What would have happened? Wrong bullet in 308

[bobotech]

I was loading up a few rounds of 308. I loaded them up and once I was done, I inspected them carefully only to find one oddball that had a different OAL than the rest and seemed to have a different bullet (FMJ, whereas the rest were soft point.

I pulled the bullet only to discover that it was a 190 grain bullet compared to the 150 grain on the rest. I have never even bought any 308 190 grain bullets so I can only imagine that it was in the box. The box was 150grain boattail softpoint speers.

What would have happend if I didn't inspect them and shot that one out of my gun at the range?

 

[interlock]

it would have resulted in dangerous and damaging hi pressure

 

[Mal H]

What was the load and powder you were using, bobotech?

I would change interlock's warning to - it could have resulted in a dangerous situation. The odds are good that you would have noticed a higher than normal amount of recoil, but nothing adverse would have happened to you or your rifle, but the load is key.

 

[rcmodel]

it would have resulted in dangerous and damaging hi pressure

I agree, if you were loading to high-end 150 grain load data.

If you were loading a starting load powder charge, nothing would have happened.

Just a good lesson that it pays you to look at the bullets before you just grab one out of a box and stuff it in a case full of powder.

I always measure and weigh at least some samples out of every new box.

Then I look at each bullet when I put them on top of 50 charged cases in my loading block.

Then I look at them again when I go to the press and seat them.

Then I look at the finished product when I final inspect and box them.

If they get by my four look-see's, then I deserve to blow myself up!

rc

 

[33rowdy]

I'd be calling Speer on the phone and explain what was done. It happened to me on new Winchester brass. I don't remember for sure I think it was a .270 mixed with a 30.06. Or 30-06 in .270.

 

[Remo-99]

What would have happend if I didn't inspect them and shot that one out of my gun at the range?

Like RC and interlock mentioned if your 150gr loads were at or near max, 40 extra grains of bullet weight, would give you over pressure problems.

It's a good recipe for a casehead seperation or blown out primer resulting in possible damage the rifle and/or shooter. And you may have never known the cause of it.

 

[bobotech]

I will post the load when I get home, can't remember exactly off the top of my head.

 

[lgbloader]

Now that's bad!!! Bobotech is so sprung on handloading that he is posting to threads while at work!!!

LOL...

LGB

 

[bobotech]

Here is the load I was using. 42.2 grains of IMR 4895 under the 150 grain boattail Speer bullet.

Looks like that might have exceeded the 190 grain max load.

Hmm.

 

[interlock]

low load

Looking at the quickload data for this load it is a very mild load indeed. this would give 2560 fps

with the 190 gr bullet it still is only showing very slightly out of pressure range with that load.


It would PROBABLY have been ok.

the max load is shown at about 52 gr col of 3.2 inch.

at the same oal but using the heavier bullet the pressure is markedly in the red. I can't tell you what the results would be. but i can tell i would not like to try it.

interlock

 

[jerkface11]

This is why it's important to inspect your components prior to loading the ammo. You're lucky the heavier bullet looked different.

 

[-tmo-]

i got some bulk 308 bullets from goldenwestbrass, i was weighing 100 at a time because the box broke open in shipment and i wanted to find out how many i lost. I found a few that were just the copper jacket, no lead in it. they looked perfect from the outside.

careful what you load and check the components carefully. companies are running full tilt right now and i am sure quality control has slipped a little.

t