So I've been trying to work up a load with for a .223 with the Hornady 52 Grain BTHP. Initially I loaded them to an OAL of 2.230 which is what the manual suggests. I noticed that the bolt was really hard to close and when I did open it the bullet would be pushed back in the case. So I then seated them deeper at 2.200 which is what Speer lists for their 52 grain BTHP and thought I'd fixed the problem as my dummy round didn't show marks and the bolt closed normally. Then when I went shooting today I noticed that this problem was still happening as I could see marks on the bullet where it got wide. I shot them and one load in particular shot great. I thought I'd just seat them deeper, but then I tried 2.190 and still got marks that looked like from the rifling on a bullet I had blackened. So then I tried 2.180 and still saw these marks. I'm not sure I can go much deeper with it as I have concerns of overpressure as well as the bullet just being way too deep. Now, the FMJ bullets I've shot have an OAL of 2.225 and they are fine as they have a different profile that just starts getting narrower as soon as it exits the case where this one stays thick for a while.
So should I just try some different bullets? Or are these safe to shoot, or whats you guys suggestion? Here is what the bullet looks like after seating them at 2.180 and then chambering them. You can see the marks around where it gets thick.
I shouldn't be seeing any marks here correct? I'm just at a loss as I've never had a problem like this in my time reloading.
So should I just try some different bullets? Or are these safe to shoot, or whats you guys suggestion? Here is what the bullet looks like after seating them at 2.180 and then chambering them. You can see the marks around where it gets thick.
I shouldn't be seeing any marks here correct? I'm just at a loss as I've never had a problem like this in my time reloading.