primers

[goldy1]

today i went to my range to test a couple new loads. I tested 33.8 and 33.5 varget with 105 amax and wolf magnum primers in the 6brx. I wasnt running them over the crony ( forgot to pack it) but the hotter of the two pierced 3-5, the other was still cratering pretty good. Even with the pierced primers the groups for the 33.8 was .822" for 5 shots, the other was 1.5". There isnt that much of a difference in the two loads but i guess there is in pressure. what other primers would be able to work with this load? i thought the wolf's were pretty strong. When i seated the bullets for either load i could tell both were compressed loads. i've seen others loads that were way hotter than mine, am i doing something wrong?

 

[limbic]

At an altitude of 280 ft I can get to 33.6-33.8 of varget pretty easily. 33.9 starts to show some stickybolt action. Rarely do I find a pierced primer. Is their lube in your chamber? Are you jamming the bullets too far down the pipe? What about your scale? That is where I find most of my problems. I switched to RL15 for the most part. It seems to give me better ES/SD. Also I went to CCI BR4 primers.

 

[tenring]

There have been several complaints about pierced Wolf primers lately. I have had none in my three 6mmBR's. I am thinking about going back to CCI 450's.

Cut your load back a few tenths, and then decide.

 

[goldy1]

another ?

i got to practice at 600 a couple weeks ago with this rifle. it shot ok, other than the wind kicking my butt. The only thing was when i got to look at my target every hole looked like a 308 diameter hole other than the 6mm, they were huge. i dont know what could cause it to punch such big holes. any ideas on this crazy thing? Oh and i'll pick up some 450's and see how they work out. i'll alsot drop the charge weight a couple tenths.

 

[Bob3700]

In my BRX I can shoot 33.5 of Varget with a 107 SMK or a 105 Berger. You might want to look at the AMAX's bearing surface. If it is much longer than either of the above, then there is where you pressure is coming from.

Typically, I load my Moly'ed bullets .020" into the lands with very light neck tension.

If you bullets are naked, that might also be an issue.

Speed in my Bartline 5R, 8T 31" bbl is right on 3050fps.

Bob

 

[brxbrad]

This is a great article about primers and pressure.....
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php
Maybe this will help you decide on the right primer for you.... Sounds like you are experiencing pressure problems...My BRX does the same thing when I get above 33.6 of Varget and 107 MK's. I use Wolf primers and haven't had any problems unless I get to pushy with the loads.

 

[goldy1]

I checked the zero on my scale and it was weighing the charges about .5 grain heavy. Im going to try it again tommorow after my match with 3 weights of re17 and the 105amax to see what it does. I should try some more varget too i suppose, so its back to the table to load up a few more. i'll post about what happens. for my match im shooting a savage f-class 6br with 88gn bergers and 31gn varget. last saterday at 300 it shot a 8shot group measuring 1.75"

 

[goldy1]

well today ended up testing 4 groups with the brx. used 33.5, 34, 34.5, and 35gn re17 i forgot my cronograph, but the best loads were 105 amax with 34.5 with a 200yd group of 7/8" and 35gn at 1" no signs or pressure anywhere with these loads. No idea why i had so much pressure with varget and not these loads.
With the 6br i shot a 437-15x at 300, i know i should have dont better but the wind got me more than a couple times.

 

[slslade]

I have found that rl17 in my rifle likes 35.7-36.0 and 105 bergers, no pressure at all.

 

[scout1]

goldy, why are you using Magnum primers with Varget powder?

 

[goldy1]

I'm using the magnum primers because they are supposed to be a little thicker cup's and with that brx i didnt want to pierce them so i went to the wolf srm only had a little trouble with them they shoot ok i suppose.

 

[scout1]

goldy, I'd check into getting your firing pin hole bushed to help control the piercing problems. The primers tend to do a little better with less clearance between the pin and the hole. They also might lighten your spring a little and check your pin protrution. There are no downsides or bad effects with any of the modifications I've mentioned , only bennifits. good luck

 

[spclark]

I agree with Scout1 on FP bushing benefits... there are no negatives.

Depending on your action's design the FP should also be reduced some in diameter with the busing operation (so as to obtain the best fit) which will enhance primer ignition overall.