Pressure sign?

[smoothie25]

Hi guys/gals,

I'm working up a load in my 30-06 for a 168gr nosler CC. I'm using RL22 and per the nosler load data started at the lowest charge at 59gr. I loaded 5 cartridges in half grain increments to 61gr. No pressure signs that I could tell except for maybe this. Is this a sign of pressure? I didn't notice it until I got back to my reloading bench so I'm not sure which load it was. I have an idea of what it possibly could be but wanted to hear everyone else's thoughts first. Also, Would you see any issue with continuing to use these cartridges?

I'm hoping this isn't a pressure sign at 61gr because it was by far my most accurate load so far.

Thanks
Nick

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[HeathSexton]

Looks to me like something is in your chamber

 

[DrMike]

Welcome aboard, Nick. They look almost like like oil dents. If they weren't there before firing, Heath is correct in stating that they are indicative of a rough spot in your chamber. Since they are consistent across several loads, it would be consistent with a rough spot or a preparation flaw. If you can't find the rough spot and remove it by swabbing with a good solvent, you may need to have a good smith address the problem.

 

[Silent Sam]

It does look like a "too much lube" dent when resizing, however those are normally ironed out when fired. You need to determine when the dents occur, sizing or chambering. If it's the chamber I'm surprised you didn't feel it during chambering. If it's the die I'm surprised it didn't smooth out when fired. That would be an indication of relatively low pressure. Do you know what your velocities were? What's up with the mouth of those cases? Have you checked your case length?

 

[HeathSexton]

Case mouths look like factory crimps on once fired brass, I could be wrong though?


Good call on the case lube, I assumed these were just fired cases so I wasn't thinking lube.

 

[ronco]

Were these rounds fired in a semi-auto?

 

[kraky1]

Were the case shoulders real sooty?
If so the charges could have been so mild on pressure that the necks did not seal up against the chamber and gas pushed down past the shoulder...pushing in a dent. That said, those small dents look a little too consistent to be that problem but it's a possibility.

 

[Wis65x55]

I am inclined to believe that the marks on the shoulder of the brass are likely to be something in the chamber. I doubt that it is a hydraulic dent because the dents appear too square on the edges. As for pressure,doubt that its a hot load. If you look at the latest Nosler manual they go up another two grains before you hit the high end.
Keith

 

[RiverRider]

One thing's for sure....they are curiously uniform in shape. And that one at the bottom sure looks like SOMETHING is either in the sizing die or the chamber, whatever the case may be.

 

[Darkhorse]

Those marks look like they were formed around an object upon firing. I tend to agree with those who thinks there is something in the chamber or die.

A little tip; When you are loading different charges when testing loads, if you will write the powder and grain weight on the case with a black felt pin then you can tell which is which after you get home. The felt tip mark soon wears off but stays on long enough to allow you to check it if something comes up. Just something I make a practice of doing.

 

[ronco]

https://www.google.com/search?q=image+b ... OMCQHOM%3A

Look at the brass in the center, the mark looks the same. Seller said that some brass is from a bolt gun and some from a semi-auto.

 

[smoothie25]

Thanks for all the quick responses gents.

These were fired from a bolt gun. No idea what the velocities were. Case length is 2.484", which is .01" shorter than length listed in nosler load data I believe. The cases are Remington core lokts that were factory crimped. The case necks were pretty sooty so that could be a possibility.

You guys have confirmed my thinking that something was in the chamber when they were fired.

Darkhorse, thanks for the tip! Didn't think of that!


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[RiverRider]

Well, wait a minute. You say these were fired in your own rifle, right? So, is the photo before resizing, or after? If they look like that after firing in your rifle, then I would suggest you need to take a good look at your chamber. If they look normal after firing, but take on these dents after resizing, then your sizing die is suspect. What it the story?

 

[RiverRider]

https://www.google.com/search?q=image+brass+from+semi+auto+rifles&biw=1061&bih=498&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik_LnMioDNAhUEVlIKHQU2AeIQsAQIGw#tbm=isch&q=image+of+fired+brass+from+semi+auto+rifles&imgrc=0F1Sj7TOMCQHOM%3A

Look at the brass in the center, the mark looks the same. Seller said that some brass is from a bolt gun and some from a semi-auto.

No...THAT is a lube dent.

 

[smoothie25]

The cases were fired twice and neck sized between firings. I'm thinking it was a piece of debris that got lodged in the chamber. Got a chance to look down the chamber and its fairly dirty. This could be the culprit.


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