270 WSM Nosler Brass issue

[Sockeye66]

Trying to help out a friend who contacted me today and I'm kinda stumped. Here's what I do know, he fired virgin Nosler brass with no issues, he then full length sized with a Redding die and he did say that it was tough coming out on the downstroke. These were loaded a grain under Nosler book max with Magpro and the same splits happened with 140gr Partitions and 130gr Ballistic Tips. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sockeye66]

Trying to help out a friend who contacted me today and I'm kinda stumped. Here's what I do know, he fired virgin Nosler brass with no issues, he then full length sized with a Redding die and he did say that it was tough coming out on the downstroke. These were loaded a grain under Nosler book max with Magpro and the same splits happened with 140gr Partitions and 130gr Ballistic Tips. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rhett Crider]

Looks to be Winchester brass, not Nosler. I have actually had new Winchester brass out of the bag w/ split necks. Never had a problem w/ Nosler. If memory serves me, 6-8 out of 50. I believe mine were in 264WM.

 

[LongBomber]

Looks like new winchester brass to me. Comes out of the bag with splits already started.

 

[Sockeye66]

Looks to be Winchester brass, not Nosler. I have actually had new Winchester brass out of the bag w/ split necks. Never had a problem w/ Nosler. If memory serves me, 6-8 out of 50. I believe mine were in 264WM.

Thanks for the reply, I called him tonight and asked about the Lapua brass. He shot today and had virgin Lapua brass that was neck sized do the same thing. He switched from Magpro to RL23 and had zero issues with the last 10 rounds. Not sure what to think, I personally don't use Magpro or remember ever seeing a neck split at that location. My thoughts before him trying the RL23 was that maybe there was a bad tool mark in the chamber but from all accounts it seems like the powder was the culprit. He wasn't having any sticky bolt lift or unusual pressure signs either.

 

[comfisherman]

As some have stated split necks and the 270 wsm are almost a design feature from the factory winchester. Some observations in general, last big powder shortage ten years ago was about the time I made the switch from 7 wsm to 270 wsm. Local outfit had a steal on magpro and it probably accounted for half the wear on my first barrel.

The 270 wsm at the time had only federal, norma and winchester brass available. I've never had another cartridge that had as much variation in internal volume. Wound up with a pile of once fired and what worked in one brand would blow the primer out of another.

It's second only to my 223wssm for neck crack loss. With similar treatment from similar brand brass loaded on the same equipment it fails 3 loadings before equal 300 wsm brass.

We found the rather significant internal volume working backwards, we were loading 115s at max on a load worked up on a different brass mfg. The chronograph told us we had either cracked physics or found more pressure. Being young and dumb we ignored physics because we thought were special and trusted subjective observations over objective numbers. On round 9 or 10 we lost a primer pocket and physics re asserted itself. Post mortem on the brass showed enough volume differences to cause a primer blow without the traditional signs. Modern manufacturing of tight firing pin and big fat case heads with cci magnum primers can mask a fair whack of pressure. My magpro load for winchester would blow my federal primer pockets, and make my norma a roulette Ackley.

All that to say, sometimes stuff happens reloading that's why there are so many warnings on every label of every reloading product we buy. Glad he found one that works.

 

[Rhett Crider]

Thanks for the reply, I called him tonight and asked about the Lapua brass. He shot today and had virgin Lapua brass that was neck sized do the same thing. He switched from Magpro to RL23 and had zero issues with the last 10 rounds. Not sure what to think, I personally don't use Magpro or remember ever seeing a neck split at that location. My thoughts before him trying the RL23 was that maybe there was a bad tool mark in the chamber but from all accounts it seems like the powder was the culprit. He wasn't having any sticky bolt lift or unusual pressure signs either.

RL23 is my go to on my 10T 270WSM w/ 140ABs. Good, stable powder that produces 3000MV w/o pressure signs.

 

[Sockeye66]

A big thank you for the information, as I don't personally have a short mag in any caliber, these are issues I was not aware of, but I am now and so is he. RL23 is also one of my personal favorites for the 6.5x284 and the 25/06. And to you Comfisherman, you're living in the one place I love as much as Montana, Kodiak was my transient fishing home for quite a few years as I fished on the Lady Kodiak and Lady Alaska from '97 until rationalization. Great people, great hunting and great sport fishing. I still shoot my 1989 Browning Abolt 300wm that came from Cy's.

 

[grouse]

Lapua makes 270 wsm?

 

[Sockeye66]

Lapua makes 270 wsm?

Anywhere I added Lapua should be Nosler, called him to make sure and it is in fact Nosler.

 

[Earnhardt]

Lapua makes 270 wsm?

Lapua does not make WSM brass…
And the OP has Winchester brass in the first pics, not Nosler…

Are we getting Punked here?…

 

[Sockeye66]

Lapua does not make WSM brass…
And the OP has Winchester brass in the first pics, not Nosler…

Are we getting Punked here?…

No punking here, just trying to help a friend from out of state who is newer to reloading and was quickly running into an issue and he thought I might be able to help, not having reloaded any short mag, I turned here knowing the knowledge here is extensive. He was mistaken in that the two types of brass that split were Winchester and Nosler, not Lapua.

 

[Rhett Crider]

Verify the Nosler w/ your friend. I can see the Winchester, poor brass, QC. I've seen this along w/ a few others here. Never seen w/ Nosler. No ejector swipes, primer issues, leads me to poor Winchester brass.

 

[Sockeye66]

Verify the Nosler w/ your friend. I can see the Winchester, poor brass, QC. I've seen this along w/ a few others here. Never seen w/ Nosler. No ejector swipes, primer issues, leads me to poor Winchester brass.

Here's a pic of the Nosler brass.