Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

[FALex]

Hey folks, I am attempting to load some Hornady 55gr V-Max's for some varminting. I went through and neck sized my brass, but when I go to put the bullet in, it is very tight going into the mouth of the case. When I press the bullet in, it comes out with a tiny scratch near the nose of the bullet, going around about half of the bullet, and there is a bit of copper to be wiped off the bullet.

I have loaded 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 69gr SMK's without this issue. The Hornady's are a flat-based tail, whereas the SMK's are a BT and the Nosler have a small boat-type tail also. FYI - The SMK's are able to seat better, but I seated one and there was some copper particles at the end of the case's mouth. I pulled this bullet and it does have some scraping around the entire base of it. (I don't have anymore of the Nosler's to compare).

3 questions: 1) is this scraping normal, and I just never noticed it? 2) does anyone know why this would happen? 3) will the "scratch" effect the bullet's trajectory? (Remember, although I am varminting with these, I would still like them to be accurate...)

Thank you all for your help!

 

[Conrad]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

The taper of the boat tails help the bullets get started with less "scraping". I would be checking your neck tension to make sure you're within reasonable tolerances...most likely you are, and then I'd be chamfering the inside of the case mouths so that those flat based bullets get an easier start.

The less bullet damage before going down the barrel the better.

-Conrad

 

[okiefired]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

I second what conrad said. My VSSF shoots the flat base Horn. 53gr HP Match better than any BT. I run 1.5 neck tension and give each case a good chamfer, they load well at that. Good luck.

okie

 

[FALex]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

dumb question, how do I go about checking the neck tension?

 

[Conrad]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

Technically the accepted standard is more of a description of neck tension as opposed to the true tension, or rather force it took to seat the bullet.

With that aside, take your calipers and measure the width of the neck of a loaded round (bullet and all). Then take a sized case without a bullet seated and take the same measurement. The difference is your "neck tension". Average range is .002 to .003" with some preferring less or more for their rifle rifle and application. Plenty of articles and discussion on this topic. Hope this gets you pointed in the right direction.

 

[FALex]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Conrad</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Technically the accepted standard is more of a description of neck tension as opposed to the true tension, or rather force it took to seat the bullet.

With that aside, take your calipers and measure the width of the neck of a loaded round (bullet and all). Then take a sized case without a bullet seated and take the same measurement. The difference is your "neck tension". Average range is .002 to .003" with some preferring less or more for their rifle rifle and application. Plenty of articles and discussion on this topic. Hope this gets you pointed in the right direction. </div></div>

so, I did this, and there appeared to be no change in the range; i.e. pre-loaded round is .247", loaded round is .247. Looking at the rounds from a different angle, I can see the slice is rather significant. Shit.

I took the die apart and thought I cleaned it in case there was a burr or something causing this issue, but it's still doing it.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">so, I did this, and there appeared to be no change in the range; i.e. pre-loaded round is .247", loaded round is .247. Looking at the rounds from a different angle, I can see the slice is rather significant. </div></div>

If the pre-loaded round is equal to the post loaded round, then the bullet is not being held by the case. Since the original problem was an obvious neck-size-versus-bullet-size problem, this second set of data contraindicates the first set of data.

In any event, let up postulate that the neck tension is in an acceptable range. In this case, the flatness of the base of the flat-base bullets are not slipping into the neck--so maybe a little more inside chamfer is desired. The inside chamfer of the case neck does have to be wider than the width of the bullet, and with FBBs you can't just take the chamfer tool and twirl it near the enck and call it a day, you need to remove at least 1/3rd of the neck wall thickness for prober seating.

 

[tomme boy]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

First, are you doing a inside chamfer to the case? Second, use a VLD type inside chamfer tool.

 

[FALex]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tomme boy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">First, are you doing a inside chamfer to the case? Second, use a VLD type inside chamfer tool. </div></div>

I am chamferring the inside of the cases, not with the VLD tool (RCBS case prep chamferring tool).

 

[LoboDave]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

Hi i have loaded box after box of 55s, one yes the the bullet scratching will open up your group. I had the same problem as you, inside ream with extreme intent. Set your dye back and, and if your brass is work hardened it will make life suck. The reaming will help all your problem except neck tension, try dry power neck lub before sizing, and brush the shit out of the neck, the polishing helps. There slower to reload but the price makes up for it

 

[rg1]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

I agree that a VLD chamfer tool is needed. It will remove burrs and the angle of the cutter makes seating bullets straighter and eliminates scratching the bullet.

 

[FALex]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

well, folks, I am starting to believe the bullet seating plug in the die is cuasing these scratches. I took it out and looked at it, it doesn't look uniform. In fact, I took a bullet, pressed it into the plug, and received an instant scratch. Any of you folks experienced this? I have an email into Lee to see if they'll send out a new plug.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well, folks, I am starting to believe the bullet seating plug in the die is cuasing these scratches. I took it out and looked at it, it doesn't look uniform. In fact, I took a bullet, pressed it into the plug, and received an instant scratch. Any of you folks experienced this? I have an email into Lee to see if they'll send out a new plug. </div></div>

Take some fine grit ~600 wet/dry sand paper and smooth out any rough edges/burrs inside the seater plug. Then take a Q-tip and some metal polish and do the same thing.

Minor scratches on the nose of the bullet are purely aesthetical issues and won't hinder performance, unless they're deep gouges.

Secondly, if you have a die that neck sizes to an O.D. of say .245", depending on what brass you use, you might end up with a narrower I.D. with brass having thicker neck walls. This would cause the bearing surface to shave off some copper jacketing.

You would need a ball mic to determine neck wall thickness, but in my experience, it can be anywhere from .0105"-.0135" per wall, for many commonly used headstamps.

Chris

 

[FALex]

Re: Hornady 55gr V-Max Issue

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChrisGarrett</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FALex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well, folks, I am starting to believe the bullet seating plug in the die is cuasing these scratches. I took it out and looked at it, it doesn't look uniform. In fact, I took a bullet, pressed it into the plug, and received an instant scratch. Any of you folks experienced this? I have an email into Lee to see if they'll send out a new plug. </div></div>

Take some fine grit ~600 wet/dry sand paper and smooth out any rough edges/burrs inside the seater plug. Then take a Q-tip and some metal polish and do the same thing.

Minor scratches on the nose of the bullet are purely aesthetical issues and won't hinder performance, unless they're deep gouges.

Secondly, if you have a die that neck sizes to an O.D. of say .245", depending on what brass you use, you might end up with a narrower I.D. with brass having thicker neck walls. This would cause the bearing surface to shave off some copper jacketing.

You would need a ball mic to determine neck wall thickness, but in my experience, it can be anywhere from .0105"-.0135" per wall, for many commonly used headstamps.

Chris </div></div>

SUCCESS! The fine grit sandpaper worked like a charm. No extra chamfer, nothing else needed. I appreciate all of the help, lads. I wonder what caused this as the dies are fairly new (about 200 rounds loaded only thus far). Thanks all. That is probably the cheapest relaoding tool I'll ever buy, $3.50 pack of sandpaper. This reloading business is death by 1,000 mosquitoe bites