The 224 Bee Saga

[FOTIS]

Well, I shot it again today. And every single time I have gone out, I have had issues with extreme spread in velocity. I have tried two different primers, (non magnum --fed 210 and Win LR) four different powders and five different bullets. The issue is in every single load there are one or two cartridges, but are almost always a hundred feet per second less than the other three or four that i'm firing. The ones with good extreme spread in velocity make nice little groups. But that one or two increase the group up one and a half inches, sometimes two inches. I have personally never seen this with another rifle in my entire life.

My lowest SD so far has been over 30. The only thing I can think is that this is some kind of a combustion problem. And I am ready to move up to a magnum primer and I have a feeling that's gonna yield the same issues. Powders used word CFE223, varget, imr4198, h4895. Every single load exhibits one or two rounds, with more than eighty feet per second variation from the average.

Any ideas

 

[sako2]

Neck tension. What brand of brass?

 

[FOTIS]

You can buy any type of brass for the 224 as long as it's weatherby norma.

Seriously, initially, all the brass were virgin from weatherby. The once fired, where annealed, weighed, trimmed and shoulder bumped by two thousands. I did not neck turn them.

 

[JD338]

As we discussed, try Magnum primers and IMR4064.

JD338

 

[RL338]

I see that back in the day Weatherby recommended the Fed 215 with the 224 Wby.

 

[FOTIS]

Excellent, that was my next move.
As stated above. Thank you

 

[sako2]

From RL338 post looks like a mag primer and a different powder are in order. First time I've seen you getting a little butt kicking in load development.

 

[FOTIS]

It happens to everybody.

 

[salmonchaser]

Say it ain’t so!

 

[Blkram]

It happens to everybody.

It's OK FOTIS...even if you prove that you are still human, I want to grow up to load and shoot like you!

 

[Blkram]

Have you weight sorted the brass?
I know that Norma's brass is usually pretty good, but it makes me wonder if there isn't another variable here...
Have you mic'd the fired brass?
Is there a chamber issue? (again, trying to eliminate variables...)

 

[FOTIS]

Have you weight sorted the brass?
I know that Norma's brass is usually pretty good, but it makes me wonder if there isn't another variable here...
Have you mic'd the fired brass?
Is there a chamber issue? (again, trying to eliminate variables...)

BRASS.......Weight within 2 grains, annealed, necks turned, trimmed, flash hole deburred etc.

Everything on the rifle looks great.

 

[sako2]

Did you just turn the necks because in your 2nd post on this you said they are not turned,

 

[sako2]

You can buy any type of brass for the 224 as long as it's weatherby norma.

Seriously, initially, all the brass were virgin from weatherby. The once fired, where annealed, weighed, trimmed and shoulder bumped by two thousands. I did not neck turn them.

 

[jimbires]

I've read , a weak firing pin spring can cause this , and firing pin drop or travel . I remember reading an article similar to this problem . I kind of remember them changing the spring . then they got to looking into it deeper because it had an aftermarket trigger . something needed done due to the new trigger messing up the firing pin drop / travel .


I just took a quick look in google , but couldn't find the article , it could have been in a magazine .

 

[FOTIS]

Did you just turn the necks because in your 2nd post on this you said they are not turned,

Yes sir. Obviously when they were virgin brass on my first outing I did not

 

[IdahoCTD]

If it continues with magnum primers I'd only reload the cases that had low ES and see if it does it again. There could be something wrong with the brass quality.

 

[sako2]

Are you seeing a lot of carbon on the necks?

 

[RL338]

The issue is in every single load there are one or two cartridges

Have you marked these to see if they are carrying over to other loads with poor ES?
Is there a pattern to which shots are slower or are they just random?