Unburned powder in 6BR

[MGYSGT]

Using 28/29 gr. of Varget and CCI SRBR primer. Bullet is 105 Berger target and brass is Lupua necked to .266. My barrel is 30" long. It seems that everytime I go to the range, I end up with a few grains of unburned powder in the chamber/action area. Are these really unburned powder, or are they a tag of some sort, put in by the manufacturer. They appear to have a green tint to them.

 

[brxbrad]

I would clean the flash holes and turn up the heat on the Primer (CCI450) and if the problem doesn't go away, Try a different Lot of Varget. I have a friend who shoots BR's and if I remember correctly, he uses 30grs Varget, CCI 450, 107MK's and doesn't have problems. I shoot a BRX and use 33.2grs Varget, Wolfe SRM, 105VLD's and haven't seen this happen either.

2cents......

 

[RonAKA]

I don't think there is any way you can be seeing unburned powder. Perhaps some burned powder residue.

 

[itchyTF]

One way to tell if they are unburnt is to try light 'em with a match.

 

[jo191145]

As someone who toys with various powders unsuitable for the applications in which I use them I've witnessed some of this.

Now Varget is perfectly suited for the cartridge/ bullet combo your using.
Still...
Next time your at the range fire a few shots. Remove the bolt and after the smoke clears look down the bore.
If you see kernels of burnt, half burnt, un burnt Varget lying on the bottom of the bore you have a problem.

So far the best way I've found to solve this is add more powder ???


Saw this using AA 2520 in a 204R (suitable powder) every load within book data had kernels in the bore. Never tried higher, discontinued use.

Old 25-20W and H-110 (suitable use) all loads within book data had Kernels in the bore. Not something I wanted to do but over book max it cleaned up nicely.

Toying with various powders in the 30BR I saw quite a bit of that. Add more always made it go away. To me anyway it seemed magnum primers made the situation worse.

 

[MGYSGT]

Thank you all for the input/info. Guess I will try and bump it up to 30 gr. and see what difference is seen. Just seemed weird. I use Varget for .223, 22-250, .308 and 30-06 and never had this problem. Will look at another lot of powder/primer issue also. Once again, thanks for the info.

Tom

 

[jo191145]

In your case I'll agree its wierd.
Just try your 28-29 again. Pull the bolt and look.
If its truly leaving large chunks of residue in the bore you won't fail to see it. Then try higher.
If its not its coming from somewhere else.
Ever load up a case and forget the primer? That can have kernels floating around in your action until you finally notice and clean it real good

 

[bozo699]

In your case I'll agree its wierd.
Just try your 28-29 again. Pull the bolt and look.
If its truly leaving large chunks of residue in the bore you won't fail to see it. Then try higher.
If its not its coming from somewhere else.
Ever load up a case and forget the primer? That can have kernels floating around in your action until you finally notice and clean it real good

Joe,
Yes I have but I don't believe I would admit it on a open forum :
oops I guess I just did LOL
Wayne.

 

[jo191145]

Aww Wayne

I'm sure there was a day I walked out to my range with an entire box of primerless ammo.
Sure seems like a hazy memory I'm trying hard to forget anyhow. ;D

My nightmare involves going to a comp with 2,3,4 boxes of ammo only to dicover non of them were primed. Now we're talking severe emotional scarring ;D

 

[MGYSGT]

Oh yes, I have spilled some Varget in the action. Unloaded the rifle with a Berger seated too deep. That was quite a while ago and I did clean it up. Who hasn't done that? ;D

 

[Jayhawker]

Your powder charge may be a bit weak. Despite what Hodgdon's site says, 30 grains of Varget with a 105 Berger or 107 Sierra seems to be the standard starting place. See the 6mmbr.com website.

 

[jo191145]

Or maybe you did'nt clean that spilled powder well enough?

If its a custom action do you ever feel unexplained tight bolt closure?
Small dents in the brass?

First match last spring it was still purty cold. Kept my hands in my pockets all morning.
First round into the PPC would'nt chamber. Not even close.
Dang little piece of pocket lint followed my hand and got jammed in there. Not much room in them custom actions for foreign objects ;D

Anyhow a few loads at 28-29 and you'll find out the real cause.

 

[MGYSGT]

Went to the range yesterday. 30 gr. Varget and no unburned residue. Got a sticky bolt at 31 gr. so will play between that and the 30 gr. load and see what I get.


Thanks for the help
Tom

 

[jonbearman]

Have you tried shooting your load through a chrono to see how it performs regardless of kernels of powder in the barrel.That way if you see high extreme spread then you know that the powder may have been exposed to high humidity or something and it changed the burn property.I had this happen years ago when they used to put powder in cardboard cans. With a new can the problem subsided.I would also call hodgden and quiz them about it.Maybe they had a problem they dont even relize is a problem. I left some powder in a measure during the summer months and we had a hot humid summer and accuracy went down hill with the same lot I have been working from and I dumped what was in the measure and put fresh in and the problem went away. Some folks store their powder in their garages due to a wife who is scared of the thought and ruined some of the lot that always worked.The same thing can happen to primers.

 

[MGYSGT]

Jonbearman

Didn't chronograph the new load yet. Still have some of the old load left over and will try that. Thanks for the info

Tom