What was the Belted Magnum Era?

I talk about the belted magnums, the 7mm magnum, 300 win mag, 458 Winchester magnum and others.

[@luvtahandload7692]

This handloader ain't afraid of no belt. Problem is, case and ammo makers know the belt is there to save their ass so exact shoulder position can be all over the map. I start with brand new cases, never been fired before. I neck them up one caliber, sometimes two, so that they won't chamber. I then use a FL die to incrementally size them down s-l-o-w-l-y until the bolt closes with a little bit of resistance. This eliminates the initial case stretch which can be as much as .020" on factory loaded ammo. This works, as I have some belted brass that I have loaded SEVENTEEN times! It also really helps when your FL die is a perfect fit with your chamber. The belt also can be quite useful when performing tricky case forming chores. Thanks, John!

[@30-06john]

Thanks for your info! Stay safe!

[@bustabass9025]

Make mine belted... as in Weatherby, 300 Winmag, 7mm Remmag, belted. Never understood all the disdain for belted cartridges. I love 'em, popularity be damned!

[@luvtahandload7692]

👍👍👍🍻

[@30-06john]

Yep, they are still popular! Stay safe!

[@davidneal6920]

For years I used a belted 7MM Weatherby mag. Interesting video thanks 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

[@30-06john]

Now there is a flat shooter! Stay safe!

[@mrj10101]

Still hooked on the belted magnums

[@30-06john]

Sorry foe the late reply, somehow your comment did not show up initially. Yep, belted magnums are still great and popular! Thanks for watching!

[@cw2a]

Mornin John!

[@30-06john]

Hi CW!

[@Jeff-sl8xz]

The 450 Marlin was introduced before 2000 it was on the market by mid nineties

[@30-06john]

Both Hornady and Speer reloading guides say the 450 Marlin was introduced in 2000. Thanks for watching!

[@frankgagas9569]

The problem with belt is that they headspace on the belt and stretch causing case separation. Some brass manufacturers offer longer brass cases so that the reloader can headspace on the shoulder and prevent that stretching.

[@luvtahandload7692]

Back your FL die off a quarter turn. After the initial case stretch with factory ammo, if your cases are stretching, it's all on you. See my comment above.

[@frankgagas9569]

Thanks for the advice.

[@30-06john]

Yeah, resizing involved a bit more TLC. Stay safe!

[@mothman-jz8ug]

I never understood the purpose for that belt. Other cartridges of similar pressure are fine without. Apparently it was supposed to make 'em look "bad".

[@luvtahandload7692]

The original belted mags did not have very prominent shoulders to stop forward movement of the round into the chamber, so the belt was added. Now you understand the reason for the belt. 😊

[@30-06john]

The 375 and 300 H&Hs needed it for head spacing. The Weatherbys used the same case but "blew them out" for more case capacity, started the "magnum needs a belt". Thanks for watching!

[@user-nw1ty5se7x]

I like the Nosler line up, especially the 27 and 28. A propeller airplane was good for it's time, bur long obsolete. I don't like new technology, so it seems strange typing this.

[@30-06john]

Yeah, the new cartridges don't have a belt. Thanks for watching!

[@user-nw1ty5se7x]

@30-06john do you think that newer longer and heavier bullets with faster twist rates are just technology improvements or just a slick way to make old guns obsolete? The 6.5s were never popular in North America until the Creedmoor, and the prc line up seems to be very popular. The 270 win and 30-06 were top of the heap for a long time and seem to have fallen drastically. I started with a 7mm rem mag 25 years ago and just 1 jam from belted mag made me switch to short action (243 win and 7mm-08 rem) and long action (25-06 rem and 270 win)... if the nosler or prc had been available then I would have stuck to mag cartridges. I tried RUM and WSM ... just didn't like ammo prices.

[@30-06john]

Sorry for the late reply. It does look like the trend is for newer cartridges shooting heavier bullets with a faster twist rate than earlier ones. That is better for long range shooting, but for ethical hunting ranges, does not really matter. If I was thinking about a new rifle, I think the 7mm PRC would be considered. It uses a 30-06 length action as opposed to a magnum action like the 300PRC. But the cartridges you are using are going to be around for a long, long time yet. I hope this helps.