Failure at the range today.

[Dr. Matt]

I had an incident at the range today and would like opinions about what happened and what to do differently from here on out.
I shoot a Unitah 223/5.56 Wylde chamber upper on a standard AR lower. Night force optic. About 1500 rounds down range on this set up. I have been shooting Lupoa match brass, CCI No.41 primers, 24.0 grains of Varget, 90 grain Hornady A-tip.
Last month I shot 2 MOA at 1000 yards at the Dead Zone shooting Park. All was good.
Because the Lupoa brass is hard to find, I bought a lot of new Nozzler brass. I reduced the charge by half a grain and though I would work up a load with this new brass. The ninth shot was exciting. View attachment 1575941 was exciting. I'll post pictures. View attachment 1575932View attachment 1575935View attachment 1575938

 

[JB10]

I can not get pictures to come up

 

[Dr. Matt]

I can not get pictures to come up

 

[Dr. Matt]

I was trying different seating techniques. That's why the seating forces are so different. This round had no lube, just shoved it in with .002 interference fit

 

[Dr. Matt]

Can you see them now?

 

[afret]

Aren't you quite a bit over max recommended load with Varget for a 90 grain bullet?

 

[Dr. Matt]

Hornady lists it at 23.5.

 

[Dr. Matt]

Admittedly, I have been pushing it a little.

 

[chkunz]

Admittedly, I have been pushing it a little.

Why?

 

[Dr. Matt]

Why?

To keep the bullet supersonic so it will score on the shot marker at 1000 yards.

 

[6MMsteve]

Hornady has a longer bearing surface than say Bergers gotta watch horny bullets will reach pressure faster...I think

 

[Frankm]

When you re running that close to top end then even when you re changing brass, primers, seating depth, etc need to back down at least 5% and work back up …..

If you were middle to lower load nodes then carefully checking a component change “might”be a little less critical.

 

[Herzo]

I had a similar (but more violent) experience with my 6mm Grendel in which case I had a full case seperation, a primer pocket blowout and the destruction of my bolt carrier. This was with a load that I have fired several hundred rounds of in the same (Starline) brass.
My only conclusion is that it was possible (but unprovable) that I had some tumbling media stuck in the case thus reducing the case volume.

 

[Dr. Matt]

I'm going to unload these and start over with a lighter bullet. I think maybe I was lucky to get this far with out injury. Lesson learned; never exceed the max listed charge ( even by .3 grains)

 

[Straightshooter1]

In a .223, going .5gr over max is a LOT! Looks to me like you're way over pressure.

It'd be really helpful to know chrono numbers, but I guess you didn't do that?

 

[TTE]

Hornady lists it at 23.5.

You change components and shoot a max load ?
Did you measure the water capacity difference of the cases ?

Dig out your reloading manual and re-read the section about reloading safety

I am at peace knowing I am not shooting next to you.

JMO

 

[Dr. Matt]

You change components and shoot a max load ?
Did you measure the water capacity difference of the cases ?

Dig out your reloading manual and re-read the section about reloading safety

I am at peace knowing I am not shooting next to you.

JMO

I do realize the significant mistake I made. And believe me it's a lesson learned.

 

[TTE]

I do realize the significant mistake I made. And believe me it's a lesson learned.

Cool. Thankfully you were not injured and it is a lesson you will remember with each cartridge you reload for, when you change "a" component

 

[EEP]

Are those adjacent fired rounds in your ammo box loaded the same as the compromised piece? Please clarify, 23.5 or 23.8gr varget was the powder charge? They certainly don’t look over pressured if so. The case failure certainly looks like an over pressure event. Excuse me if I’m misinterpreting or didn’t read it somewhere in your post.

 

[JB10]

Can you see them now?

Yes. I had an issue with nosler brass a few years ago. I was using hornady and got some free nosler brass. My load was 1 grain under published max so i loaded up the nosler with same load. First shot i saw smoke by my face from the action. It blew the primer out and had a major ejector mark on the brass. I thought i was safe 1 grain under max. I wont do that again. Thankfully it was not worse, action was not harmed.