7mm-08 question

[Geogre]

I am wondering what to check to fix my problem, have a couple of manual with starting loads using h414 and they make my bolt lift a little hard. This is on the 45.5 grs of h414 load. Haven't had any problems in the 41 to 43 grain range.
I am loading 139 gr sst hornady factory seconds. Close to the factory so get them fairly cheap. so here are the number and manuals And no I don't own a chrono yet just starting to reload and can't afford one right now, at least not until work picks up.
hodgdon and lee both list 139 gr with h414 is 139 GR. HDY SP Hodgdon H414 .284" 2.800" 45.5 2710 40,400 CUP 47.0 2810 44,100 CUP

hornady manual 7th ed is
40.8 to49.9

lyman 49th is
42.3 to47.6

 

[Grumulkin]

You don't need a chronograph to know that the pressure is too high. Decrease the load to where bolt lift isn't hard.

 

[NCsmitty]

As Grumulkin mentioned, if you are experiencing sticky bolt lift, back off the load at least a full grain and see how it works.
Not all rifles are equal in their ability to handle suggested maximum loads. Check to make sure that you aren't engaging the rifling with the bullet when chambering the load, as it can possibly raise pressures.

Here's a link to Hodgdon's load site in case you don't know about it.

Check out www.hodgdon.com.



NCsmitty

 

[Geogre]

yeah the hodgdon is where i got the info for the stuff i posted. Was just curious since I was using there starting load if I was missing something.

 

[yyz]

every rifle is an individual. as is every lot of powder and primers. one other thing what is your case trim length?? if the case is too long it can cause a high pressure problem. on your col have you smoked the bullets to make sure you are not in to the lands? just a couple of other things to check.

 

[Gonzofam]

Smoked the bullets? Thought it was bad to inhale lead fumes! Please explain?

 

[GooseGestapo]

Not enough information...
What case are you using ???
What primer ???
What seating depth ???

If using reformed military or PMC brass, I can see the problem. How many times have the cases been reloaded. If several times and haven't been trimmed, then that can cause premature high pressures.

Likewise, my Remington M7 with some factory PMC ammo gave excessive pressures and some fantastic velocities. The case-necks were excessively thick, and with neck reaming were much more "docile" and were/are in fact my most accurate brass now. Before reaming, the cases were difficult or impossibe to chamber when reloaded; and the "New" ammo was "resistant" to chambering or in other words was slightly resistant to closing the bolt. Excessively tight chambering will be a caution sign..... what is causing the problem???? My Marlin .338MX will not chamber OFB reloads without trimming. The factory ammo will chamber only because it has a heavier crimp than I apply to my reloads.... Rifle has has a VERY tight chamber, but is also very, even scary accurate....with both factory ammo and reloads.

If temps are warm and you're using a Winchester or Federal Magnum primer, that too can raise the pressures.

Seating the bullets to where they are "hard seated" into the throat can also prematurely raise pressures requiring a lowered charge weight.

Give us more info.....

 

[yyz]

smoking the bullets can be done with a a match or a magic marker. best way is to make a dummy round ie no powder or primer. seat a bullet to the length you want to use. then smoke the bullet with a match or color it with a magic marker. place in chamber and close action. carefully eject round and look to see if you have marks on the bullet from the lands. if you have marks your oal is too long and you are jamming the bullet into the rifling and will have high pressure problem.

 

[Geogre]

It is a marlin xs7 youth rifle, I was using once fired factory Priv brass, used the lee case trimmer , and measures 2.031 in, I am seating into the crimp grove and crimping the bullet. Don't have any made right now so can't measure. Am going to use some once fired Remington brass next. Using some old winchester Large rifle primers. It was around 20 degrees F when I shot them. I believe I was shorter then max for the cartridge but not postive right now. I was having problems so set up for my 30-06 and haven't had the same issue with starting loads.

 

[Pacsd]

my best results out of my Vanguard 7mm-08:

Sierra 120
45.5 H380
CCI 200 primers
Rem FL resized brass
2797 FPS avg
.704 3 shot string

Speer 130 BT
41.0 IMR 4064
CCI 200 primers
Rem FL resized brass
2796 FPS avg
.722 3 shot string

140 Hornady Fusion (factory)
2802 FPS avg
.910 3 shot string

The 130's dropped two deer this year @ 187 & 235 yds

 

[Grumulkin]

It is a marlin xs7 youth rifle, I was using once fired factory Priv brass, used the lee case trimmer , and measures 2.031 in, I am seating into the crimp grove and crimping the bullet. Don't have any made right now so can't measure. Am going to use some once fired Remington brass next. Using some old winchester Large rifle primers. It was around 20 degrees F when I shot them. I believe I was shorter then max for the cartridge but not postive right now. I was having problems so set up for my 30-06 and haven't had the same issue with starting loads.

For your problem, you don't need to worry about smoking bullets. ANY bullet out there I've ever used in the multiple cartridges I load for including a 7mm/08 has had crimp grooves placed in such a location that you will NEVER be over appropriate COAL lengths if you seat to the crimp groove but a lot of times you can seat bullets to even longer COAL length.

Assuming the COAL length etc. of your cartridges with the lower loads were the same as those that gave sticky bolt lift, it's apparent that excessive COAL isn't the cause of your problem. Sticky bolt lift means one thing; excessive pressure so decrease the load. Also, since your load workup was done in pretty cold weather, it would be prudent to work up the load again when the temperatures get significantly warmer.