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Too hot factory
Has anybody else had factory ammo that showed pressure signs?
I have on two occasions. Once was with winchester white box .22-250. I was getting 4300 fps (I think) on the chrony. It was 200 fps higher than the velocity listed on the box. After about a half dozen rounds I blew a primer and I haven't shoot a round of it since. The brass was flowing into the extractor groove, almost all the case heads were shiny from opening the bolt. In hindsight, it was stupid to keep shooting but I could not believe the factory would load them too hot. I still have the rest of the ammo. The second occasion was just a few weeks ago. I ordered some Federal Premium 7mm WSM from midway on closeout with the 150 nosler solid base. My primary reason for buying it was to try out the federal cases for reloading, as I read the win cases were softer. I also figured if they shot accurately I would have good ammo to use this season. First shot blew the primer. I could barely get the bolt open. I didn't shoot any more. I think in both cases, it was likely due to shooting when it was too hot out. It was summer both times. With the 7mm it was in the 90's, don't remember on the .22-250, it probably was just as hot. I am sure they loaded the rounds with ball powder and it was just too hot. I have the 7mm rounds in the freezer, when I get a chance I'll try another round to see if it makes a difference. In the case of the .22-250, I am surprised that they loaded them so hot. That is a round that could be used in the summer on prairie dogs. The 7mm, that is a big game round and in most cases it would be a lot cooler than 90 degrees when you use it. Has anybody else had something similar happen? |
RE: Too hot factory
Only once. I made up a great load for my 300RUM in the winter, when it was 10F out. Summer came along and it was bout 90F one day, and I shot and locked up the brass in the gun.
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RE: Too hot factory
I have seen some 300wsm factory loads that showed pressure signs as well as weatherby loads in more than one chambering.It seems that both weatherby and winchester have loaded a little too hot in order to match their claimed velocities.
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RE: Too hot factory
I had the same problem with 22-250 in the winchester 40 gn hps. sent it back to win. they said ti was all good and in spec even with the blown primers and the one that fell out of the case . They did send me 25 bucks for for product purchase and paid the shipping . Ihad a problem with some Federal 12ga they did the same .
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RE: Too hot factory
As an update, I shot another round of the federal 7 wsm after I had the ammo in the freezer. Bolt lift was at least as difficult as the first one, and the primer blew.
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RE: Too hot factory
A few years back I was at the DU Festival in Memphis. While shooting a Weatherby in 257 Wby we had the bolt lock up. Seems Norma loaded that lot just a tad fast. Primers pierced, blow-back and EXTREMELY stiff bolt movement was the result.
The Weatherby guy took the box back to a store room and stated that they'd ship it back to the factory to be sure. |
RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: Prairie Wolf Has anybody else had factory ammo that showed pressure signs? I have on two occasions. Once was with winchester white box .22-250. I was getting 4300 fps (I think) on the chrony. It was 200 fps higher than the velocity listed on the box. After about a half dozen rounds I blew a primer and I haven't shoot a round of it since. The brass was flowing into the extractor groove, almost all the case heads were shiny from opening the bolt. In hindsight, it was stupid to keep shooting but I could not believe the factory would load them too hot. I still have the rest of the ammo. The second occasion was just a few weeks ago. I ordered some Federal Premium 7mm WSM from midway on closeout with the 150 nosler solid base. My primary reason for buying it was to try out the federal cases for reloading, as I read the win cases were softer. I also figured if they shot accurately I would have good ammo to use this season. First shot blew the primer. I could barely get the bolt open. I didn't shoot any more. I think in both cases, it was likely due to shooting when it was too hot out. It was summer both times. With the 7mm it was in the 90's, don't remember on the .22-250, it probably was just as hot. I am sure they loaded the rounds with ball powder and it was just too hot. I have the 7mm rounds in the freezer, when I get a chance I'll try another round to see if it makes a difference. In the case of the .22-250, I am surprised that they loaded them so hot. That is a round that could be used in the summer on prairie dogs. The 7mm, that is a big game round and in most cases it would be a lot cooler than 90 degrees when you use it. Has anybody else had something similar happen? |
RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: bigcountry Only once. I made up a great load for my 300RUM in the winter, when it was 10F out. Summer came along and it was bout 90F one day, and I shot and locked up the brass in the gun. |
RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: eldeguello ORIGINAL: bigcountry Only once. I made up a great load for my 300RUM in the winter, when it was 10F out. Summer came along and it was bout 90F one day, and I shot and locked up the brass in the gun. But thanks for helping me know what the topic was. |
RE: Too hot factory
I guess I might be off topic posting about factory ammo in the reloading forum, but I don't think too many non-reloaders know much about pressure signs.
I am wondering what to do now. I think I will buy a cam lock bullet puller and pull the bullets, dispose of the powder, and load them with a reduced load to shoot varmints. Then I can at least use the brass and the bullets. |
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RE: Too hot factory
i shot 60rds of federal 55gr BST out of my 22-250, then the 40rd box of UMC 50gr JHP ammo...then got 3 more boxes of the federals. different lot than the first 3. first round i fired pretty much locked the bolt. it was STIFF. it was a bit hotter out that day...maybe 10-15 degrees. someone else said maybe solvent in the chamber...they could been right on. hotter temps outside also add pressure though...most factory ammo is loaded under the max and safe though..i am betting solvent in the action/chamber..i cleaned it right before i went to the range and was in a bit of a hurry....
checked the case and it was fine..not bulged or cracked or blown primer or anything...checked the action and barrel and all looked well. fired the rest of the box with no troubles.... |
RE: Too hot factory
Prairie Wolf get on the factory web site they will send you postage to return the ammo and redemtion coupon to spend on there products in liue of a cash refund . I picked up 150 brassfor 22-250 factorieswith blown primers . The manifactures take good care of customers that even try to be loyal .
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RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: Prairie Wolf I guess I might be off topic posting about factory ammo in the reloading forum, but I don't think too many non-reloaders know much about pressure signs. I am wondering what to do now. I think I will buy a cam lock bullet puller and pull the bullets, dispose of the powder, and load them with a reduced load to shoot varmints. Then I can at least use the brass and the bullets. |
RE: Too hot factory
As an update, I pulled the bullets on all of the ammo using a RCBS press mounted collet puller.
I weighed ten charges. They ranged from 68-70 grains of powder. The charges were compressed and I had to loosen the powder with a phillips screwdriver. I tried 65 grains, still marked the case head, primers pretty flat. I tried 60 grains, better, but still not comfortable. I tried 58 grains, still had very slight markings I tried 56 grains, and thought it looked good. At this point I fired a couple Winchester factory loads for comparrison. They had slight marks on the case head too. I decided to load them at 57 grains. I think these rounds were supposed to be loaded at 60 grains and instead were loaded at 70. I also think the WSM's have a pretty high bolt thrust due to the larger diameter and high operating pressure. So maybe some case head markings are normal. Anyway, I finally have some ammo I am comfortable shooting. It is pretty bizarre to find factory rounds with 10+ grains too much powder in them. |
RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: Prairie Wolf I think these rounds were supposed to be loaded at 60 grains and instead were loaded at 70. I also think the WSM's have a pretty high bolt thrust due to the larger diameter and high operating pressure. So maybe some case head markings are normal. Anyway, I finally have some ammo I am comfortable shooting. It is pretty bizarre to find factory rounds with 10+ grains too much powder in them. I don't care what load, federal primers will flatten no matter what. They are not a good indicator. When you see the primer so flat, you can't feel the difference between the brass or primer with fed primers, its overloaded. |
RE: Too hot factory
I don't care what load, federal primers will flatten no matter what. They are not a good indicator. When you see the primer so flat, you can't feel the difference between the brass or primer with fed primers, its overloaded As I posted above, I fired two shots with this ammo, and both blew the primers out out of the case. I had to pry the bolt open, and the case heads were shaved by the extractor groove. I don't doubt that I reduced the loads more than I needed to. I also don't doubt that they were way, way overloaded the way they were. |
RE: Too hot factory
I still think you should've sent them back to the factory takes about a week they pay for the shipping you get the product checked and get a certificate to replace the ammo with ammo or components or other products from that manif. It's a smoking deal and you just might save sombody else from a similar fate or worse.
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RE: Too hot factory
I thought about it, but the stuff was on clearance at midway, so I figured it has been around a while. If they haven't recalled it by now, they probably won't.
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RE: Too hot factory
ORIGINAL: Prairie Wolf I don't care what load, federal primers will flatten no matter what. They are not a good indicator. When you see the primer so flat, you can't feel the difference between the brass or primer with fed primers, its overloaded As I posted above, I fired two shots with this ammo, and both blew the primers out out of the case. I had to pry the bolt open, and the case heads were shaved by the extractor groove. I don't doubt that I reduced the loads more than I needed to. I also don't doubt that they were way, way overloaded the way they were. |
RE: Too hot factory
I got very flat primers and brass flow at 65 grains, and lesser amounts at 60 grains. The 58-60 grain loads had similar markings to the winchester factory loads, but still more than I am used to with other chamberings. I don't know where the true max is supposed to be. I just know that I was getting pressure signs all the way down to 58 grains. Maybe they had the right charge weight and the wrong powder.
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