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mgd45X102 MONTHS
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Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Ladies & Gentlemen,
So here's my problem......I'm trying to build a nice target load for my AR-15 using the Hornady 68 gr. BTHP. After my brass prepping in which I trimmed to a case length of 1.760" per the manual, I started the powder charge.
The low end using IMR 4895 is 22.6 grains per the Hornady Manual. Bullet was seated to the recommended C.O.L. of 2.250". So far.....so good.....
Once I reached a powder load of 24.0 grains, I started getting deformation marks from the bullet seating die near the tip. The high end on the powder charge is 24.9. Grains.
Am I to assume that I basically won't be able to load past 23.6 grains because then I'll have too much powder & I'll deform the tip??? WTH?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Chris
IMG_9757.JPG
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mgd45X102 MONTHS
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Crap..... can't figure out how to post pics from my iPhone........ I'll try later....
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GhengisAhn175XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.4/5 this site
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Are you crunching powder to begin with?
By deformation do you mean a nice uniform ring near the meplat
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BRU15XSergeant
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Sounds like your load is too compressed. I had the same issue using Varget with the 77gr TMK. i ended up switching to 8208 XBR to avoid compressing the load so much that the bullet is damaged by the seating stem.
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mgd45X102 MONTHS
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016 Last edited 12/06/2016 by mgd45
I can't really hear it crunching......but yes, it's a nice little circular ring crushed near the tip......
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mgd45X102 MONTHS
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
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brentmacXPrivate
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
My manuals show trim to length at 1.750"...
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BearTexXGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.1/5 this site
512 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
That just tells you that you are using the wrong powder. I am working up a load on the IMR8208 XBR and it is looking really good. I would definitely try it.
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ptaylortxXSergeant
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194 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
Too much neck tension. There's a void around the tip of many target hp bullets that collapse if too much pressure is applied with the seating plug. Either get a plug that is shaped to the type bullet you're using or use bushing dies to set the neck tension around 1 or 2 thou. Makes seating much easier and you'll probably see better SD's through your chrono.
Rate now:
spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
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spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
Rate now:
spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
Mgd45
Try a longer drop tube and trickle it in slowly. It will settle better and give you more room for the bullet.
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mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
Thanks for the advice ya'll. I picked up a bottle of the IMR 8208 XR yesterday and was able to build up a load without crushing the tip.
Rate now:
padom
XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.8/5 this site
3050 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
My book also states trim to length is 1.75" and is what I trim all my AR brass to. 1.76 is max
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alanvnXCorporal
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
61 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
I get same marks with same bullet using hornady seating die. Redding die leaves no marks.
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mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
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Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/08/2016
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spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/08/2016
But you have no idea what alanvn loads, how he drops, and how much he compresses.
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Ladies & Gentlemen,
So here's my problem......I'm trying to build a nice target load for my AR-15 using the Hornady 68 gr. BTHP. After my brass prepping in which I trimmed to a case length of 1.760" per the manual, I started the powder charge.
The low end using IMR 4895 is 22.6 grains per the Hornady Manual. Bullet was seated to the recommended C.O.L. of 2.250". So far.....so good.....
Once I reached a powder load of 24.0 grains, I started getting deformation marks from the bullet seating die near the tip. The high end on the powder charge is 24.9. Grains.
Am I to assume that I basically won't be able to load past 23.6 grains because then I'll have too much powder & I'll deform the tip??? WTH?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Chris
IMG_9757.JPG
Rate now:
mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Crap..... can't figure out how to post pics from my iPhone........ I'll try later....
Rate now:
GhengisAhn175XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.4/5 this site
2528 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Are you crunching powder to begin with?
By deformation do you mean a nice uniform ring near the meplat
Rate now:
BRU15XSergeant
Rating: 3.1/5 this site
167 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/05/2016
Sounds like your load is too compressed. I had the same issue using Varget with the 77gr TMK. i ended up switching to 8208 XBR to avoid compressing the load so much that the bullet is damaged by the seating stem.
Rate now:
mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016 Last edited 12/06/2016 by mgd45
I can't really hear it crunching......but yes, it's a nice little circular ring crushed near the tip......
Rate now:
mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
BRU15 wrote:
Sounds like your load is too compressed. I had the same issue using Varget with the 77gr TMK. i ended up switching to 8208 XBR to avoid compressing the load so much that the bullet is damaged by the seating stem.
Awesome, thanks! I'll check around my local stores for this powder!Sounds like your load is too compressed. I had the same issue using Varget with the 77gr TMK. i ended up switching to 8208 XBR to avoid compressing the load so much that the bullet is damaged by the seating stem.
Rate now:
brentmacXPrivate
Rating: 0.0/5 this site
25 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
My manuals show trim to length at 1.750"...
Rate now:
BearTexXGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.1/5 this site
512 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
That just tells you that you are using the wrong powder. I am working up a load on the IMR8208 XBR and it is looking really good. I would definitely try it.
Rate now:
ptaylortxXSergeant
Rating: 0.0/5 this site
194 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
Too much neck tension. There's a void around the tip of many target hp bullets that collapse if too much pressure is applied with the seating plug. Either get a plug that is shaped to the type bullet you're using or use bushing dies to set the neck tension around 1 or 2 thou. Makes seating much easier and you'll probably see better SD's through your chrono.
Rate now:
spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
brentmac wrote:
My manuals show trim to length at 1.750"...
But the chamber is 1.8"My manuals show trim to length at 1.750"...
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spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
ptaylortx wrote:
Too much neck tension. There's a void around the tip of many target hp bullets that collapse if too much pressure is applied with the seating plug. Either get a plug that is shaped to the type bullet you're using or use bushing dies to set the neck tension around 1 or 2 thou. Makes seating much easier and you'll probably see better SD's through your chrono.
No, it too much powder pushing up on the bullet.Too much neck tension. There's a void around the tip of many target hp bullets that collapse if too much pressure is applied with the seating plug. Either get a plug that is shaped to the type bullet you're using or use bushing dies to set the neck tension around 1 or 2 thou. Makes seating much easier and you'll probably see better SD's through your chrono.
Rate now:
spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/06/2016
Mgd45
Try a longer drop tube and trickle it in slowly. It will settle better and give you more room for the bullet.
Rate now:
mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
Thanks for the advice ya'll. I picked up a bottle of the IMR 8208 XR yesterday and was able to build up a load without crushing the tip.
Rate now:
padom
XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.8/5 this site
3050 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
My book also states trim to length is 1.75" and is what I trim all my AR brass to. 1.76 is max
Rate now:
alanvnXCorporal
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
61 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/07/2016
I get same marks with same bullet using hornady seating die. Redding die leaves no marks.
Rate now:
mgd45X102 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
46 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/08/2016
alanvn wrote:
I get same marks with same bullet using hornady seating die. Redding die leaves no marks.
I use an RCBS die......but I was wondering if other dies might perform better....I get same marks with same bullet using hornady seating die. Redding die leaves no marks.
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spawnof918vXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.6/5 this site
3755 posts this site
Re: Help on damage to bullet while seating...
12/08/2016
But you have no idea what alanvn loads, how he drops, and how much he compresses.