Dumb reloading mistake
#1
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Hi everyone:
I loaded up 100 each, (brass & nickel plated) new Remington .416 with 300 gr barnes X. The brass I loaded to 82 gr, the nickel plated, 91 gr of RL 15). I shot about 1/2 of the brass cartridges without problem. Went to the range today and the nickel plated won' t chamber. I don' t know what happened, but the body, just below the shoulder is 8 thousandths!! larger, on every nickel case. I am certain I sized the cases the same way. Has this happened to anyone else??? The question I hope you can help me with, is, what can I do??? Can I safely try to resize the shoulder? All other dimensions are identical. Thanks for your help.
I loaded up 100 each, (brass & nickel plated) new Remington .416 with 300 gr barnes X. The brass I loaded to 82 gr, the nickel plated, 91 gr of RL 15). I shot about 1/2 of the brass cartridges without problem. Went to the range today and the nickel plated won' t chamber. I don' t know what happened, but the body, just below the shoulder is 8 thousandths!! larger, on every nickel case. I am certain I sized the cases the same way. Has this happened to anyone else??? The question I hope you can help me with, is, what can I do??? Can I safely try to resize the shoulder? All other dimensions are identical. Thanks for your help.
#3
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Thanks DG, I suspected that might be the case, but hoped not. I do have another question though. I had about a dozen nickel cases leftover because I ran out of powder. The uncharged nickel cases are exactly the same size as the brass fired/unfired cases. It is possible for a powder charge to actually bulge the case???
#5
Is the 91-grain load heavily compressed? If so, I guess it is conceivable that the spot just below the shoulder could become expanded .008" by this, but I have never HAD such a thing happen to me with a heavily compressed load. About the only thing I have seen is bullets backing out a little. You might try putting this load into a couple of the brass cases that worked OK to see if the same thing happens.
#6
Thread Starter
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
The load is heavily compressed. I have the bullets seated to just below the maximum COL of 3.6" I spoke to several other people and the consensus is a " powder bulge" . The Barnes Manual specifies 91 gr of RL 15 as max charge, but with other powders, they go as low as 86 grains for the same velocity. I guess the case is just too small for the 91 grains. Thanks for your help.




