I have been loading for a 338 Norma Mag for a couple of years. A few weeks ago I was at the range doing some random shooting and had 5 338 Lapua 250gr Scenars that I had loaded up with RL-25 just to see how the Scenars shot. 2 of the 5 would not chamber, I could not close the bolt. The others were a little stiff but the bolt closed. The 2 that didn't chamber I figured I had loaded a bit long and didn't think too much about it. The 3 that went in made a really nice 3 shot group. So I decided they deserved an OCW test.
Last night I was loading up some additional Scenars and I put one in the chamber and tried to close the bolt, no go. Again I figured I was long so I forced the bolt closed thinking that I would have rifling marks on the bullet but I would seat it further and could then measure base to ogive for a max length. When I removed the cartridge what I saw was not slight rifling dimples at the ogive but scrapes down the shank almost to the case mouth. Almost like the bullet was being forced through the throat. I measured the shank diameter and it measures .3380. I puled out some boxes of Sierra, Hornady and Berger and they ALL measure .3375. Now I know this is a mighty fine difference, but is it possible that the Scenars are oversized? Is my throat undersized? Never had an issue with any of the other brands.
Has anyone run into this kind of thing before?
Last night I was loading up some additional Scenars and I put one in the chamber and tried to close the bolt, no go. Again I figured I was long so I forced the bolt closed thinking that I would have rifling marks on the bullet but I would seat it further and could then measure base to ogive for a max length. When I removed the cartridge what I saw was not slight rifling dimples at the ogive but scrapes down the shank almost to the case mouth. Almost like the bullet was being forced through the throat. I measured the shank diameter and it measures .3380. I puled out some boxes of Sierra, Hornady and Berger and they ALL measure .3375. Now I know this is a mighty fine difference, but is it possible that the Scenars are oversized? Is my throat undersized? Never had an issue with any of the other brands.
Has anyone run into this kind of thing before?