Is there anything odd with this test reload I did?

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gfanikf

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It has no powder in it, but otherwise it's the real deal. It's for 30-06 using a 150 FMJ HPBT bullet from Hornady.

Now I just can't shake the fact that something just looks off, all the measurements are within spec. I don't have any factory rounds to compare it to, but the way it's seat is just looking odd to me. I just the touch the shell and lock it in place.

I used the crimp die from Lee too, but for the hell of me I have no clue if it did anything at all.

This is pretty much the last roadblock to cross before I can start up full scale reloading...well and a tumbling question, but that's for another thread.

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The bullet does look to be seated deeper than I would think for a 150gr. But, you mentioned that all the measurements were in spec, so I assume you checked the OAL. :confused:
 
That bullet is seated too deep into the case. The bullet should not be seated below the point where the bullet starts it's taper, that bullet is.

You said "everything is within specs" so I'm guessing your sating you are following the OAL listed in a manual. Well, unless you are using the same exact bullet they use in their recipe the OAL is useless to you. That bullet is too deep and under certain circumstances can be dangerous. (if the bullet sets back)
 
Certaindeaf said:
If it has no powder in it why does it have a live primer in it? DO NOT DO THAT!
Click to expand...
The primer had a scratch on it after seating it.I had no intention of ever using it.






TFL said:
Two ?
Did you remove the primer crimp ?
Did you trim the case to 2.484"
Click to expand...
Primer crimp was removed before.

Some of the cases were already less than 2.484.


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ArchAngelCD said:
That bullet is seated too deep into the case. The bullet should not be seated below the point where the bullet starts it's taper, that bullet is.

You said "everything is within specs" so I'm guessing your sating you are following the OAL listed in a manual. Well, unless you are using the same exact bullet they use in their recipe the OAL is useless to you. That bullet is too deep and under certain circumstances can be dangerous. (if the bullet sets back)
Click to expand...

The data I was using was the one listed in the info with the lee dies. I didn't get a chance to check the OAL with my hornady book yet.

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gfanikf said:
The primer had a scratch on it after seating it.I had no intention of ever using it..
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter what your intentions were. If that round gets mixed up with live rounds there's no way to tell if its got powder in it save weighing it.
When making dummy rounds, use a fired primer or better yet, no primer at all.
That's an accident waiting to happen. Pull that thing now.
 
If it has no powder in it then pull the bullet as soon as possible. You don't want that round accidentally getting mixed in with any other live rounds.
 
gfanikf said:
The data I was using was the one listed in the info with the lee dies. I didn't get a chance to check the OAL with my hornady book yet.

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Click to expand...
Right there is your problem. Like I said above, any listed OAL is useless unless the recipe uses the same EXACT bullet you are using.

I also agree any dummy round should not have a live primer installed.
 
Certaindeaf said:
It doesn't matter what your intentions were. If that round gets mixed up with live rounds there's no way to tell if its got powder in it save weighing it.
When making dummy rounds, use a fired primer or better yet, no primer at all.
That's an accident waiting to happen. Pull that thing now.
Click to expand...

I dont have a bullet puller. It was kept in a separate bag and I marked it up later with a marker to make it obvious not to use.

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gfanikf,

Assuming you have a set of calipers (which you should), from the point in which your bullet starts to go from being full width (.308") to start being the boattail, measure up (towards the bullet tip) .250" to .300" and mark the bullet there. If you don't have a set of calipers, use a ruler and measure 1/4 inch up. Then seat your bullet so that it stops there and you will be fine.

Don
 
JohnM said:
Now is a good time to get a puller then. You'll end up wanting one eventually anyway. :)
Click to expand...
I keep meaning to but I always forget.


More on point how does one fix or test seating depth?

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USSR said:
gfanikf,

Assuming you have a set of calipers (which you should), from the point in which your bullet starts to go from being full width (.308") to start being the boattail, measure up (towards the bullet tip) .250" to .300" and mark the bullet there. If you don't have a set of calipers, use a ruler and measure 1/4 inch up. Then seat your bullet so that it stops there and you will be fine.

Don
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Bullet Seating just seems like this bizarrely under described part for something so important in my books I have.

I should see what the ABC book has on it.

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No puller??? Just take the die out of your press, run the cartridge up until the bullet is sticking out above the press-top, grab the bullet with a pair of pliers, vice grips etc. and lower the ram----bullet out!
 
homatok said:
No puller??? Just take the die out of your press, run the cartridge up until the bullet is sticking out above the press-top, grab the bullet with a pair of pliers, vice grips etc. and lower the ram----bullet out!
Click to expand...

I did this once I recieved 150 reloads with a model 94 in 7-30 waters I purchased several years back. Being an unknown load by an unknown someone I pulled the bullets with vice grips, threw out the powder, and loaded them myself.
 
If the bullet has a canalure, it should be at the case mouth. Also you need to chamfer the case mouth, looks like a big burr on the outside.
 
Chawbaccer said:
If the bullet has a canalure, it should be at the case mouth. Also you need to chamfer the case mouth, looks like a big burr on the outside.
Click to expand...

Yeah that was something I realized yesterday. I hadnt chamfered using the point facing outward method.

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Okay I futzed around with the knob on top and didn't full pull the lever down and I got one to 3.182 as the COL vs 3.185 per Hornay specs for the bullet. Is that better? Not sure exactly what I did or do to repeat it...yet lol


Looks a lot more lik regular ammo now. Crimp still not sure on....but I feel a hell of a lot more confident I'm on the right path.
 
I've loaded about 50 using the same bullets. OAL is 3.2" and that's right at the cannelure. The OAL that you referenced seems too short for that bullet and is either a misprint or is for a different bullet.

Matt

ETA: looked up the hornady data on loaddata.com and it does list 3.185" as the OAL. I'd look at that as minimum OAL, not max.
 
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