drop_point
Silver $$ Contributor
I had loaded around 20 rounds of ammunition three or four years ago before my move. I had loaded the magazine for my rifle as well as one of those nylon cartridge sleeves for a rifle's buttstock, though I keep the sleeve in my pocket while hunting. I had a total of six rounds remaining, which I don't consider enough rounds to take several hours' drive away for a hunting trip.
This year I decided to load a different bullet considering the previous bullet has been rare as hen's teeth and hunting bullets aren't something I typically stock up on. The new bullet just isn't working out through three powders, seating depth test, etc. I was concerned something was wrong with the rifle. I swapped scopes, checked all the fasteners, and even scrubbed the bore with no avail.
I decided to shoot three of the remaining six rounds to see if the new bullet really was performing that poorly. Three rounds under 1/2 MOA. That left me three rounds. Turns out a friend told me he had a partial box of the very bullets I had been shooting another friend had given him. One bad thing: I had lost my data book in the move and I can't find the MTM ammo box I had affixed a copy of the load data to.
I decided to pull apart the remaining three rounds after taking length measurements to get powder charges. I noticed the powder came out in clumps. The three charges were inconsistent @ 43.2 gr, 43.4 gr, and 43.5 gr. I had remembered from memory the load was supposed to 43.3 gr. These rounds were loaded with a Chargemaster. Rounds were meticulously loaded to 0.1gr according to the Chargemaster and special care to make sure no powder was lost in the process. All reloading components kept in a climate controlled basement with a dehumidifier. Rounds were carried while hunting for three seasons.
What could cause this variance in charge weight when the rounds were deconstructed? Is it being exposed to the elements and thus COLD temperatures and varying humidity? Could humidity cause the powder to weigh differently? Is this common? Or was something funny going on with the Chargemaster?
Any insight would be appreciated! Thank you in advance.
This year I decided to load a different bullet considering the previous bullet has been rare as hen's teeth and hunting bullets aren't something I typically stock up on. The new bullet just isn't working out through three powders, seating depth test, etc. I was concerned something was wrong with the rifle. I swapped scopes, checked all the fasteners, and even scrubbed the bore with no avail.
I decided to shoot three of the remaining six rounds to see if the new bullet really was performing that poorly. Three rounds under 1/2 MOA. That left me three rounds. Turns out a friend told me he had a partial box of the very bullets I had been shooting another friend had given him. One bad thing: I had lost my data book in the move and I can't find the MTM ammo box I had affixed a copy of the load data to.
I decided to pull apart the remaining three rounds after taking length measurements to get powder charges. I noticed the powder came out in clumps. The three charges were inconsistent @ 43.2 gr, 43.4 gr, and 43.5 gr. I had remembered from memory the load was supposed to 43.3 gr. These rounds were loaded with a Chargemaster. Rounds were meticulously loaded to 0.1gr according to the Chargemaster and special care to make sure no powder was lost in the process. All reloading components kept in a climate controlled basement with a dehumidifier. Rounds were carried while hunting for three seasons.
What could cause this variance in charge weight when the rounds were deconstructed? Is it being exposed to the elements and thus COLD temperatures and varying humidity? Could humidity cause the powder to weigh differently? Is this common? Or was something funny going on with the Chargemaster?
Any insight would be appreciated! Thank you in advance.
