43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

[LibertyArms]

never had this happen for a 308 before. Its a 24 inch rock creek bbl, rem action,lapua case,and WLR primer

the load shoots great, and is at 2688 on velocity. im getting a dark ring on the bolt face, and in on istance i had the back edge of the primer break and what seams to be a small chunk in the bolt face. Minute but with magn. loops on i can see it. the primers are blowing back to the bolt face im guessing as the primers are seated lower before firing, no sticky bolt lift, and only 2nd firing on cases. possibly just a bad primer on the one issue ? Never ran into it before , sorry if this is a stupid question, i have shooting and reloading for some time now lol, just havent had a primer break, nor the bolt face ring from the primers?

Thanks

 

[DIBBS]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

The black ring sounds like gas escaping/leaking from the primer pocket. If the primer pockets are loose after two firings...definitely not a good thing. Your load doesn't sound excessive- I'm running a similar load (LC brass, Fed 210, 42.2 varget , 178 amax) MV~2600, but with the thicker cases I run into sticky bolt lift at warmer temperatures. Maybe a soft lot of Lapua Brass? Are you seating your bullets into the lands, which may cause a pressure spike? You might also try a different lot or brand of primers, maybe you got an undersize batch.

 

[turbo54]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

Switch primers. I've read about a bunch of folks blowing WLR primers in moderate loads recently.

For comparison, I run 45.5-46.0 Varget with the 178hpbt.

 

[LibertyArms]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

thats what im thinking. the load does not seem to be excessive?

As far as seating depth, im .010 off the lands,

turbo what primers are you using with your load. In my old 308 i can Br2 primers but had a bunch of the wlr's on hand and it shot well.

 

[LibertyArms]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

must be the primers? I just thought i would check to see the other load. I tested out a sub-sonic load a week back with them as well. With 10.5 gr trailboss and a 180gr Rn it is pushing the primers back flush with the back of the case as well?

 

[doc76251]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

Not the primers. Excessive shoulder bump.

The firing pin is shoving the case forward (possibly sticking the boolet into the lands) and the resulting "boom" is pushing the primer back (gas flow) and then the case follows reseating the primer. Probably less than 0.010" of movement.

Put a layer or 2 of electrical tape on the base of the cartridge and see if it will still chamber. If it does you REALLY need to re set your dies.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[turbo54]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RWG818</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thats what im thinking. the load does not seem to be excessive?

As far as seating depth, im .010 off the lands,

turbo what primers are you using with your load. In my old 308 i can Br2 primers but had a bunch of the wlr's on hand and it shot well. </div></div>

I use CCI BR2s, usually. Otherwise, just plain CCI LR. I'm nit convinced there's anything different betwern the two besides the tiny "B" stamped in the cup...

Search around - in the last 3-4 months, I KNOW I've read at least 5 accounts of unexplained blown and/or smoked WLR primers.

 

[nfoley]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

Just out shooting my 308 last weekend with 2 identical loads, only difference being WLR vs CCI BR2s (both 44g target behind 175 SMK). Had 2 out of the first five WLR primers blown so stopped shooting. Had been using the loads with the CCI primers for around 30 rounds without an issue. Switched back to CCI primers for rest of afternoon and no more issues. Could have been isolated problem (only 2/5) but wasn't going to attempt again. FWIW it was a lot warmer than recent days.

 

[ricklaut]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

I run WLRs, 42.6gr of Varget & 175 SMK's - I was getting pressure signs at about 43.8 (lower than most folks) (42.6 is my sweet spot from ladder testing).

Based on some problems I had with factory match ammo, I correlated to a tight chamber on my rifle. That said, I haven't used anything BUT WLRs (and my current stash is about 12 months old).

 

[BCP]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

I had that problem with WLR primers. CCI primers have been much better for me.

 

[m1ajunkie]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

I am running 44gr of varget and WLR primer in LC LR cases with the 178 amax in my lmt mws ar. Certainly a hot load, but I have only had 1 primer blown since I starting shooting that load. The primer blew out around the edge and cut a small dimple on my bolt face. The brass I was using had been fired 4-5 times which seems to have been a contributing factor. Since then I have stopped using brass that old and the problem has not happened again.

I have thought about backing my load down, but it shoots so well at 44grs, it's hard for me to do that.

ETA: This load doesn't show extractor or ejector marks, just results in flat primers.

 

[Hookman]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m1ajunkie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am running 44gr of varget and WLR primer in LC LR cases with the 178 amax in my lmt mws ar. Certainly a hot load, but I have only had 1 primer blown since I starting shooting that load. The primer blew out around the edge and cut a small dimple on my bolt face. The brass I was using had been fired 4-5 times which seems to have been a contributing factor. Since then I have stopped using brass that old and the problem has not happened again.

I have thought about backing my load down, but it shoots so well at 44grs, it's hard for me to do that.

ETA: This load doesn't show extractor or ejector marks, just results in flat primers. </div></div>

I am seeing the same results with my load. 44 grains of Varget and I am getting flattened primers and swipe marks on the brass. It's at the upper end of the pressure range in a GAP 22" Rock 5R barrel with a 95 Palma Chamber. The tight chamber is one reason I get pressure signs with this load. I am going to lower it 43.5 to see if I can still get these kinds of groups.

Hornady 178 BTHP
LC/LR 05 brass trimmed to 2.005
44.0 Gr Varget
Wolf Primer
Ogive - 2.183
Velocity - Unk

5 shot group at 100 yards

 

[Clay_James]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

I'm using a 178 amax, WLR primers, Win. cases and 44.4gr of Varget and haven't had any excessive pressure signs. Rifle is a 26" SPS-V

 

[skog]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

Last weekend i tried this load in my trg
Lapua brass
Cci primers
178 amax
45.5 grains of varget
Just a slight ejector swipe on 1 or 2. I would try different primers.

 

[techtoy_al]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

178 AMAX, 44.6 Varget, WLR primers, Lapua Brass and no issues. shooting out of Rem SPS 20 inch. with no issues

 

[Huckleberry75]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: skog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Last weekend i tried this load in my trg
Lapua brass
Cci primers
178 amax
45.5 grains of varget
Just a slight ejector swipe on 1 or 2. I would try different primers. </div></div>

That thing ate everything that we fed it, even remington match.

 

[garyaug]

Re: 43gr of varget and 178 amax too hot?

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