 Jeffery as a parent cartridge, same as the RUMs which use a standard magnum shellholder (RCBS #4). So I would contact Bertram and see what they have to say.

 

[Broz]

I have loaded some of the new EDGE brass I got from DE using a Redding shell holder with no problem. Maybe try a different shell holder first.

Jeff

 

[helidriver72]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, it's the fact that half slide in easy and half won't go in at all so there's obviously some variance there.

 

[bigngreen]

A number 43 is just a touch bigger, I use it on WSM's and RUM's if there on the tighter side.

 

[danj]

I also use a redding shell holder with the bertram edge brass with no problems.

 

[7mmRHB]

Helidriver,I just got through fully prepping 100 Bertram brass which included squaring or trueing case heads and neck turning. I learned some interesting details about the Bertram brass.

#1-- The case diameter is larger at the web, .5475 to .548 compared to RUM brass at .545 and .404 Jeffries @ .542.I don't understand why they would make it larger?? If your reamer is a custom tight reamer there could be issues but most likely not.

#2-- The reason they don't fit some shell holders is the extraction grove is not cut the same shape or depth as RUM brass. A Lyman #5 worked fine for me as would a RCBS #43.

#3-- The case necks were between .0015 and .0025 thicker from one side to the other which is similar to the average RUM brass. The finished neck thickness was about .001 thicker than RUM brass.

#4-- The case heads were the closest to being true or square of any brand of brass I've ever prepped and I've done close to 30,000 pcs. in the last 20 years.

#5-- The texture of this brass while neck turning is much different than any brass I've turned before. It was tough to get a clean cut with no lines. Might be the difference in alloy that is giving better case life?

Just a few observations from my first contact with the new .338 Edge, Bertram Brass.-- RHB

 

[Fiftydriver]

#3-- The case necks were between .0015 and .0025 thicker from one side to the other which is similar to the average RUM brass. The finished neck thickness was about .001 thicker than RUM brass.

So your saying that the neck thickness variation was pretty extreme? Seeing similar things with my custom made Raptor brass but the Bertram 408 CT brass I use is about the most consistant brass I have ever used as far as neck thickness variation, even better then 338 Lapua brass by a fair margin.

 

[7mmRHB]

Kirby, the neck thickness variation was not good but was no worse than Rem. Win. or Fed. It was obviously much worse than the average Lapua or Norma necks, but I have had batches of 6.5 - 284 Lapua cases that were every bit as bad as the Bertram cases.

One thing I failed to mention was the head space or base to datum line dimension . A 338 Edge go gauge measures 2.467 (with my Stoney point comparator) and the Bertram Brass varied from 2.467 to 2.458 with most falling into the 2.463-2.464 range. ( about 60%). There were allot of the short ones (30%) that are going to be stretched, during firing, more than you would like to see. Nine Thou. is a quite a bit of case volume variation to deal with for initial load development, so I would sort out the short ones and use them for the break-in rounds. ---- RHB

 

[Fiftydriver]

Kirby, the neck thickness variation was not good but was no worse than Rem. Win. or Fed. It was obviously much worse than the average Lapua or Norma necks, but I have had batches of 6.5 - 284 Lapua cases that were every bit as bad as the Bertram cases.

One thing I failed to mention was the head space or base to datum line dimension . A 338 Edge go gauge measures 2.467 (with my Stoney point comparator) and the Bertram Brass varied from 2.467 to 2.458 with most falling into the 2.463-2.464 range. ( about 60%). There were allot of the short ones (30%) that are going to be stretched, during firing, more than you would like to see. Nine Thou. is a quite a bit of case volume variation to deal with for initial load development, so I would sort out the short ones and use them for the break-in rounds. ---- RHB

Thanks for the info. I thought you were getting out of the business, change your mind?

 

[7mmRHB]

Kirby, I'm still plugging along but limiting myself as to how much I do based on how I'm feeling at the time. Thanks for asking! ---- Roland

 

[Fiftydriver]

Kirby, I'm still plugging along but limiting myself as to how much I do based on how I'm feeling at the time. Thanks for asking! ---- Roland

Hope all is well with you and yours old friend!

 

[7mmRHB]

Thanks Kirby, I hope you and your family are well also!! Hope you have some good hunts coming up so we can hear the stories.

Ten years ago, when there were only a few thousand members, there were lots of good hunts written up. Now with 70,000 + members there are only a few written up which makes you wonder how many of these 70,000 members actually hunt???

Anyway It's good to talk to you.--- Roland

 

[Fiftydriver]

Ten years ago, when there were only a few thousand members, there were lots of good hunts written up. Now with 70,000 + members there are only a few written up which makes you wonder how many of these 70,000 members actually hunt???

Anyway It's good to talk to you.--- Roland[/QUOTE]

I hear you and agree.