Sticky bolt sometimes.

[Mtstalker]

And i was wrong its speer bullets and alliant that both list max as 38 with diffrent bullets.

 

[John Russell]

I'm not obsessed with max loads. I simply want to get the performance the legendary 22-250 is known for, like Tim said. I have tried different powders and bullets and yes i can get respectable speeds with mild loads but 5 shot groups are around 1.5 inches. Reloader 15 and 50gr fbhp are what this gun likes. I guess I'll back it off and call it good. I think 3600fps is a little slow for 50gr bullets. where i live and hunt its not uncommon for a 400yd+ shot that's the reason i picked the 22-250. And its not hard to lift or sticky all the time its at random.

3,600 fps is VERY slow for a 22-250 w/50gr bullets. I get that with my favorite load in a 222 Mag.
Why shoot a 22-250 at 3,600??

Maybe try some different bullets and powders.

 

[Mtstalker]

I tried the vmax and re15 and at 37 gr i average 3850 but accuracy isnt the greatest. ill play with the seating depth. i have tried 55gr nbt and varget as well as vmax and dogtowns and varget and so far for accuracy re15 wins. ill try some h380 but a buddy of mine worked up a load in december and then went out in july and locked his gun up the first shot with h380 so i deffinalty see that its temp sensitive. ill work up some loads at 38gr with the new brass and resized(with the new die) and see if this random sticky bolt goes away. and like ive mentioned its not hard to open until the final bit of lift when the bolt cams over and its not like i have to yank it open i just need to apply a bit more to open. i know that with a 22inch barrel im not going to loose a ton of velocity but some. and is it normal for a boat tail like the vmax to produce higher velocity at yhe same load as a fb bullet?

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

... its not hard to open until the final bit of lift when the bolt cams over ...

And that's why it's likely to be a cartridge base that's too big for your chamber. This is called "bolt click." If you were pushing a lot of metal into the ejector hole (a sign of excessive pressure, and subject to variation in brass hardness among different brands of brass), the bolt would be hard to lift at the beginning. More here:
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/bolt-lift-click.3777041/
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...s-a-heavy-bolt-lift-besides-pressure.3778119/
http://benchrest.com/archive/index.php/t-86275.html
http://benchrest.com/archive/index.php/t-48175.html

When pressure is over the top you will get hard bolt lift from brass flow into the ejector (if your bolt has a plunger ejector), flattened primers, and loose primer pockets.

 

[Mtstalker]

I dont have flattened or cratered primers and pockets are still tight. i marked the brass thats doing it to see if its the same ones over time. is hornady brass soft? is that why some has ejector marks even at starting load?

 

[John Russell]

I dont have flattened or cratered primers and pockets are still tight. i marked the brass thats doing it to see if its the same ones over time. is hornady brass soft? is that why some has ejector marks even at starting load?

Yup...

GET GOOD BRASS !!!!

 

[Mtstalker]

Ok in what order would you say is best to worst brand of brass?

 

[John Russell]

Ok in what order would you say is best to worst brand of brass?

1 - Lapua
2 - Norma
3 - Lake city and IMI
4 - Winchester
5 - Remington
6 - Federal
12 - Hornady.

 

[Mtstalker]

Thanks John. what about PPU? it seems to be everywhere . i put a order in for 100rds or lapua brass. should be here buy the weekend.

 

[John Russell]

Thanks John. what about PPU? it seems to be everywhere . i put a order in for 100rds or lapua brass. should be here buy the weekend.

I never used PPU.

 

[fguffey]

And that's why it's likely to be a cartridge base that's too big for your chamber. This is called "bolt click."

I would think a reloader would have figured it out by now, 'BOLT CLICK' or case snap? And then there is measure before firing and again after firing, after that it get complicated because there is measuring after sizing. And then there is the shell holder, the shell holder has a deck height of .125", when the .125" is added to the radius and unsupported case head and the thickness of the case head from the cup above the web to the case head is taken into consideration someone should figure some cases have more snap ability than others.

F. Guffey

 

[Mtstalker]

I measured the base more precisely and the new die is resizing the base almolst .0015" so hopefully it should take care of it. ill find out on saturday when i can make it to the range. i will keep you guys updated.

 

[fguffey]

Stopp429 said: ↑
Unfired .459" fired .461

I would say .459" to .461" is a small chamber. I can cut small chambers but have to call them short chambers. I have dies for short chambers, when I use a short chamber die to full length size a case for a long chamber I stick the case in the die every time. And I understand reloaders are soooo confused.

F. Guffey

 

[Mtstalker]

Fguffey i dont know if your trying to be funny but yes i was confused my bad.

 

[John Russell]

Fguffey i dont know if your trying to be funny but yes i was confused my bad.

Pay no attention to Frank Guffey. He is a nasty, bitter old man with no friends, and the only kick lift in his life to to toss around silly comments on internet forums.

Just ignore him.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I'm just going to toss this out. Are you using a high quality grease on your bolt lugs? Are the lugs and recess nice and clean before you grease them?

 

[fguffey]

Fguffey i dont know if your trying to be funny but yes i was confused my bad.

Stopp429, forgive, no I am not trying to be funny, I am trying to determine why no one else sees the numbers you have posted as being on the small side. The dies I have are defects. I have small base dies, I do not have small base dies that will reduce the case head down to the numbers you have posted. I have a lube that I call no-name lube because it is not sold as a case lube but when the going gets difficult I use it on the 'tuff to size' cases.

F. Guffey

 

[Mtstalker]

I did clean up the lugs and the action, im using slip 2000 extreme grease. so my chamber is on the small side?

 

[fguffey]

I did clean up the lugs and the action, im using slip 2000 extreme grease. so my chamber is on the small side?

I do not know about your chamber but the case dimensions you have posted are on the small side. I suggest you purchases a box of new over the counter ammo. The length of the case from the shoulder to the case head should be .004" shorter from the shoulder to the case head than the chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face. I would not fire al 20 cases, I suggest you save a few for comparison when sizing.

F. Guffey

 

[pete1955]

Stopp429

You have gotten some very good replies to your problem.

1. Measure the base of a fired case and then resize the case and measure again. The resized case should be at least .002 or more smaller. You are using a soft brand of brass and there is a good chance your die is not sizing the base of the case enough.

2. Winchester brass will be the hardest brass of the American made cases and Lapua will be the hardest unless military cases are used.

Dies vary in size meaning diameter and length to the shoulder so hopefully your new die will fix the problem. If not a small base die is approximately .001 smaller in diameter in the base and might fix the problem with your binding brass. You never know I have one standard FL die that reduces the case diameter more than a small base die does.

In the books I have for a semi-auto the die should reduce the case diameter .003 to .005 smaller than their fired size for reliable extraction.