Thread: A couple of hunts and a reloading debacle.

I usually visually check the tray of charged cases before seating the projectiles, looking for any differences in powder level.
I forgot this step once and ended up with some 243 rounds with no powder. Must be Murphy’s law as I have never had empty cases when I have checked. Luckily I picked up on the issue before firing any.
Another time I had one case with noticeably more powder than the others, it had several grains more when weighed. I still don’t know what happened but I suspect the beam on the scales was touching the powder trickler.

Originally Posted by tikka

I did check the dies after pulling the bullets, unscrewed die 1/8 turn out sized up 5 cases and they wouldn’t chamber in the Sheridan gauge and hard to drop bolt and chamber so not the dies. I still think it’s wind breeze on the scales.

Greetings @tikka,
I had not heard of the Sheridan gauges before so looked them up. They only check if your cases match factory specs and do nothing to make sure they are not too loose in the chamber. 1/8th of a turn of the die works out to 0.227mm or about 0.009" so I certainly hope that they would not chamber. There are four 308 rifles in my cupboard and all have different chamber lengths and I neck sized for years until I broke open the piggy bank and got a Hornady comparitor kit and a Redding Competition die set so am able to ensure that all cases are snug in their chamber. The only reason I know for a head separation that I know is excessive head space from either the rifle or the dies. This is where you need to look for the problem. The comparitor kits are not excessively expensive and measuring new, fired and resized cases should show the problem to you.
Regards Grandpamac.

The flat primer supports the excessive headspace as well. A lot of reloaders incorrectly assume a flat primer is just due to excessive pressure.

@tikka have you decapped the case and if so what is the primer shape like? Has it developed a "top hat".

I had to look up the Sheridan as well. They state it is cut to minimum SAAMI dimensions.

Originally Posted by Cigar

I usually visually check the tray of charged cases before seating the projectiles, looking for any differences in powder level.
I forgot this step once and ended up with some 243 rounds with no powder. Must be Murphy’s law as I have never had empty cases when I have checked. Luckily I picked up on the issue before firing any.
Another time I had one case with noticeably more powder than the others, it had several grains more when weighed. I still don’t know what happened but I suspect the beam on the scales was touching the powder trickler.

We load 100 cases at a time. Lifting each case after putting in powder you get a "feel" if the podwer is miles too short or a fraction over. Amazing how sensitively your fingers can assess.

2C. If you dont anneal any issue with sizing is going to magnified with work hardened brass. Never had a case seperation but then again we anneal everytime.That ejector mark has been printed so there was some pressure existing.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings @tikka,
I had not heard of the Sheridan gauges before so looked them up. They only check if your cases match factory specs and do nothing to make sure they are not too loose in the chamber. 1/8th of a turn of the die works out to 0.227mm or about 0.009" so I certainly hope that they would not chamber. There are four 308 rifles in my cupboard and all have different chamber lengths and I neck sized for years until I broke open the piggy bank and got a Hornady comparitor kit and a Redding Competition die set so am able to ensure that all cases are snug in their chamber. The only reason I know for a head separation that I know is excessive head space from either the rifle or the dies. This is where you need to look for the problem. The comparitor kits are not excessively expensive and measuring new, fired and resized cases should show the problem to you.
Regards Grandpamac.

Hi Grandpamac, I haven’t needed a comparator kit until now and will order a kit to be on the safe side. I do use Redding Competition S die sets in 223, 308 and 270 with great results. Don’t anneal brass yet but it is on my list of wants among other things.
@zimmer no I haven’t decapped case.

@tikka if you're going to decap it have got a decapping only die? If not make sure you remove the bushing in your S die otherwise you risk seperating the top section of the case and leaving it stuck in your nice due.

Originally Posted by tikka

Hi Grandpamac, I haven’t needed a comparator kit until now and will order a kit to be on the safe side. I do use Redding Competition S die sets in 223, 308 and 270 with great results. Don’t anneal brass yet but it is on my list of wants among other things.
@zimmer no I haven’t decapped case.

Annealing is an 18v drill. Decapping is a Lee Universal decapper. This die is bullet proof and top of the podium for decapping even though we run Redding gear.

Great shooting tikka, go the 308!

Reminds me of the Rimutukas.

those 168tmk are a ferkin hammer alright!

Good shooting and nice report,
I am with most of the others, in that the shoulder, has been pushed back to far, the brass stretches Apon firing, until the shoulder and base contact the chamber shoulder, and bolt face, the brass must flow to do this, normally from just above the web, Others have given the solution, and like you i have had a similar result, a long time ago, that pushed me to buy a comparator. pushed the shoulder back to far, for a 6x45 cooper, ruined a few dozen brass.