.204 loading troubles.....

[ST42]

Gents,

I'm shooting a DPMS in .204 Ruger and I thought that I'd try and load up a few rounds for experimentation. I'm starting with new Win. brass sized in a New Redding die. Vmax's in 40 grains loaded in front of R-15. I using Hornady's manual and was attempting to load a few rounds at various charges listed in the manual with the intent to stop at the listed max charge of 27.3 grains.

So here is my problem. When I attempt to seat the bullets on the max charge, 27.3 grains, I'm getting shoulders that are starting to, or do, bulge. After seeing the bulge on the first round. I reinstalled the seating die as per the instructions provided by Redding. I again produced rounds with a bulge on the shoulder.
I talked with a neighbor and he suggested that I try his Hornady dies. After setting his dies up in the press. I obtained the same results. Bulging at the shoulder with 27.3 grains.
As we were standing there eyeballing the situation. My keen neighbor noticed that the Hornady manuals load was based on Remington brass.

Could there be enough case capacity difference between the Win. and Rem. cases to cause this bulge? The load isn't listed as a compressed load. But, I'm using the Win. brass.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

ST42

 

[zedsdead]

In my experience virgin brass will not hold as much powder as fire formed brass. Once you shoot it once it should hold the book max without the problem you are having.

 

[treeman]

try pouring the powder in the case slowly or hold one finger over the case mouth and tap the corner of the case on the bench to settle the powder . this should give you the room you need to seat the bullet wiyh out the bulge.

 

[jo191145]

Screw your seater die out one full turn and try again.
The Redding standard seater has a roll crimp option. If its making contact with the case it will first crimp, then crush. This will show up as bulged shoulders that will not chamber.

Not sure about the Hornady.

Is it even possible to crush/bulge a case with a compressed load? I can't fathom the possibility. The downward force should be on the powder.This force should'nt effect the brass unless your really stuffing it in there.

I've seen numerous bulged cases while using the roll crimp on non cannelured bullets. It can be done but is such a pain. Brass must be absolutely consistent in length and the crimp set meticulousy.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

I mean no disrespect, and I do not mean to imply you do not know how to reload, but are you sure your dumping 27.3 grains of powder and not 30.3, or 31.3, or any other weight? I know when you have been loading for a long time, you tend to not pay REALLY REALLY close attention to things you have done a million times before....

Just wanted to eliminate that possibility....

I’m using WIN brass also in my 204, and I have dumped 28.0 Benchmark, 29.0 BL-C2,much finer), and even 28.0 of H335 using 39 grain blitz kings.

 

[ST42]

Thanks guys for taking the time to respond.

When I seated the initial bullet and discovered the problem, the die was 1 full turn back from touching the shell holder when at the top of the rams stroke. On my second attempt I gave it a bit more thinking it was a crimp issue too. Unfortunately, no luck. Powder charges were thrown with my RCBS Chargmaster and dropped into the case via a funnel with a 3" drop tube. I guess it might be possible that the CM is throwing over charges. I'll check with my 1010.

 

[222Rem]

Thanks guys for taking the time to respond.

When I seated the initial bullet and discovered the problem, the die was 1 full turn back from touching the shell holder when at the top of the rams stroke. On my second attempt I gave it a bit more thinking it was a crimp issue too. Unfortunately, no luck. Powder charges were thrown with my RCBS Chargmaster and dropped into the case via a funnel with a 3" drop tube. I guess it might be possible that the CM is throwing over charges. I'll check with my 1010.

I can't believe that some one would load any cartridge with out checking on the scale first.

 

[ST42]

The scale is accurate. Look guys, I'm not some novice. I've been loading for over twenty five years. I've just never encountered this problem before.

I was able to find out some additional info. on the .204 forum. It appears that I'm not the only one to have an issue with the win. brass. One poster had an entire bag, 100 pieces of brass, do the same thing. He switched lots and all was good. I plan on the same.

 

[jo191145]

If you have a standard Redding seater with the crimp option you do not want to set it by contacting the shell holder.

Put one of your longest pieces of brass in the shell holder and screw the die down until you feel it contact the brass. Then back up one turn to allow for brass growth.

The first thing I do with any new dies is throw away the directions. LOL's

 

[cash338rum]

Had the same problem. Loaded the Win brass a couple of grains less, shot the load, and the next round was good to go. But I have switched to Rem brass. Have had alot of probs with win. Just my 2 cents and 6000 round out of the 204.

 

[ST42]

Yep. It was most definitely the brass. I purchased a couple of bags of Remington brass today. I loaded up 50 rounds with out a single issue. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the win. brass.

Thanks for all of your posts.

 

[Rodbolt]

Glad you got your 204 working. I've been following this post thinking that it is a die adjustment that causes shoulder collapse.

How much Winchester brass do you want to get rid of? Please let me know what it would take for you to send it my way. I shoot a lot of 204 and have over 2000 Winchester cases and a mix of around a thousand of Remington, Hornady and a few Nosler brass. I clearly prefer the Winchester. The Remington is pretty yellow, the necks are fairly uniform and it neck turns beautifully but........the primer pockets are way soft. If you load a bit hot or heat soak a cartridge, prairie dog playing, you will loose that case. Soft primer pockets seem to only be with the small primer Remington cases because my Ultramag Remington cases,and other REM large primer) are holding up well. I've now got 7-10 reloads on my Winchester 204 cases and have only lost a couple because of split necks no primer pocket troubles. Remington and Hornady cases have less capacity then the Winchester too.

 

[ST42]

Rodbolt,

I only have 181 of the New Winchester cases. I would trade them to you for a box of 40 grain Vmax in .204. Just send me a PM if your interested. Thanks.