Help required...

[benzac]

Using Barnes .243 85Gr TSX BT , thank you for your thoughts.

 

[DS Mad]

Following on from above i went to the range this morning and tried a reduced load 34.5 gr down from the first load of 37.4 gr .. After firing one round it was clear that the case head had a small stamp mark and the firing pin hole had just started to crater so i stopped. I am starting to think that the Vhitavouri N150 may not be the powder and may need to try something else. any Powder and weights that work would be help full before i pull out the remainder of my hair

 

[DS Mad]

Is the added bullet length compressing the load?

Could well be it may be something to look at thanks

 

[DS Mad]

As far as I am able to ascertain the load is slightly compressed , the last cannelure before the ogive is bisected by the case mouth , may have to try a denser powder to enable the bullet be be seated slightly deeper. I have always used standard
powder loads normally a grain under max as given have no knowledge of compressed load problems. , have you an idea the compressed load causes flyers

The bullets i have fired even when the primer pops out are bang on bull every time.

 

[DS Mad]

Reloading is a dark art I find and it pays to think outside the box sometimes.
I am assuming the bullets you are using are non toxic which will mean they have to be longer to get the same weight as a lead bullet.
I am no expert to be sure but play around a bit and see if you can improve matters with different powders etc

Barnes load date page gives me Reload 17 powder so i will have to get some and give it a go Cheers.

 

[benzac]

Barnes load date page gives me Reload 17 powder so i will have to get some and give it a go Cheers.

Last time I saw a pressure issue as displayed on your cartridge case it was a .243 where a friend had failed to remove the crimp which the factory put in and he had failed to notice it when reloading resulting in a tight neck blowing the primers.

 

[DS Mad]

Last time I saw a pressure issue as displayed on your cartridge case it was a .243 where a friend had failed to remove the crimp which the factory put in and he had failed to notice it when reloading resulting in a tight neck blowing the primers.

The brass i used was a once fired Sako I just resized and trimmed it as normal. My crimping dia is still in the box unused i don't use it as you said pressure to high when crimped. Cheers Benzac

 

[benzac]

Sorry i was not clear enough , the high pressure was caused by the reminder of the neck crimp (factory round ) left behind after being fired and not being compleatly cleanly removed before reloading, there appeared to be very little brass residue left on the case mouth using the naked eye till it was looked at under a lupe. Wondered if the crimp had been all removed by the trimming.

 

[DS Mad]

Sorry i was not clear enough , the high pressure was caused by the reminder of the neck crimp (factory round ) left behind after being fired and not being compleatly cleanly removed before reloading, there appeared to be very little brass residue left on the case mouth using the naked eye till it was looked at under a lupe. Wondered if the crimp had been all removed by the trimming.

Good point something to check when i try and reload again many thanks.

 

[NP435]

Marks like that case head tell me back down on the powder charge. Changing powder may work just work from min to max charge you should find a working load. Have you looked to see if the ogive has jammed in the lead of rifling and left marks? If so you need to seat deeper.

 

[NP435]

Sorry i was not clear enough , the high pressure was caused by the reminder of the neck crimp (factory round ) left behind after being fired and not being compleatly cleanly removed before reloading, there appeared to be very little brass residue left on the case mouth using the naked eye till it was looked at under a lupe. Wondered if the crimp had been all removed by the trimming.

The expander ball on the de cap stem removes all crimp in the case neck. If any remains after firing.

 

[benzac]

Marks like that case head tell me back down on the powder charge. Changing powder may work just work from min to max charge you should find a working load. Have you looked to see if the ogive has jammed in the lead of rifling and left marks? If so you need to seat deeper.

As DS Mad is using 34.5 gr N150 i would think hard about reducing the load lower than 33.7 as .243 can also react very badly to an underload

 

[NP435]

As DS Mad is using 34.5 gr N150 i would think hard about reducing the load lower than 33.7 as .243 can also react very badly to an underload

I agree that going under a starting load can cause issue, I do not have data for N150 and that projectile.

 

[DS Mad]

Marks like that case head tell me back down on the powder charge. Changing powder may work just work from min to max charge you should find a working load. Have you looked to see if the ogive has jammed in the lead of rifling and left marks? If so you need to seat deeper.

The N150 i am using is about at the minimum powder weight and still has blown the primer or marking the head .. The is no other marking on the case its self not even around the neck. Cheers.

 

[User00040]

The N150 i am using is about at the minimum powder weight and still has blown the primer or marking the head .. The is no other marking on the case its self not even around the neck. Cheers.

Try completely cleaning out the barrel/chamber/bore. Suspect there is a carbon ring and buildup in the chamber which probably isn't helping.

 

[takbok]

@DS Mad Have you set up your FL sizing die properly so that the resized cases are a good fit in your chamber? Excessive headspace with your reloads might be partly to blame if you're sizing the cases down too much.

 

[DS Mad]

@DS Mad Have you set up your FL sizing die properly so that the resized cases are a good fit in your chamber? Excessive headspace with your reloads might be partly to blame if you're sizing the cases down too much.

I have been resizing and trimming 80 gr & 100 gr sierra lead bullet with now issues. its only the copper Barnes that are giving me problems

 

[Sakoodin1]

I would be following the Barnes list of powers me. I use a lot of Barnes in different calibres and never have a pressure issue with any of the reloader powders so if I was you I would go for r/l 17 as the data shows and it should be fine.

 

[DVS1]

I appreciate I reload for 223 and not 243 like the op says but I use RS powders and have not had any pressure issues at all myself so if RL powders are difficult to obtain then Reload Swiss may be worth a look

 

[petlowe]

I just ran your numbers through quick load out of morbid curiosity taking the COAL and N150 as given without looking at an expanded cartridge and you are down at 43.6K PSI.
It ain't the powder, it ain't the bullet, look at either headspace or something gun related.