New to whisper...need a hand with new load

[Just Call Me...G]

I saw on this forum a great way to do it and have processed 2200 rounds of .223/5.56 using a small pipe cutter and a small plastic clamp.

After that, I run the brass through my Redding sizing die, the die set I use is the #80432.
I find that if I cut the .223 brass at the neck, I don't have to use the .27 caliber expander button.
I just use the .30 cal expander button and I'm good to go.

I trim to length using the Lee .221 Fireball length gauge with a .223 shellholder and a cordless drill. The length gauge will "wobble" a bit so I have found that cutting off a small section of the straw on a sports drink bottle will serve as a .30 cal "sleeve".

After they are trimmed and still in the shellholder attached to the cordless drill, I chamfer and de-burr them.

I check my neck thickness and have trimmed the neck on my brass using the Hornady Neck Turning Tool.
Once I am done with all that I throw them in the tumbler with a little NuFinish and let'em "cook" for a few hours.

Pics of pipe cutter and the "evolution" from .223 - .300 Whisper included.


Keep The High Ground,


G

[320pf]

Originally Posted by Just Call Me...G

I saw on this forum a great way to do it and have processed 2200 rounds of .223/5.56 using a small pipe cutter and a small plastic clamp.

G

I tried this method. It is PAINFULLY slow!. If you want to make LOTS of 300-221 FIreball brass there are three ways:

1.) A Dillon Super 1050 set up with a Dillon power trimmer and a CH-4D trim die.

2.) A single stage press set up Dillon Power trimmer Dillon power trimmer and a CH-4D trim die.

3.) A drill press and a Foster power trim head.

Method "3" is the least expensive method and is fairly quick. I typically trim and form about 1000+ rounds in about 3 hours.

I hope this helps

320pf

http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/ph....php?photo=401

http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/ph....php?photo=615

http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/ph....php?photo=614

[Just Call Me...G]

Hi again,

PAINFULLY???...
All due respect, I think that 320pf and I would differ on what the definition of pain is...

I liked the pipe cutter/clamps method because of the ease of expense and the portability. I knocked out the 2200 rounds in a matter of a day, I took them with me to my living room...talked on the phone, watched TV, etc. The whole set-up cost me about $10 at my local Ace Hardware and it works just fine.

The methods he describes work fine I am sure...he's been in the .300 Whisper MUCH longer than I.

BTW, 320pf thanks for all the info you have posted here and on other sites that I have lurked in. Your info has been a great help to me.


Anyway, the reason I was going to re-post was to let "buggsz24" know which brass I have used and has worked:

Comm. Brass:
Winchester
R-P
FC...found that on some of these you may need to swage the primer pocket.

Mil-Surp (primer pockets will need swaging if once-fired) :
WCC
LC


If I had not inherited the 5 gal. bucket-o'-brass and were starting with fresh, new brass...I'd say buy Winchester .223, hands down. I have found that the Winchester .223 brass gives VERY uniform results when forming to .300 Whisper, especially in the neck thickness realm.

As it stands, I have 2200 pieces of brass...some I have already loaded and are ready for shooting (next weekend, fingers crossed). I have more brass than some, less than others...to me this is a bit of a Zen thing and for my pleasure and amusement, not a competition. As more brass becomes available to me, I will make more...especially any FC brass as they tend to skimp and are usually shorter, I don't care to reload the FC brass for my .223 needs and will allocate them for my .300 Whisper needs.

My $0.02, your mileage may vary...


G