.300 blk out dies

cotman68 · Oct 31, 2020

Looking for suggestions on which dies to get. I’m just getting started in reloading. Yeah , I know it’s not the best time but I had to wait til I sold my other house to be able to start buying components and a press. Got an used Rockchucker from the classifieds here. Came with 9mm , .45 , .223 , 30-06 and .308 dies. All the calibers I need but blk out. What do you recommend ? I’ve read most of the stickies but didn’t see any info. All advice is welcome

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

lazarus · Oct 31, 2020

I really like Hornady custom and RCBS dies as my favorites.

John from MD · Oct 31, 2020

Unless you are shooting from a bolt gun, I would say any of the die sets, including Lee, will work just fine. I have both Lee and Redding and can't differentiate from the two as far as accuracy goes.

Speed3 · Oct 31, 2020

Im partial to forester dies, they just work well

erwos · Oct 31, 2020

If you're shooting from a semi-auto, I recommend small base dies just to make sure you don't run into any shenanigans. Otherwise, I've been using RCBS.

guzma393 · Oct 31, 2020

I used Lee dies since they were in stock by the time I jumped in to the 300 blk bandwagon. Seating die is consistent and FCD is exceptional. F/L die works fine when bottomed out to the shell plate. It also works great in converting suitable 223 brass to 300 BO as well.

cotman68 · Nov 2, 2020

Thanks for the recommendations. Now to see what’s in stock.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Scrounger · Nov 2, 2020

I’m partial to Redding dies. At present there is only one company that has any listed. And they only list one set in stock. PM sent.

Melnic · Nov 2, 2020

I noticed issues with my Lee dies this spring but I was reloading cast.
My problem was my die not being seated all the way down where it was supposed to but I also purchased a case gauge and found that my 10.5" SBR 300BLK barrel did not like anything that did not pass the gauge. Even with the die set right, I had some problems with converted brass (brass others converted). My feeling is that some of the lee dies don't set the shoulder right all the time.
Last time I did a bulk run of about 500 cases (clean, size, trim) , I gauge tested them all and had about 30 rejects. Just for grinns, I plunk tested them in my 16" barrel and they were fine.

erwos · Nov 2, 2020

If you're loading cast/coated bullets, you need to put a teensy bit of flare in the case mouth. I will concur that resizing with 300AAC can be finicky, and I've also had more rejects than I expected, even with RCBS SB dies.

John from MD · Nov 2, 2020

Melnic said:
I noticed issues with my Lee dies this spring but I was reloading cast.
My problem was my die not being seated all the way down where it was supposed to but I also purchased a case gauge and found that my 10.5" SBR 300BLK barrel did not like anything that did not pass the gauge. Even with the die set right, I had some problems with converted brass (brass others converted). My feeling is that some of the lee dies don't set the shoulder right all the time.
Last time I did a bulk run of about 500 cases (clean, size, trim) , I gauge tested them all and had about 30 rejects. Just for grinns, I plunk tested them in my 16" barrel and they were fine.

I have the same issue. It appears that my 8.5 inch barrel has a tighter chamber than my 16 inch barrel. It could be one is at the high end and one at the low end of the tolerance specs. In any case, my cast 160 gn loads have to enter the case gauge completely or they don't chamber in the shorter barrel.

After measuring and testing, I found the issue isn't with my case measurments it is with the powder coating on the bullets. It appears that the pistol barrel can't have excess paint on the nose of the bullet where as the carbine barrel will accept a bullet nose that is up to .002 larger.

This is one of the drawbacks of "shake and bake" powder coating. You can't control the thickness of the paint coat like you can with a spray gun. Now that I know I need to chance something, I am planning to shake my baking grid a little more before putting it in the oven. I will also have to run all the rounds through a cartridge gauge too. Grrrrr.

85MikeTPI · Nov 2, 2020

Melnic said:
I noticed issues with my Lee dies this spring but I was reloading cast.
My problem was my die not being seated all the way down where it was supposed to but I also purchased a case gauge and found that my 10.5" SBR 300BLK barrel did not like anything that did not pass the gauge. Even with the die set right, I had some problems with converted brass (brass others converted). My feeling is that some of the lee dies don't set the shoulder right all the time.
Last time I did a bulk run of about 500 cases (clean, size, trim) , I gauge tested them all and had about 30 rejects. Just for grinns, I plunk tested them in my 16" barrel and they were fine.

Brass selection for conversion is very critical..

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=88599&sid=551d48b53b6f75a8ea7b5b054a65a0ca

teratos · Nov 2, 2020

No way!!! It's still alive and well.

Melnic · Nov 2, 2020

85MikeTPI said:
Brass selection for conversion is very critical..

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=88599&sid=551d48b53b6f75a8ea7b5b054a65a0ca

Good Info cause I definitely had problems with S&B which for some reason I had a noticeable amount of. Don't know if it was neck turned or not. Thicker and heavier for sure. Saw pressure signs and primers popping out below max charge to the point I had to back off. I have enough LC brass that any future reloads I'll weed those out. Most of it was LC converted.

erwos · Nov 2, 2020

Here's what I use for 300AAC for coated subs:
RCBS SB FL sizing die
Lee universal expander die, small expander (tiny case mouth flare to avoid lead shaving)
Lee small universal charging die, with a Lee auto-disk with riser on top
RCBS seating die
Lee FCD

It's kind of a motley assortment, but it works. Obviously, a micrometer seating die might make slightly life easier. I have gotten a little more aggressive with both trim lengths and seat depths to avoid chambering and gauging issues. With subs, pressure really isn't as big a concern. It's not nothing, but 8.5gr of Lil Gun just doesn't make that much gas.

Rockzilla · Nov 2, 2020

Dies
Sizing Dies... Redding FL. Or RCBS FL.
Expander Dies.. Mighty Armory
Seat Dies... Redding or RCBS
Crimp...Redding or RCBS
Bullets Cast from Mihec 311410 (Gas Check) nice lttle HP ( A Lyman #311410 Clone )
Die Sets Are the Redding Deluxe 300 Blackout & RCBS F.L.

Brass.... L.C

Mold Info:
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-311-410-hollow-point-mold-multi-choice/ (the one Above, O/S now)
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp...hollow-point-mold-no-lube-groove-multichoice/
Anybody who has used his molds knows exactly what I'm talking about... Great molds and Brass to boot

-Rock

Melnic · Nov 3, 2020

85MikeTPI said:
Brass selection for conversion is very critical..

http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=88599&sid=551d48b53b6f75a8ea7b5b054a65a0ca

So, i think I took this wrong. I have a lot of S&B brass but it’s not converted , it’s marked 300 BLackout so I think it should be good.
I had already separated it out and had about 100 primed already.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

John from MD · Nov 4, 2020

I had a problems earlier with a 300 BO pistol I built and it had me chasing my tail. It turns out, the problem was the Xtreme 300 marked cases I had. They were popping primers with my standard 16.5 gn load of H110.

When I squashed the necks with a set of pliers, the force needed to do it was like squashing the body of a 45ACP. I compared that with LC and Barnes and found that the Xtreme brass was thicker than the brass usually used to make 300 Blackout cases.

cotman68 · Nov 5, 2020

erwos said:
If you're shooting from a semi-auto, I recommend small base dies just to make sure you don't run into any shenanigans. Otherwise, I've been using RCBS.

Yes, semi auto. 9” barrel in an AR-15 pistol. I ordered the RCBS SB dies from their website the other day. I’m new to reloading. Only done 9mm so far. I have plenty of .300 brass I saved. Do I need anything else specific to load for the blackout ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

erwos · Nov 5, 2020

If you're using cast bullets, you will want a Lee expander so you can flare the case mouth open just enough to seat the bullet without shaving it. Otherwise... nah, you're good. I am working through the pile of Leatherhead 240gr bullets I got from a trade, and then I'll make a long-term decision about what kind I want to use long-term (probably the Gallant 217gr ones).

.300 blk out dies

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Active Member

Ultimate Member

American Patriot

Ultimate Member

The Hebrew Hammer

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Ultimate Member

The Hebrew Hammer

American Patriot

Ultimate Member

My hair is amazing

Ultimate Member

The Hebrew Hammer

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

American Patriot

Active Member

The Hebrew Hammer

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics