Tidesloe
Well-Known Member
I just purchased my 1st 7 STW. I have laundry list of questions regarding loading for this cartridge. I have some experience loading other beltless cartridges.
I'll apologize in advance if the answers are here but don't have time to study the forum in detail.
Belted cartridges are new to me and as I understand are head spaced off the belt, this would present a different set of challenges for me. To my understanding it seems that with belted cartridges head spacing would also need to be on the shoulder as well for best accuracy. With 2 head spacing points does the belt tend to interfere with proper center bore alignment from shoulder head spacing. Do the belted cartridges require less to no shoulder bump to properly align cartridge with bore upon firing.
My next question is: I have 2 sizer dies for this cartridge. Neither one seems to be able to produce concentric necks. A WAY, I've found to get fairly concentric necks is to rotate 90 degrees part way through, size a little more, rotate 45 degrees, rotate 90, size rest of the way. I've been expanding with Sinclair expander for consistent neck tension. The problem is, my accuracy went away after all the rotations in attempts to get everything strait. Could somebody give me thought on this?
The rifle is a McWhorter custom, which I've not even fired yet. I've had it for a week now, and can't wait to touch some rounds off. I have load data, and ammo loaded by McWhorter that somehow got destroyed during shipping. Hopefully more will arrive tomorrow.
I have plenty of all components to load for it, but the concentricity problems have me concerned. I am considering having a custom sizer die built to alleviate the problems I'm seeing with standard production sizer dies, and hopefully prolong case life in the process.
Any help and suggestions you guy's may have is much appreciated.
I'll apologize in advance if the answers are here but don't have time to study the forum in detail.
Belted cartridges are new to me and as I understand are head spaced off the belt, this would present a different set of challenges for me. To my understanding it seems that with belted cartridges head spacing would also need to be on the shoulder as well for best accuracy. With 2 head spacing points does the belt tend to interfere with proper center bore alignment from shoulder head spacing. Do the belted cartridges require less to no shoulder bump to properly align cartridge with bore upon firing.
My next question is: I have 2 sizer dies for this cartridge. Neither one seems to be able to produce concentric necks. A WAY, I've found to get fairly concentric necks is to rotate 90 degrees part way through, size a little more, rotate 45 degrees, rotate 90, size rest of the way. I've been expanding with Sinclair expander for consistent neck tension. The problem is, my accuracy went away after all the rotations in attempts to get everything strait. Could somebody give me thought on this?
The rifle is a McWhorter custom, which I've not even fired yet. I've had it for a week now, and can't wait to touch some rounds off. I have load data, and ammo loaded by McWhorter that somehow got destroyed during shipping. Hopefully more will arrive tomorrow.
I have plenty of all components to load for it, but the concentricity problems have me concerned. I am considering having a custom sizer die built to alleviate the problems I'm seeing with standard production sizer dies, and hopefully prolong case life in the process.
Any help and suggestions you guy's may have is much appreciated.