Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Any tips on reloading Belted rifle cartridges?

Is there much to reloading the 300 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag
I just buy new ammo when need it but some good bullets if you reload yourself.

PFL size them just like any other rifle cartridge. In other words, don't run your sizer down to the belt but set your sizer long and try a sized case in your rifle. If the bolt won't close, set your sizer down another 1/4 turn and check it in your chamber. Continue until the bolt just closes with a little resistance. You can either leave the sizer adjusted like that or turn it down another 1/4 turn or so.

Thank you very much for the advise on the belted cartridges, I'll give them a try at reloading them.

The only time I pay any attention to the belts is when the weather’s cold and fingers get numb. The belt helps with cartridge orientation. Other than that they are no different than any of the rest when it comes to reloading.

Use a neck sizer and use the full length when needed and only FL size until case chambers. Have some belted brass that has never needed FL sized before it was scrap.

Ignore the belt

Yes, and ignore the few who bellyache and moan about problems with/from belts.

I've been loading belted cases since @ 1980, a 300 WM, and not once has any belt caused any problem.

And don't spend your money on any "thingey's" to deal with the belt unless it's a good neck sizing die and a good body die.

This works, but it's a lot more precise to use a Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gauge and bump the shoulder back a couple of thousands. It even works on the H&H mags with their gently sloped shoulder.

Good info here. What die sets do you gentlemen use, and is one brass head stamp better than another.

The best combination of dies for price vs. performance in assembling straight cartridges is a Lee collet neck die, a Redding body die, and a Forster seating die.

Lee collet

I use Forster benchrest dies, but the combo mathman recommends would work well too, it would just cost more. Norma or Nosler are generally the better brands for belted mags. I think Nosler is just rebadged Norma anyway.

Invest in a set of Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gauges as MichiganScott said. Use them to set up your dies so the shoulder is bumped back .002" when you resize. That's the right way to set up your dies and you'll forget about the belt after that. It's also the right way to set up non-belted cases so the gauges aren't just useful for belted mags.

Exacatmundo....A lot of these other guys are overthinking this chit. Surprised their heads don't explode or pop off...

I also ignore the belt. My current batch Norma brass in 338 Win Mag have been fired 12 times now and they are still fine.

I neck size when possible and full length size when needed.

Pieter

Reload them just like every other cartridge.

If you are reloading for just hunting and some target practice don't worry about the dies. Any brand will do the job just fine.I use plain RCBS dies in my 300 win mag and have shot a 2.55 inch 3 shot group at 600 yards.Oh i had 5 witness at the time. Next best group was 3 inch. ED K

I really don't have anything to add. I am going to start neck sizing or partial full length sizing of my 375 H&H using RCBS dies. The cost and sporadic availability of components is the driving force, that and the fact that my 375 H&H pre 64 Win 70 has the brass grow about .010" after each firing/resize, despite being well within headspace limits.

I was always hesitant to not Full Length resize hunting ammo as reliable feeding/chambering was paramount.

Exactly. Ignore the belt.

For what it is worth I have never worn out a 375 H&H cartridge. Been shooting them for about 15 years to date. I have crushed 5 or 6 case mouths in the press, but have never had a split, or any sign of excessive wear. Far as I can tell, the cartridge cases last forever.