6.5 cm load too hot. what now?

[dellet]

What I have not seen in this thread, and could have missed it is the most basic question of Where did the load data come from?

I do not load for this cartridge but out of curiosity have looked at some available data. The specific combination does not come up. The OP admits that he pieced it together.

The only loads I see, combined with the seated depth of that bullet, would seem to put that load at max charge or even slightly above. Note the Hodgdon data of a 140 Swift bullet. Max load of 40 grains and the OP’s load has the bullet seated about .050” deeper when you account for the difference in bullet length.

Normally not likely enough to cause the type of pressure seen here, but without good chamber measurements and case volume, the basics are being ignored.

Never mind the most basic rule of not starting at max load.

Others that use this combination may say otherwise, but that load is at or over max to begin with according to Hodgdon.

 

[Bill Norris]

HODGDON DATA FROM WEBSITE

 

[dellet]

HODGDON DATA FROM WEBSITE
View attachment 1232547

Above is for a 140 Amax. Which is about .035” longer than the bullet being used. OP’s load would have the bullet seated .010-.015” deeper than above.

Using Hodgdon data for the 140 Swift, a shorter bullet, with a max load of 40 grains, he is seated .095” deeper. Bullet profile seems to have a noticeable increase in pressure. When accounting for the difference in bullet length, the Swift bullet is seated .010” deeper than the Amax and reaches the same pressure with a full grain less powder. I wonder how much more pressure another .085” will make?

I think it would be safe to say it’s a poor place to start for the first handload in a rifle.

Changing components requires changing data.

Sierra data is more generous, but with then differences in bullet lengths, it’s still questionable. He’s seated .075” deeper than the SBT and .060” deeper than the HBPT.

 

[SeabeeKen]

1. Work under the direct supervision of an experienced handloader before you kill yourself.
2. Have a gunsmith check that rifle before anything else.
3. did you load powder from the 300 bo by accident?
perhaps handloading isn’t for you

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

Do you have calipers, headspace bushings, Hornady overall length gauge.

If that fired piece of brass is In one piece measure base to shoulder datum just for grins. Compare that to your sized case and a factory round.

Chamber a piece of your sized brass. Does it chamber easily?

Use Hornady comparators to measure base to ogive on you reloads and a factory round.

Use the Hornady overall length tool and one of the bullets you are using to find the distance to the lands.

There are utube videos on all these activities if you need them.

Get back to us when you have completed these task.

ill do so.

also , powder was completely new. and every time im done i return powder to jar it came in.

i tested some .223 rounds today no problems. its seriously just my 6.5cm.

i was wondering if it was length too. i dont think its calipers kuz every other load ive been doing has been fine.

idk if its noteworthy, since i never pull bullets before, but.. one of the rounds i pulled, the powder was so compacted i had to flick case a few times to get it out. is this normal?

leaning towards seating depth at this point, but ya ill do those items on list

 

[dellet]

ill do so.

also , powder was completely new. and every time im done i return powder to jar it came in.

i tested some .223 rounds today no problems. its seriously just my 6.5cm.

i was wondering if it was length too. i dont think its calipers kuz every other load ive been doing has been fine.

idk if its noteworthy, since i never pull bullets before, but.. one of the rounds i pulled, the powder was so compacted i had to flick case a few times to get it out. is this normal?

leaning towards seating depth at this point, but ya ill do those items on list

It’s a combination of seating depth and case capacity. You need to adjust seating depth with bullet length. JBM ballistics has most of the bullet lengths in the data available online. Note my above posts. You are seated deeper than every bullet I checked.

the bullet you used is 1.338” long. Hornady data for the 140 swift basically uses your COL and charge weight with a bullet 1.245” long.

then you put it in a case with less Capacity. Hot load is a no brainer

 

[JB10]

Many guys keep talking about charge weight and i get that, but he also stated he oiled up the bolt real good. This will send pressures sky high also. I would clean rifle. Make sure bolt and barrel are whipped off of anything excess. Put a factory round in it and see what she does. I have see oil cause issues. Dont overthink this. Also dont mix headstamp brass and charge them all the same.

 

[Tokay444]

update: its definitely something wrong with my reload. i cleaned chamber, fired a factory no issues. fired a reload and it locked up. ill order scale part but if its not powder, would it be a case sizing issue? is there anyway the full length size die didnt work the full length and the bottom is fat? or is it simply too much powder for my gun.
also ill reweigh bullets to make sure not a packaging error. really at a loss here

You still haven’t posted any case measurements, so it’s impossible for US to answer. You haven’t answered us.

 

[Tokay444]

Many guys keep talking about charge weight and i get that, but he also stated he oiled up the bolt real good. This will send pressures sky high also. I would clean rifle. Make sure bolt and barrel are whipped off of anything excess. Put a factory round in it and see what she does. I have see oil cause issues. Dont overthink this. Also dont mix headstamp brass and charge them all the same.

He cleaned the bolt and chamber and it locked up again.

 

[JB10]

He cleaned the bolt and chamber and it locked up again.

Skipped reading that part. Oops

 

[Tokay444]

ill do so.

also , powder was completely new. and every time im done i return powder to jar it came in.

i tested some .223 rounds today no problems. its seriously just my 6.5cm.

i was wondering if it was length too. i dont think its calipers kuz every other load ive been doing has been fine.

idk if its noteworthy, since i never pull bullets before, but.. one of the rounds i pulled, the powder was so compacted i had to flick case a few times to get it out. is this normal?

leaning towards seating depth at this point, but ya ill do those items on list

It’s not your 6.5 CM. It’s you. You said it fired factory ammo just fine. You’re just hell bent on destroying it.

 

[Richard Coody]

ill do so.

also , powder was completely new. and every time im done i return powder to jar it came in.

i tested some .223 rounds today no problems. its seriously just my 6.5cm.

i was wondering if it was length too. i dont think its calipers kuz every other load ive been doing has been fine.

idk if its noteworthy, since i never pull bullets before, but.. one of the rounds i pulled, the powder was so compacted i had to flick case a few times to get it out. is this normal?

leaning towards seating depth at this point, but ya ill do those items on list

Compressed loads raise pressures significantly. You are seating that bullet way too deep. If your COAL has to be that short to be mag length pick another bullet or load them single shot and get closer to the lands.

 

[Bill K]

update: its definitely something wrong with my reload. i cleaned chamber, fired a factory no issues. fired a reload and it locked up. ill order scale part but if its not powder, would it be a case sizing issue? is there anyway the full length size die didnt work the full length and the bottom is fat? or is it simply too much powder for my gun.
also ill reweigh bullets to make sure not a packaging error. really at a loss here

If you die is set correctly for FL sizing, that should not be a issue. It, from all seen in that cartridge and now with another doing the same, that load is just too much for your rifle/chamber.
Drop it at least 1 to 1 1/2 grain and work up very slowly and watch for future pressure signs. Play safe and sane.

 

[Ggmac]

update: its definitely something wrong with my reload. i cleaned chamber, fired a factory no issues. fired a reload and it locked up. ill order scale part but if its not powder, would it be a case sizing issue? is there anyway the full length size die didnt work the full length and the bottom is fat? or is it simply too much powder for my gun.
also ill reweigh bullets to make sure not a packaging error. really at a loss here

Scale , scale SCALE MUST be level the good old ones have bubble levels on them , then you set your scale balance beam then you start to load ! Please get a mentor or some old reloading books ( pre inner net ) . Itll walk you thru the reasons and procedures without everyones opinion . Sort of a no brag just fact moment. Google that phrase and let me know what western it was from . DO NOT SHOOT ANYMORE RELOADS , please .

 

[johnfkingmatrix]

Do you have calipers, headspace bushings, Hornady overall length gauge.

If that fired piece of brass is In one piece measure base to shoulder datum just for grins. Compare that to your sized case and a factory round.

Chamber a piece of your sized brass. Does it chamber easily?

Use Hornady comparators to measure base to ogive on you reloads and a factory round.

Use the Hornady overall length tool and one of the bullets you are using to find the distance to the lands.

There are utube videos on all these activities if you need them.

Get back to us when you have completed these task.

i don't have all of those tools, but,
my brass is trimmed to 1.917
my bullets are between 1.340 and 1.345
bullet width is .2645
my bullet weighs 140gr

my brass width is the same as factory.
the 2nd reload i fired was deformed the same way as first, arguably more so.. but same disfiguration patterns

 

[338 dude]

ty for answer. not sure why everyone has devolved into being mean and acting like i put an S shaped case in with a 27cal bullet quad loaded with a mixture of pistol powder ammonia and fertilizer, when i clearly pulled and re weighed. i also test weighed a nickle, accurately.

if excess oil will do this, and i admitted to loading it with oil, how is this not the obvious cause? "usually its the simplest thing"

not being argumentative, and im sincerely grateful for EVERYONE'S help. given the evidence, can someone help me understand why its NOT just excess lube

Clean and dry the chamber work up To where you were if everything is OK

 

[milboltnut]

i don't have all of those tools, but,
my brass is trimmed to 1.917
my bullets are between 1.340 and 1.345
bullet width is .2645
my bullet weighs 140gr

my brass width is the same as factory.
the 2nd reload I fired was deformed the same way as first, arguably more so.. but same disfiguration patterns

powder weight? Maybe start from minimum and work your way up. Look for pressure signs.. flattened primers, impressions from bolt face, sticky bolt, hard extraction, excess recoil.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

Who else has compressed a powder charge to the point that it has to be knocked out of the case?

 

[Edd]

How much of that powder does it take to fill one of your cases to the bottom of the neck?

 

[Tokay444]

You don’t have the tools to be reloading. Stop reloading.