20 vartarg neck smoke

[Rockchuck]

My new 20 vartarg neck smoke up pretty good what causes it. What are your thoughts on the subject just curious.

 

[Mark M.]

Are you turning the necks

 

[Evan]

Are your loads low pressure with a slow powder? H4198 did it in mine until I got up to higher pressures, then it stopped.

 

[Rockchuck]

Yes turning the necks .002 clearance at 18gr h4198 40gr bullet

 

[TAJ45]

Any idea of speed?

 

[Rockchuck]

No yet just started shooting it shoots very good but have not run it thru the chrono

 

[K9TXS]

What type of rifle? Suppressed?
When I was shooting suppressed AR's, after 2 or 3 rounds all the loaded rounds in the mag were smoked due to backpressure.

 

[B23]

If you have a little more neck clearance than you need it can cause the necks to come out more smoked because there is possibly a little extra clearance in the neck area of the chamber and the necks aren't expanding enough to seal up to the chambers neck diameter. Based on what the OP described, this would be my guess as to why he is getting smoked necks.

 

[steve123]

Annealing would probably help, especially if you are masochistic and form from 223.

 

[Hotshot]

18 grains with a 40 grain bullet would be a very stout load in both of my 20VT

 

[Rockchuck]

18 gr not showing any pressure in my rifle. What is your load with a 40gr bullet. My primers are still pretty rounded.

 

[243winxb]

Compare COL. More bullet shank deeper in the neck may give the powder a better burn?

Has the neck expanded fully.Does a fired case easly except a bullet.

 

[Rockchuck]

Bullet enters fire case easy drop it in

 

[LCazador]

Increase your neck tension or better yet go to a powder that will give you a better fill ratio like AA2200. Sooty necks are usually because of very light neck tension. The fact the bullet falls into a fired case indicates you may have excess neck clearance.

 

[Rockchuck]

I might also add that these have not been fire formed. Could that have a bearing on the neck smoke.

 

[243winxb]

Fire forming will help. Sizing 1/2 of the neck with a bushing may help.



If soot gets on the case body, i would worry about it.

Soot on neck is normal. A little on the shoulder is ok, when working up loads.