Brass Question

[texastonk]

I loaded up a few 30-06 rounds for my brother last week. I stopped by the range on Saturady to see how they shot. I shot 20 rounds and with no issues came up with a few good groups. While checking my brass over about half way thru the 20 rounds I noticed circles on the base. Also notice small pieces of brass flakes on the bolt face. Need some help, Im not sure whats causing it.

Thanks

 

[country888]

Re: Brass Question

High pressure! Those look like ejecter marks.

 

[Gene Poole]

Re: Brass Question

Look at the cratering of the firing pin dimple too. Looks like a lot of pressure.

 

[30SMK]

Re: Brass Question

as stated it is high pressures. The brass is flowing into the ejector port on your bolt face.

what bullet? how much powder?

I would not suggest shooting or hunting with any others that you have loaded up.

 

[insight3b]

Re: Brass Question

That is some definite high pressure. The rounds are still safe to shoot as long as the ambient temperature is NOT higher than the day those were fired

 

[Trigger Time 23]

Re: Brass Question

May be the photo or lighting, but those look like wicked ejector marks.

 

[texastonk]

Re: Brass Question

Thats what I was thinking. Loads were 165gr accubonds 45gr to 47gr of Varget. The data I have showed max load of 51gr.

 

[30SMK]

Re: Brass Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: teal28</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thats what I was thinking. Loads were 165gr accubonds 45gr to 47gr of Varget. The data I have showed max load of 51gr. </div></div>

Just curious but were you weighing the powder charge because a 2 grain spread is pretty big for the same ammunition?

Varget also varies by quite a bit lot to lot of powder so you may have gotten a batch at the top of their extreme.

What temp were you shooting at?

How hard was the bolt to lift after each shot? is that a big difference from usual resistance?

By the books you look good, but every gun is different and there are a lot of variables that play a role in reloading.

 

[gunnut223]

Re: Brass Question

I dont just consult 1 reloading manual. I just got another one in the mail yesterday that puts my manual count to 5, some have better info and powder choices than others do. Some of the manuals are all over the place as well with powder grains. If you dont have a second manual from a different manufacture, i would look into it.

Yes those are deep crateres. Check the age of primers. The metal in the primers could be a bad batch aswell.

 

[texastonk]

Re: Brass Question

I had no issue with the bolt opening after firing. Temp was 65 to 70. I was shooting thru a chrono. I was around 2600 fps up to 2885 was my fastest at 47gr. Out of 20 rounds fired 7 had this ring mark. the rest were fine. Maybe the primers? I got my data from a few different books, and from a good friend whos used the same load in his 30-06 with no issue. I trashed the remaining primers. I am switching powders and see what happends. Thanks for the help.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Re: Brass Question

Are you stepping up your charge weight in one grain increments? Seven ejector marks? Could you have loaded seven rounds @ 47.0 grains of Varget?

If that's the case, and you know how to full length resize properly, that looks like (no matter what your book says) 47.0 grains of Varget is too much, in your gun. Third question: How do you know that your scale is accurate?

Good luck, BB

 

[gunman_7]

Re: Brass Question

something doesn't look right with those primers, I agree those look like classic ejector marks but those primers should be MUCH flatter than that, matter of fact they almost look under pressured, but the photo isn't the greatest...

I just looked at a bunch of brass I just shot running in my 30-06 for load development and I still think those primers are not flat enough for it to be high pressure...

I'd pause the load work up for a day, and load up one round for each weight charge, start with 43grns and work loads up in half grain increments until you reach your max load for that day which sounds like 47grns, and watch for the flat primers/ejector marks on each case as you start with the lightest load and work up to the heaviest....