fed 215m VS WLRM

3

308Loader

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Is Winchester large rifle for magnum rifle loads a suitable substitute for federal 215 primers? Load data shows fed primers but all the LGS has is WLRM. Loading for 30-378 Wby mag, first time with this cartage.
 
As long as you do the load workup it should be safe. No way to tell with accuracy until you can compare the two, but with a case as large as that I think the inconsistencies of initial pressure due to less than consistent primer compound amounts will be well mitigated.

Jimro
 
Win LR magnum primers are supposed to be the hottest magnum primer and will produce some higher pressures than Fed 215's. Info I've read is Rem 9 1/2 magnum primers are the mildest magnum followed by CCI 250 and Federal 215's then Win LRM as the hottest. Fed 215 and CCI 250 are supposed to be close. If you're loading near max loads then switching to the Win LRM would call for reducing charges and working back up. Federal 215's are great magnum primers.
 
By 215m I assume that refers to magnum rather than match. Wouldn't expect that there would be much variation between those and the Winchester magnum primers and the latter should perform equally well. The Federal primer choice for the caliber is shown in the Lyman manual, perhaps where you picked it up from. But pay attention to the above post regarding pressures. That warning, true as it could be, may not be all that well known regarding the Winchester primer. From the Lyman manual, it seems they use a wide variety of primers for magnum loads with only a few calibers using the Federal 215m primer. Interesting choice with the .30-378. Use the Winchester magnum with the usual admonishment by starting around mid-range or less.
 
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First time loading this one. Load plan is:

Weatherby once fired brass sized and trim to 2.903
WLRM primer
110.0 gr H50BMG
180gr Nosler AccuBond
COL 3.630

This is start load in hornady book, same data from nosler online. Should be good right? hogdon online data shows start at 105.3gr and Lyman book shows 114gr start. All data I could find uses different 180gr ballistic tip BT bullets except noslers site.
 
The 110 gr starting load is surely conservative enough with the Winchester primer. Will be interested in your results; not many will be loading for that caliber. I really go in for the big mags, having over 20 belted and non-belted mag caliber rifles in 70s and 700s (some in Wby calibers) but never considered the .30-378.
 
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Page 57 in the Lyman 49th manual displays a table on primers that could relate to the pressure question with the Winchester LRM primer. This table, indicating five large standard rifle primers with the same .308 powder charge, the Winchester primer results in the 4th highest pressure, only exceeded by the CCI 34. If the Winchester magnum primer follows suit, it could very well be on or near the top of a similar pressure chart using the same load with other magnum primers. The Remington 9 1/2 primer shows the lowest pressure in the chart followed by the Fed 210 match, CCI 200, Win LRM, and the CCI 34.
 
Thanks, almost forgot their is good info in the front of the book as well as load data in the back. looked it over a bit more and decided to go ahead with the load. Shot 5 of the 6 I put together. Every thing went boom except one that would not chamber right (couldn't close the bolt without serious force so I didn't shoot it). I will need to get the calipers out and see where I went wrong. As far as accuracy I have no idea, didn't connect with the paper at 200m. I just got this beast from my dad and he said he was sighted in at 100yrds with 150gr factory loads. I did spot him on one shot and saw the bullet splash into the berm, the impact looked high by a foot or two but center. The seating depth in the book looks really deep compared to my .308 with same bullet. I should get one of hornadys fancy measuring cartages and check distance to lands to figure out how much "jump" and or erosion it has. All fingers, hands, face and eyes still where they should be and functional, thanks for the input. I'm new to the belted magnum cartage reloading so any thoughts are welcome.
 
Are you continuing your excursion into the .30-378 or hanging it up for now? Any idea why the 6th round would not chamber? I don't think the Nosler accubond has a cannelure so you probably couldn't have fallen into the trap of over crimping into a cannelure (if it had one) resulting in pushing the shoulder down and creating the bulge that prevents chambering. For further reference on that subject if needed, see current thread "how do I fix this" that addresses the problem. Could be beneficial if using and crimping cannelured bullets in the future. This is something that wouldn't be expected to happen but exasperating when it does and makes you wonder why. Of course it can apply to most any bottleneck cartridge when using cannelured bullets, not just to belted mags.
 
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Haven't gotten around to measuring the bad one yet. I'm going to double check my die and bullet seater setup before I try again this weekend. I think I will stick with the 110gr load for the next 10 rounds and see if I cant get on paper. I don't have much brass to play with and not sure how many reloading's these cases will last. The scary part of the first loading is over, now the fun begins! :D
 
Loaded 10 @ 110.0gr H50BMG and got on paper close to bull. Spread is 4" @100yrds. Not sure how much is me, new gun and all.
 
I guess I would next try a 200 gr accubond or the Sierra 200 HPBT. I've had only one rifle, a Winchester Mdl 70 in .338 Win Mag caliber that initially would only shoot five rounds no better than four or five inches at 100 yards. The rifle came with a free floating barrel so I inserted a contoured plastic wedge three inches in from the forend. This put considerable upward pressure on the barrel but effectively cut the group size down to a consistent 1.25" or better at 100 with five rounds. The wedge was then glassed in place. How is your rifle bedded? If free floating, you could try my approach. The model 70 came with a plastic separator loosely inserted between the barrel and forend and this served as the tight fitting shim after being trimmed for proper fit and eventually glassed into place. I have found similar improvements with Remington 700s but none started out nearly as bad as the .338 Winchester 70. I don't have any Wby rifles but several Wby calibers in the Remington 700s. You are using what appears to be the most appropriate powder for the cartridge.
 
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I picked up some hornady 208gr ELD match, gona try them next. Also ordered one of the modified cases to measure distance to lands. I noticed a little jacket material scraped off when seating the nosler bullet. not sure what that is about. As far as bedding, I'm not sure. Rifle is Weatherby mark V. Every thing is stock out of the box. Barrel is free floated. I think most of the issue is me flinching or pushing when the shot breaks, not used to it yet. The recoil is minimal with the magnaport break, but loud as heck! Thanks for the input will keep posting on progress.
 
308Loader, The Wby freebore for 30-378Wby is .361" long. this is picture of my custom dies from another site

http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11615

I used Retumbo when I loaded for 30-378Wby and not as compressed as H50BMG.

My 30-378Wby was factory and tell you the truth I stayed with factory OAL and I'm used to shooting mag's but that rifle even with brake took some getting use too.

Well good luck
 
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