ironworkerwill
Member
Got to the range early Saturday morning and I shot an array of loads for my 7mm-08. I had some good groups and finally got to see how my new seater die was grouping.
I was shooting the last of the "tried and true" loads my rifle likes with H380 and 139gr Hornady sp. With the whole lot shooting just as I suspected, I had put the last 3 rounds in the mag. When the first round was fired it had a bit more recoil than the others. The brass flowed into the ejector hole and was barley visible and the primer was flat as a pancake. I used 46.1 grains of H380 and the bullet was at 2.853 OAL and was off the lands a good bit.
The second round fired caused smoke to come out the vent ports and was a bit sticky to remove. Upon removal the primer fell out of its pocket. This once fired Hornady 308 match brass had a good bit of brass flowing into the ejector hole. I stoped shooting, packed my gear, and left for home!
All my H380 loads were thrown using the Lee powder measure. These loads where also not weighed as H380 meters very good.
After I'd made it home I inspected the powder measure and noticed the fine spherical powder stuck in the hub area. I took the measure apart and got a good bit of powder from around the hub. I put it back together and threw a few charges and noticed powder leaking out of the side after about 5 cycles. I took it apart again and laid the hub flat on the table and noticed it was racked. I guess I have stuck a granule of stick powder for so long that it will be warped for good. I suppose after 8 or so years it's time for an upgrade!
I was shooting the last of the "tried and true" loads my rifle likes with H380 and 139gr Hornady sp. With the whole lot shooting just as I suspected, I had put the last 3 rounds in the mag. When the first round was fired it had a bit more recoil than the others. The brass flowed into the ejector hole and was barley visible and the primer was flat as a pancake. I used 46.1 grains of H380 and the bullet was at 2.853 OAL and was off the lands a good bit.
The second round fired caused smoke to come out the vent ports and was a bit sticky to remove. Upon removal the primer fell out of its pocket. This once fired Hornady 308 match brass had a good bit of brass flowing into the ejector hole. I stoped shooting, packed my gear, and left for home!
All my H380 loads were thrown using the Lee powder measure. These loads where also not weighed as H380 meters very good.
After I'd made it home I inspected the powder measure and noticed the fine spherical powder stuck in the hub area. I took the measure apart and got a good bit of powder from around the hub. I put it back together and threw a few charges and noticed powder leaking out of the side after about 5 cycles. I took it apart again and laid the hub flat on the table and noticed it was racked. I guess I have stuck a granule of stick powder for so long that it will be warped for good. I suppose after 8 or so years it's time for an upgrade!