Problem seating 30-06 bullets properly
- Thread starter bison
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I spent some more time on this:
- The expander die diameter is .308". Sounds like this is a bit big but acceptable (?). Case mouth diameter after resizing is .3065".
- Both bullets (Hornady and Sierra) measured .309" diameter. Both are 165 grains (weighed).
- I resized once-fired Winchester brass and loaded both bullets. At 3.232" on the Sierra I couldn't budge it by pressing the bullet very hard into my bench. Same result for the Hornady!
So My problem seems to not be reoccurring, very odd. I looked at the existing rounds and it appears as though most if not all of the ones that were failing had the same headstamp - HXP 79 - which I now see is Greek ammo of questionable quality (?). All I can think is that this brass is causing the problem??
I completely took apart all of the rounds and am going to start all over, being very careful and using the bullet I'd intended (Sierra)! I know from prior experience that my gun (Win M70) shoots them very well at COL of 3.232" and 57 grains of IMR 4350, though in an earlier post Reloadron quoted the Sierra suggested COL of 3.34". Any issue using the shorter COL?
- The expander die diameter is .308". Sounds like this is a bit big but acceptable (?). Case mouth diameter after resizing is .3065".
- Both bullets (Hornady and Sierra) measured .309" diameter. Both are 165 grains (weighed).
- I resized once-fired Winchester brass and loaded both bullets. At 3.232" on the Sierra I couldn't budge it by pressing the bullet very hard into my bench. Same result for the Hornady!
So My problem seems to not be reoccurring, very odd. I looked at the existing rounds and it appears as though most if not all of the ones that were failing had the same headstamp - HXP 79 - which I now see is Greek ammo of questionable quality (?). All I can think is that this brass is causing the problem??
I completely took apart all of the rounds and am going to start all over, being very careful and using the bullet I'd intended (Sierra)! I know from prior experience that my gun (Win M70) shoots them very well at COL of 3.232" and 57 grains of IMR 4350, though in an earlier post Reloadron quoted the Sierra suggested COL of 3.34". Any issue using the shorter COL?
bainter1212
Member
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- Sep 17, 2012
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HXP is Greek military surplus and should be great for reloading. I haven't messed with HXP but US milsurp brass generally is thicker than commercial and much more forgiving as far as tolerances go. Even when I had the same issues you were, I never had neck tension issues with the milsurp brass.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
NO, it's not acceptable.
Chuck it in a drill and work it down with fine Emory cloth to .306" to no more then .307".
.3065" would be ideal.
It is expanding too much now and taking all the 'spring back' out of the brass.
rc
Will do - thx
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Sierra is not suggesting an OAL of 3.34", they are reporting the OAL they used when developing the load data, that's all...
As for your load of 57.0gr IMR4350 with a COAL of 3.232", great load IMO.
I use both IMR4350 and H4350 when available but I prefer H4350.
My 2 favorite 30-06 loads are:
168gr Hornady or Sierra Match bullet
CCI-200 LR primer
57.0gr IMR4350
3.235" COAL
168gr Hornady or Sierra Match bullet
CCI-200 LR primer
58.0gr H4350
3.235" COAL
Both loads will produce sub 1/2MOA accuracy @100 yards in a Howa 1500 rifle. My deer load is exactly the same but for the bullet which is a 165gr GameKing.
Could he have an out of spec expander mandrel? Lee should be able to tell him.
Andrew Leigh
Member
Well indeed I stand humbled.
Stripped my RCBS .308 die and the expandaball was 0.3065"
Stripped my LEE 30-06 die and the expandaball was 0.3074"
Thanks for that.
I agree with what you say RC--indeed it would be foolish NOT to agree with RC. But he states his expander measures .308 but yet his brass ID measures .3065......something wrong here. Also I think he said his bullets measured .309?? Before he modifies anything I recommend he check his calipers and re-measure--maybe use another caliper to verify. There's another good thread on here about calipers if he has trouble.
Where?
Closing this out...
I rechecked my measurements. I have a couple of OK calipers, a digital one from HF and another dial one. Expander die is .307, bullets .308 (at least to the best ability of my calipers and measuring skill).
I took all rounds apart and started from the beginning. Using the Sierra bullets at 3.232" I couldn't move them by pressing hard against my bench (marks on my hand to prove it!).
I'm still not sure what happened to the original rounds but will certainly pay more attention in the future. Thanks to all for input.
I rechecked my measurements. I have a couple of OK calipers, a digital one from HF and another dial one. Expander die is .307, bullets .308 (at least to the best ability of my calipers and measuring skill).
I took all rounds apart and started from the beginning. Using the Sierra bullets at 3.232" I couldn't move them by pressing hard against my bench (marks on my hand to prove it!).
I'm still not sure what happened to the original rounds but will certainly pay more attention in the future. Thanks to all for input.
Thanks for that link...I am probably in some psych school textbook over how much I enjoy precision with weights and measures. That's why I enjoy firearms the most. Thanks again.
gamestalker
member
As this thread continues, some of the original statements by the OP are becoming contradicted.
In the original post, he says he used mixed brass, now the problem is being blamed on Greek brass. But the OP never mentioned anything about the greek brass being involved, or that any particular head stamps were suspect, or displaying the problem?
The problem is clearly a die adjustment issue, either a crimping issue, or a sizing die issue, it's not the bullets, not the brass, and not the oal causing this issue.
I recommend starting over by completely resizing the brass, making sure both the seating and resizing dies are properly adjusted as discussed earlier, and then we'll go from there if things don't improve. Just slow down and stop jumping the gun by compiling and associating unrelated elements of the reloading process, with neck tension. This will only confuse the issue for you that much more.
GS
In the original post, he says he used mixed brass, now the problem is being blamed on Greek brass. But the OP never mentioned anything about the greek brass being involved, or that any particular head stamps were suspect, or displaying the problem?
The problem is clearly a die adjustment issue, either a crimping issue, or a sizing die issue, it's not the bullets, not the brass, and not the oal causing this issue.
I recommend starting over by completely resizing the brass, making sure both the seating and resizing dies are properly adjusted as discussed earlier, and then we'll go from there if things don't improve. Just slow down and stop jumping the gun by compiling and associating unrelated elements of the reloading process, with neck tension. This will only confuse the issue for you that much more.
GS
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