Downhill
Gold $$ Contributor
Barrelled a Tikka T3 with a Krieger 12 twist, 95 Palma chamber at 26" long. Loading the Sierra 155 Palma 10k out. Using Varget in Lapua cases my sight in and fouler load was 43.5 gr then working up to 45.5. At 43.5 had clickers and flattened primers. Pulled loads and tried 43 gr, flattened primers. I am well below any recomended starting load. I ran 46 gr in another rifle with no issue. Question is tight bore? Hotter lot of Varget?(same jug has worked fine in my 6BR's). Federal Gold Medal shoots with no issue. Has me scratching my head.
Tried again this morning but with Hornady brass( don't care to trash the Lapua until issue resolved).
Hornady once fired and annealed; Sized Fired
Shoulder 1.608 1.622 ?
.200 Line ,468 .470
Neck .322 w/bullet .336 .344
Trimmed 2.005 2.009 to 2.011
Adding .002 of tape to bottom created slight resistance to bolt closure.
Started at 42.5 Varget stopped at 44gr. Clickers from 42.5 to 43. 44 grains extracted correctly but primer flattened. Ran two separate beam scales to verify charges. The only issue with measurements I see is the .014 difference at the shoulder measured with a comparator. Extraction does get easier with the higher charge but the flattened primer and extractor swipe is alarming. Will look at a different powder but I don't feel this is the issue as it has always worked in my 308's.
Tried again this morning but with Hornady brass( don't care to trash the Lapua until issue resolved).
Hornady once fired and annealed; Sized Fired
Shoulder 1.608 1.622 ?
.200 Line ,468 .470
Neck .322 w/bullet .336 .344
Trimmed 2.005 2.009 to 2.011
Adding .002 of tape to bottom created slight resistance to bolt closure.
Started at 42.5 Varget stopped at 44gr. Clickers from 42.5 to 43. 44 grains extracted correctly but primer flattened. Ran two separate beam scales to verify charges. The only issue with measurements I see is the .014 difference at the shoulder measured with a comparator. Extraction does get easier with the higher charge but the flattened primer and extractor swipe is alarming. Will look at a different powder but I don't feel this is the issue as it has always worked in my 308's.
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