Is it normal for lube rings to be outside the case?

[Southern Raider]

I am just starting to load some 375 H&H rounds. Using cast 265gr bullets and a Hornady chamber length gauge, I've come up with a bullet placing that wants one of the lube rings to be outside the case, which doesn't sit well with me for some reason. I'd have to seat the bullet about 0.1" deeper to make it go away, which can't be good for accuracy.

Does stuff like this normally happen with lubed cast bullets? I guess it's not hurting anything, assuming I keep stuff from sticking to the lube and getting into the barrel.

 

[Jim Watson]

Keep it clean and you will be OK. My only similar application is in BPCR and I seat my .38-55 light loads with one grease groove showing and the heavy loads with two above the case mouth. Of course that is for target shooting and the ammo rides to the range in a closed box and isn't taken out until I set up to shoot.

 

[rcmodel]

Unless you can prove an accuracy advantage by shooting seated to the rifling, there is no advantage, and a lot of disadvantage to leaving grease grooves exposed.

Try group testing both ways, and if the naked grease grooves don't consistently give measurably better accuracy, there is no reason to do it.

rcmodel

 

[dmftoy1]

It comes down to the bullet and what it's designed for. I've got some 7.62 x54R bullets that will do that if I seat them like you are. It bugged me enough that I now just barely cover the top lube groove and shoot them that way. If you talk to the guys over on castboolits.gunloads.com you'll see some pretty scary loads with the loverin style bullets and 3-4-5 grooves exposed.

I've always figured that it's ok to have a "hard lube" lube groove exposed IF it's just going to me in a plastic ammo box to the range . .if I was hunting with it I don't think I'd want it that way.

Good Luck!

Regards,
Dave

 

[243winxb]

Difference in Lyman new and old style sizing dies.

You can keep the lube rings of the bullet empty of lube by tapping some lead shot or small pieces, into the holes of the sizing die. Use a plastic mallot or piece of wood. This lets you size the bullet correctly by letting it go as far into the die as is needed and still keep the last ring free of lube. The new Lyman sizing dies have the holes in the die at a different place than my old dies. But this still might work for you, depending on what make and type you have.

 

[Southern Raider]

Thanks for the replies. The bullets came to me pre-sized and pre-lubed, so I don't have any control over the process.

Sounds like both ways are acceptable, so I'll try them and determine if there is any advantage to one over the other.