Thread: Hangfires with reduced loads

Brief update: Had a look at the rifle and cases from the reduced loads yesterday - the bolt face was very sooty. The cases also had some carbon/soot in the extractor groove as clearly they aren't obturating properly with the sub-minimum loads.

Thanks @Cordite for the links - a bit of light reading post-work!

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

Brief update: Had a look at the rifle and cases from the reduced loads yesterday - the bolt face was very sooty. The cases also had some carbon/soot in the extractor groove as clearly they aren't obturating properly with the sub-minimum loads.

Thanks @Cordite for the links - a bit of light reading post-work!

@Steelisreal

Just don't size the cases for a mini-load, perhaps even don't resize the case necks - less obturation required.

Re Trail boss velocities. In my 243 with a 1:8 twist I can drive my 105/108 gr VLd's subsonic with about X gr. (1050 fps) or with XX gr I can drive a 58 gr Vmax at 2300 fps. I can put in up to 14 gr and drive the 105's at about 1700 fps.

Sorry about the X's but my note book is in the shed and I don't want to get it wrong. I know I have gone as light as 8 gr but I'm reluctant to drop much under 10 gr.
Zq

@Moa Hunter

I scoop measure powder and find TB somewhat irritating - taking flight when you level the scoop. One could look for a narrow-mouth, relatively tall scoop to minimise fly-off variation, but then you have problems scooping with it!

Bottleneck cases are better as there is less variation from this phenomenon - I stand them up in a cup and pour TB over them from an old flip-top ketchup bottle until filled, then level flat and pour into the destination cases. This also avoids compression variation then from how you scooped the TB into the measure as you don't scoop at all.

Could buy an adjustable powder dispenser of course, but I heard TB can be temperamental with them.

I use the lee scooper for my trail boss loads,haven’t died yet.

I use lee scoop AND THEN WEIGH...the beauty of them is getting your start point...you use SAME spoon you would use for your regular powder....funny as heck cause its the same one I use in 7.62x39mm and same for .223 as well....
your STARTING load is by VOLUME NOT WEIGHT and you reduce from there.....sort of works out your first load will be 80-90% full case it will be supersonic usually.