Ejector swipe marks???

[stello1001]

Hello all,

Never shot anything other than regular factory ammo as I have found some factory loads that work pretty accurate for me. Recently though, I tried a different factory load and I'm not too sure but I think it might be slightly hot. I remember for sure feeling my bolt just slightly stiff on 2 cases when trying to eject them. There may have been more instances with "sticky bolt" but I can clearly only recall two. However, upon very close inspection, my brass seems to have some very slight markings which I believe might be ejector swipe marks.

I was shooting in the south Texas heat and I recall having the ammo in the sun. After shooting for a while, I caught myself having left the loaded ammo in the sun and moved it to the shade but it was too late already as it had sat there for a good while. Temp was 95 degrees.

Can anybody confirm that these marks are in fact ejector swipe marks meaning that I was pretty close to the upper pressure limits?

Pictures aren't the best, as taking good pictures showing these minor details proved to be quite difficult.

**EDIT**

I did also notice just a few live rounds that the bolt was difficult to close on. Not really sure what that means.

 

[straightshooter1]

Hello all,

Never shot anything other than regular factory ammo as I have found some factory loads that work pretty accurate for me. Recently though, I tried a different factory load and I'm not too sure but I think it might be slightly hot. I remember for sure feeling my bolt just slightly stiff on 2 cases when trying to eject them. There may have been more instances with "sticky bolt" but I can clearly only recall two. However, upon very close inspection, my brass seems to have some very slight markings which I believe might be ejector swipe marks.

I was shooting in the south Texas heat and I recall having the ammo in the sun. After shooting for a while, I caught myself having left the loaded ammo in the sun and moved it to the shade but it was too late already as it had sat there for a good while. Temp was 95 degrees.

Can anybody confirm that these marks are in fact ejector swipe marks meaning that I was pretty close to the upper pressure limits?

Yes, I see some ejector swipe (though not particularly bad) as well as a lot of cratered primers. If Temp was 95°F and they've been left in the sun, I can imagine how hot they may have become to where it's NO surprise you're seeing these pressure signs. . . .even in factory ammo. Hot ammo will raise the pressure for sure. Around here in AZ, I always keep my ammo out of the sun, if I need to, I'll bring a small cooler to keep them in so that I can keep some consistency with my ammo.

 

[stello1001]

That's exactly what I was thinking, that the sun really got the temp up high. I imagine I should be fine, considering i probably won't be doing any shooting if temps go much higher & I will try to keep ammo in the shade.

 

[Doom]

This isn't bad at all. Just be aware of it in the future. Now, if this ammunition had been loaded with H335, then you might still be trying to get the bolt open. I learned that when I first started reloading and left my ammo in the sun.

 

[Steel head]

Meh.
Those cases look pretty happy.
I wouldn’t sweat that at all.

 

[Swamppy]

I would not discount the sun and possibly the lot of brass that was used in the factory ammo. I have used Peterson in 6 Creed and 6.5 Creed and found that my lot numbers in 6 Creed had very soft case head. It was showing ejector swipes across a wide range of powder charges. The lowest being a very mild load with a 105 Hybrid that was only running 2800 FPS.

 

[zeroz]

Echoing the above. Light ejector swipe and random cratered primers. I wouldn't worry too much about those signs, especially knowing you had them baking. The primers don't look flattened at all except maybe the 4th column second row. I would definitely be chalking up the slight pressure signs to the heat exposure.

 

[stello1001]

Perfect, this is exactly what I suspected. Very minor pressure signs that I shouldn't concern myself with too much.

Thanks all!!!

 

[Milo 2.5]

You should figure out why your bolt closed hard though. Maybe you are getting a carbon ring.
We had a problem 6 creed a couple summers ago, guy kept trying diff brands of brass, Peterson was by far the softest of the mix.
A clean bolt face may help too, I hate coated bolt faces.

 

[stello1001]

You should figure out why your bolt closed hard though. Maybe you are getting a carbon ring.
We had a problem 6 creed a couple summers ago, guy kept trying diff brands of brass, Peterson was by far the softest of the mix.
A clean bolt face may help too, I hate coated bolt faces.

I do wish to know more and understand more but not sure where to start. This ammo is the 140 ELDM by spark munitions and one thing I did notice is that they are loaded just slightly longer than factory hornady ammo. At first I thought maybe I was jamming but then I realized that couldn't be it. Otherwise, it would have felt like that with every live round.

Im barely starting to venture out and deeper into the rabbit hole. Really, I've done a lot of reading and "sponge-ing" in all the info that I can but I still feel like I lack a lot. For example, I don't know how to check for a carbon ring.

If it helps to know, this is a Howa 1500 with no more than 400 rounds...

 

[Milo 2.5]

I do wish to know more and understand more but not sure where to start. This ammo is the 140 ELDM by spark munitions and one thing I did notice is that they are loaded just slightly longer than factory hornady ammo. At first I thought maybe I was jamming but then I realized that couldn't be it. Otherwise, it would have felt like that with every live round.

Im barely starting to venture out and deeper into the rabbit hole. Really, I've done a lot of reading and "sponge-ing" in all the info that I can but I still feel like I lack a lot. For example, I don't know how to check for a carbon ring.

If it helps to know, this is a Howa 1500 with no more than 400 rounds...

I have no history with Howa, but being it is new factory brass being used, doubt it is the brass. If you have the tools, make sure the bullet is not getting jammed.
For carbon ring, get a decent carbon solvent, I like Boretech C4, just run a soaked patch in the chamber and stop at first resistance. Let it sit, then get a 7mm bronze brush and gently work that area, spinning the brush will do. Jag it out.

 

[Milo 2.5]

Back up, to check for carbon ring, chamber a couple diff loaded rds, if the bullet gets marred up at it's widest point, you have a ring.

 

[stello1001]

I have no history with Howa, but being it is new factory brass being used, doubt it is the brass. If you have the tools, make sure the bullet is not getting jammed.
For carbon ring, get a decent carbon solvent, I like Boretech C4, just run a soaked patch in the chamber and stop at first resistance. Let it sit, then get a 7mm bronze brush and gently work that area, spinning the brush will do. Jag it out.

She just shoots so damn good so I may go a bit more without cleaning but if I do notice the same issue happening, I'll take that as a sign. Thanks for instructing on how to go about it. I will definitely have all that handy just to be prepared to go forward with it.


I'll chamber some live rounds when I get home today and do a close inspection on the bullets for any signs of carbon. Once again, thanks...

 

[straightshooter1]

Carbon ring could be a contributing factor. But, I highly doubt it was much of a factor at all, if at all, in this case. Ammo sitting in the hot sun will do exactly what's happened here.

 

[stello1001]

Carbon ring could be a contributing factor. But, I highly doubt it was much of a factor at all, if at all, in this case. Ammo sitting in the hot sun will do exactly what's happened here.

I agree that the sun baking my ammo may have strongly contributed to the slight pressure signs but I think Milo was referring to how difficult it was to close my bolt on a few different rounds when he mentioned carbon ring.

 

[straightshooter1]

Again, carbon ring can be one of the things that causes this. However, cartridges baking in the sun will expand in diameter and will have a tendency to do this too.

It never hurts to check for carbon ring and remove it whenever cleaning is done. ☺

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[stello1001]

Again, carbon ring can be one of the things that causes this. However, cartridges baking in the sun will expand in diameter and will have a tendency to do this too.

It never hurts to check for carbon ring and remove it whenever cleaning is done. ☺

Ah, I see what you're saying. Good that you pointed this out to me as that was something I was not aware of.

Regardless, I will still chamber a few rounds just to check. As you said, it doesn't hurt to check.

 

[stello1001]

Ok so I just got home from running a few errands and picking up a new gun... I tried chambering about 25 rounds. Out of those, there are 2 that become relatively difficult to close the bolt on while the rest are effortless. Regardless, they all show some very minor scratchmarks. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, these marks appear to be normal from chambering the rounds but maybe I'm wrong. They are all marked right on the bullet where it tapers from widest area to getting more narrow. I believe this is called the o-give???

 

[Milo 2.5]

Ok so I just got home from running a few errands and picking up a new gun... I tried chambering about 25 rounds. Out of those, there are 2 that become relatively difficult to close the bolt on while the rest are effortless. Regardless, they all show some very minor scratchmarks. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, these marks appear to be normal from chambering the rounds but maybe I'm wrong. They are all marked right on the bullet where it tapers from widest area to getting more narrow. I believe this is called the o-give???

Get some pics. lol

 

[stello1001]

Get some pics. lol

I think it's safe to say the slight scratchmarks are normal as I have already looked at the unchambered bullets and they seem to have it also. However, this one particular round was extremely difficult to chamber. Notice the two small dents in the bullet. Is this what you were referring to earlier?

 

[Milo 2.5]

I think it's safe to say the slight scratchmarks are normal as I have already looked at the unchambered bullets and they seem to have it also. However, this one particular round was extremely difficult to chamber. Notice the two small dents in the bullet. Is this what you were referring to earlier?View attachment 7168029

Not really, looking for scuff marks. tough to dent a bullet. If the bullet was contacting the rifling, it would encircle the bullet, carbon rings do the same, but sometimes spotchy if that makes sense.

 

[stello1001]

Not really, looking for scuff marks. tough to dent a bullet. If the bullet was contacting the rifling, it would encircle the bullet, carbon rings do the same, but sometimes spotchy if that makes sense.

I think I know what you mean. At this point, it's safe to say those two small dents are not in any way related to a carbon ring.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I say no, your pic not the best, but scuffing is what we are looking for, my fault up front. I do not feel carbon is the holdup here.

 

[stello1001]

Really difficult to get very small and minor details into pictures lol.

 

[Milo 2.5]

Really difficult to get very small and minor details into pictures lol.

I know, my pics absolutely suck, i'll take pics of a gun I want to sell, always get asked for more or better pics, easier for me to pay shipping both ways if guy does not like.
Do clean that area like we talked about, If you know anyone close, seek some help on this, maybe the bullet needs to be seated deeper ???

 

[stello1001]

I know, my pics absolutely suck, i'll take pics of a gun I want to sell, always get asked for more or better pics, easier for me to pay shipping both ways if guy does not like.
Do clean that area like we talked about, If you know anyone close, seek some help on this, maybe the bullet needs to be seated deeper ???

I finally found some guys that like precision rifles and have local tournaments etc. I got in contact with one of them and will meet up for some shooting some time next week. Hopefully I can learn a thing or two...

 

[Bender]

Meh.
Those cases look pretty happy.
I wouldn’t sweat that at all.

???

Exactly! I’ve had loads with EJECTOR MARKS! It would flatten out the stamped text and be illegible! Lmao! That’s how I knew it was time to back down!

 

[Steel head]

???

Exactly! I’ve had loads with EJECTOR MARKS! It would flatten out the stamped text and be illegible! Lmao! That’s how I knew it was time to back down!

I’ll try to get a picture of the ejector mark I got yesterday pushing a 180 grain 7mm bullet to 3030fps.