Looking for something to do.....

[joshb]

I dug thru the safe and found a Tikka 595 I made into a 6br. Bob Green did the work on a Rock Creek 8 twist barrel. 268 neck throated for the lighter Sierra 85 grain bullets. This gun was stored after I built it and is unfired. I thought it was time to break her in! Updates to follow. I looked thru the Berger book and they mention Viht 135. I have that powder. I have a ton of Sierra 85s.
Guys: Any ideas? Maybe a different powder? The brass is turned and ready to load. CCI 450 primers in. I also have Berger 68, Sierra 70' JD 68 and Berger 65.

 

[LarryDScott]

Whats your barrel twist?? LDS

 

[joshb]

8 Fixed it! Help me, Larry! She's a virgin.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I love n135

 

[22DASHER]

Yup! Try the Berger 65’s or 68’s with some of that N135 and I bet they will both shoot bugholes

 

[joshb]

Range report:
I loaded up 5 rounds each of 28.2 to 30 grains Viht 135 in .2 grain increments and had the Sierra 85s at touch. My brass is turned to .265 neck/loaded round. My chamber is cut at .268. I usually run with 4 thousands clearance but “rushed” the turning and they wound up at 3. Figured I’d be OK.
I set up at the bench, looked thru the bore to line up the target and adjusted the scope onto the bull. I fired the first shot. It hit left. Went to put another round in and found a hard bolt lift. Slightly flattened primer but no ejector printing. I thought it was strange as it was the low end at 28.2. The rifle had been thoroughly cleaned and dry patched before I went. I put in the next round after adjusting the scope and let it fly. Hit the x so I was happy! On in 2. Then I went to load the next round and she’s locked up. Case is stuck. A couple light taps with a cleaning rod got it out. This one had ejector printing.
Packed it up and brought it home. Now I have 48 rounds to pull apart and start over.
So, should I drop down two grains and start working up or drop down three?
Turn the necks for more clearance?
Try another powder?

 

[Bc'z]

That sucks!
But look at the bright side...
Your scope is dialed in & you got to flatten 2 primers.
What do the necks look like out of curiosity, and can you drop a bullet in the fired case?

 

[Park ranger]

The primer don’t even look that bad to me. Goes to show what I know.

 

[joshb]

That sucks!
But look at the bright side...
Your scope is dialed in & you got to flatten 2 primers.
What do the necks look like out of curiosity, and can you drop a bullet in the fired case?

Thanks. I didn’t try that yet. I will when I pull the others apart. I was a little ticked because I had a rare “free day” and blew it. I cleaned the gun, put the ammo box on the bench and got on the tractor.
My 223 shot great, tho!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Range report:
I loaded up 5 rounds each of 28.2 to 30 grains Viht 135 in .2 grain increments and had the Sierra 85s at touch. My brass is turned to .265 neck/loaded round. My chamber is cut at .268. I usually run with 4 thousands clearance but “rushed” the turning and they wound up at 3. Figured I’d be OK.
I set up at the bench, looked thru the bore to line up the target and adjusted the scope onto the bull. I fired the first shot. It hit left. Went to put another round in and found a hard bolt lift. Slightly flattened primer but no ejector printing. I thought it was strange as it was the low end at 28.2. The rifle had been thoroughly cleaned and dry patched before I went. I put in the next round after adjusting the scope and let it fly. Hit the x so I was happy! On in 2. Then I went to load the next round and she’s locked up. Case is stuck. A couple light taps with a cleaning rod got it out. This one had ejector printing.
Packed it up and brought it home. Now I have 48 rounds to pull apart and start over.
So, should I drop down two grains and start working up or drop down three?
Turn the necks for more clearance?
Try another powder?
View attachment 1173068
View attachment 1173070

Josh, first thing I would do is Mic, not calipers, a loaded round. You should have .002 to .003 clearence. Check every round. I bet that's your problem. Keep us posted if that is not the cure. I am with Dusty on the 135 with the weight range of bullet. I am not a Berger fan but had a pair once, 1 10 and 1 8 twist, VV 135 with Berger 88BT or 80 flatbase were very accurate. Good gunsmith you use.

 

[Riesel]

I think something else besides powder going on here.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Josh
Did you follow the Berger books powder loads or Sierra's? Berger load data is generally lower than other books for the same weight bullet. I assume this is because of the shape of their bullets, and is the reason I always try the bullet makers recommended data.

The primers are hard to get a good reading on the photos but looks like there is a slight cratering. Did you full size or neck size? New brass or old?

Glad you did get to the range though. Something I can't do here. I see you did some practice with that .223. That's a good thing, because you are going to need it when you come North again.

 

[Texas10]

I'm certainly no expert but is it possible the chamber was polished a bit too smooth? I see more than ejector swipe, I see a case head that has been slammed so hard against the bolt head that the Lapua embossing has almost been erased. Look at the difference between the two shot case heads. The one on the left is almost illegible.

Oil or cleaning fluids left in the chamber? Too smooth chamber finish. Grab a borescope camera and post a few pics. Primers don't look bad at all to me.

 

[joshb]

Thanks guys. I’ll check everything suggested.
Nick: The 223 I’m shooting here is a Remington 5r. The only modification is a Jewell trigger. I noticed I have to bed it. Thought I did that, years ago. Musta been another gun! That’s the problem! I have too many guns! I’ve decided to pick three and focus on just those! A Dasher, this 6br and the 223. I’ll see if I can ignore my 6ppc’s, 6.5x47, 6.5x284 and the rest.

 

[Bc'z]

Thanks guys. I’ll check everything suggested.
Nick: The 223 I’m shooting here is a Remington 5r. The only modification is a Jewell trigger. I noticed I have to bed it. Thought I did that, years ago. Musta been another gun! That’s the problem! I have too many guns! I’ve decided to pick three and focus on just those! A Dasher, this 6br and the 223. I’ll see if I can ignore my 6ppc’s, 6.5x47, 6.5x284 and the rest.

If your gonna ignore the Creedmoor, send her to me. I'll give her all the love and attention she need with a steady diet of h4831sc and scenar's she can eat!

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Thanks guys. I’ll check everything suggested.
Nick: The 223 I’m shooting here is a Remington 5r. The only modification is a Jewell trigger. I noticed I have to bed it. Thought I did that, years ago. Musta been another gun! That’s the problem! I have too many guns! I’ve decided to pick three and focus on just those! A Dasher, this 6br and the 223. I’ll see if I can ignore my 6ppc’s, 6.5x47, 6.5x284 and the rest.

I can help you with that problem.

 

[Joe Maisto]

The primer don’t even look that bad to me. Goes to show what I know.

Me neither ! They certainly are not flattened out .