Just started using H4895 at 60% of max, 300WM 125 gr bullet. I turned die down a hair, because i was getting a bolt that was hard to close on a fresh round. what is making them so sooty?
THANKS
THANKS
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Black marks?
- Thread starter hillbillydruggist
- Start date
And as the case body diameter expands outward, the case may get shorter, pulling the shoulder back.
If shorter, the case may stretch when using a full pressure loading, possible case head separations?
Seen it with my 30-06 and Hodgdon Youth loads. Keep the lite load brass separate from full pressure load brass. Then no problems.
If shorter, the case may stretch when using a full pressure loading, possible case head separations?
Seen it with my 30-06 and Hodgdon Youth loads. Keep the lite load brass separate from full pressure load brass. Then no problems.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Just follow the loads in the book. Once you venture outside of the recommended loads its nothing but trouble as youve seen multiple times so far
...and to add to that: if you have any kind of tension at all, and typical chamber neck diameters between 4-8 mils clearance, you should be able to drop a new bullet cleanly through the neck of a fired casing.
If it won't, then there's probably an issue. I betcha that casing won't pass the bullet drop test.
If it won't, then there's probably an issue. I betcha that casing won't pass the bullet drop test.
If you reduced the load to 60%and at the same time went to a lighter/shorter bullet, you may be releasing all the pressure into the free bore before the bullet seals into the barrel.
If your rifle has a long free bore and your bullets are not long enough to reach the lands and is unrealistically short, the bullet may be seated with little bearing surface in the case. When the round is fired the bullet leaves the case and has not yet sealed into the rifling. An example of this would be trying to use a 68 gr. bullet in a 6BR that has been chambered for an 8twist barrel. The free bore is so long the bullet is being jumped almost a half inch, and if the bullet is seated .050 in the case your load can not reach enough pressure to expand the neck to seal, all the gases are released and start down the barrel before the bullet enters the rifling. The end result will be soot all the way to the case head. I'm sure your mechanics are not as dramatic as what I posted but you can get the picture.
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Hillbilly by chance are you getting load info from a Lee load manual? Is this where your getting reduced load info?
If so maybe do yourself a favor and grab Sierra, Lyman, Nosler, or Hornady's manuals.
Personally I never load below minimum charge.
If recoil is killing you, go with a lighter caliber.
If so maybe do yourself a favor and grab Sierra, Lyman, Nosler, or Hornady's manuals.
Personally I never load below minimum charge.
If recoil is killing you, go with a lighter caliber.
Hogdon website 60% of H4895
Would crimping help?
I use to crimp everything up till bout 7 months ago. Man I took a beating round these parts.
That said. I started reloading 18/19 years ago. Bought a Lee challenger press kit to get started, and yes I loaded out of thier book.
I also purchased hornady's 2 book set and nosler load manuals. All of which I read.
To quote Lee's manual "A light crimp can help with uniform start pressures."
I emphasize the word LIGHT as they also state " bullets without a canular can be crimped" careful as you can overdo it and create bigger problems.
Something to keep in mind.
Nosler,Sierra, Hornady, berger,swift,Barnes all make bullets and do extensive testing before printing published load data.
Lee however does not make bullets nor do they test the info they publish.
If you choose to crimp "I personally think it will help" your reduced loads. Remember it will be adding another ingredient to your load. Meaning it needs to added into your load development not added latter.
180 gr partition w/light crimp
showing difference in loads recipe.
I initially started w/rcbs and light crimp lower left target. Top targets I used hornady dies every thing else stayed the same.
Bottom right all I did was not crimp everything else stayed the same.
It was after shooting this target i gave up on Rl26 in my 30'06, as h4350 was starting to become more available, I bought me some 185gr vlds and stopped crimping.
That said. I started reloading 18/19 years ago. Bought a Lee challenger press kit to get started, and yes I loaded out of thier book.
I also purchased hornady's 2 book set and nosler load manuals. All of which I read.
To quote Lee's manual "A light crimp can help with uniform start pressures."
I emphasize the word LIGHT as they also state " bullets without a canular can be crimped" careful as you can overdo it and create bigger problems.
Something to keep in mind.
Nosler,Sierra, Hornady, berger,swift,Barnes all make bullets and do extensive testing before printing published load data.
Lee however does not make bullets nor do they test the info they publish.
If you choose to crimp "I personally think it will help" your reduced loads. Remember it will be adding another ingredient to your load. Meaning it needs to added into your load development not added latter.
180 gr partition w/light crimp showing difference in loads recipe. I initially started w/rcbs and light crimp lower left target. Top targets I used hornady dies every thing else stayed the same.
Bottom right all I did was not crimp everything else stayed the same.
It was after shooting this target i gave up on Rl26 in my 30'06, as h4350 was starting to become more available, I bought me some 185gr vlds and stopped crimping.
Crimp? The pressure is still going to be to low to fully expand the brass neck.
Might try 3 other things.
1. A lyman "M" die. This will leave the case mouth larger in diameter, help seal better.
2. Neck size only 1/2 of the neck. The unsizes part may expand to the chamber.
3. Use a faster burn rate powder like IMR 4227 - 39.5 gr. maximum pressure load with a 150 jacketed bullet. 2590 fps. Col 3.340" reduce load 10%
Might try 3 other things.
1. A lyman "M" die. This will leave the case mouth larger in diameter, help seal better.
2. Neck size only 1/2 of the neck. The unsizes part may expand to the chamber.
3. Use a faster burn rate powder like IMR 4227 - 39.5 gr. maximum pressure load with a 150 jacketed bullet. 2590 fps. Col 3.340" reduce load 10%
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Hillbilly in line with above post and my nonconformist nature here's a lil more for ya.
This target was shot yesterday and heres the particulars.
Patriot Ordinance Factory ar15
Starline brass trimmed to 1.745"
25gr benchmark
Fed small rifle ar match primer
55gr nosler ballistic tips "orange box"
Loaded on my dillon550 at a cyclic rate of 400 rounds an hour on 2-16-2018.
Brass was trimmed short as I purchased 1000 pieces and I didnt have 70 that actually measured 1.75" trim to length.
I needed consistency because I was "crimping."
So here's what I believe
Is starline good brass ? Yes ,but not consistent in my batch.
Can you load great ammo on a dillon?
Hell yes!
Are Ar's accurate? You bet they are with the right load work.
Is crimping bad? Depends on who you ask.
It has its place.
And finally bullet weld.
I'm close to calling "BS" this is 15 rounds.
So you be the judge and come to "YOUR" own
conclusion, and yes there's going to be someone to shoot this all down.
These are all tests done by me for me but I felt you need to see through some of the fog.
The folks here are excellent craftsmen, reloaders, and shots of which I have learned an enormous amount of knowledge.
We all have our own methods for our madness, and only you can choose yours.
This target was shot yesterday and heres the particulars.
Patriot Ordinance Factory ar15
Starline brass trimmed to 1.745"
25gr benchmark
Fed small rifle ar match primer
55gr nosler ballistic tips "orange box"
Loaded on my dillon550 at a cyclic rate of 400 rounds an hour on 2-16-2018.
Brass was trimmed short as I purchased 1000 pieces and I didnt have 70 that actually measured 1.75" trim to length.
I needed consistency because I was "crimping."
So here's what I believe
Is starline good brass ? Yes ,but not consistent in my batch.
Can you load great ammo on a dillon?
Hell yes!
Are Ar's accurate? You bet they are with the right load work.
Is crimping bad? Depends on who you ask.
It has its place.
And finally bullet weld.
I'm close to calling "BS" this is 15 rounds.
So you be the judge and come to "YOUR" own
conclusion, and yes there's going to be someone to shoot this all down.
These are all tests done by me for me but I felt you need to see through some of the fog.
The folks here are excellent craftsmen, reloaders, and shots of which I have learned an enormous amount of knowledge.
We all have our own methods for our madness, and only you can choose yours.
How did the target look ? If it shot well you just have to decide if you can live with the grime . You can up your charge until you get full seal also . Brass makes a dif too,I tried some hard old PPU in a 30-06 next to once fired Winchester ...PPU did not seal anywhere near as well as the softer Winchester .
What did you think of the reduced recoil ?
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