ADK Pond Skum
FNG
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2022
Hey all, I am looking for some advice as to what I might be doing wrong working on some .308 reloads. I was at the range yesterday shooting a Savage Impulse Hog Hunter. I shot 6 different kinds of factory ammo with no issues , then I shot 4 different loads totaling 12 rounds in total from the reloads. 10 of the 12 I had an issue where the bolt was difficult to pull back to eject the spent case. The loads were as follows, all cases were cut to SAMMI Spec, all had been full length sized and neck size. All cases were a mix of once fired brass , mixed head stamped from stuff I had shot and kept over the years. 90% of it would have been shot out of a Ruger GSR previously.
A: 150 GR Barnes TSX BT
41 GR IMR 3031 (Maximum charge per Barnes is 43.2 from the load data on the Barnes website)
2.81 OAL
Federal large rifle primers
B: 180 GR Sierra SPT
39.6 GR IMR 3031 (Maximum charge per Sierra is 41.1 from the APP)
2.80 OAL
Remington Large rifle primers
C: 180 GR Hornady SST
41 GR Ramshot Tac (Maximum charge per Sierra is 42 from the 11th edition manual)
2.75 OAL
Remington Large Rifle Primers
D: The same as "C" but with Federal large rifle primers
All the rounds were put into a Sheridan case gauge and they all fit perfectly - no indication from that of a chambering issue. There were also no issues chambering the rounds , they all went in smooth like factory ammo. After all the firings there were no signs of high pressure on any of the cases or primers. The photo attached is an example of each load A,B,C,D in that order. All rounds grouped nicely as well, no erratic shots.
There wouldn't have been any case lube remaining on the cases from the load process, they were resized and then cleaned again. The temperatures were mild here yesterday (65).
I don't think I am forgetting any details here but any insight from a more experienced reloader would be welcome. I have loaded a lot of pistol calibers and messed around with .308 in the past but it was through a Springfield M1A and I didn't experience any extraction issues with that.
Thanks in advance.
A: 150 GR Barnes TSX BT
41 GR IMR 3031 (Maximum charge per Barnes is 43.2 from the load data on the Barnes website)
2.81 OAL
Federal large rifle primers
B: 180 GR Sierra SPT
39.6 GR IMR 3031 (Maximum charge per Sierra is 41.1 from the APP)
2.80 OAL
Remington Large rifle primers
C: 180 GR Hornady SST
41 GR Ramshot Tac (Maximum charge per Sierra is 42 from the 11th edition manual)
2.75 OAL
Remington Large Rifle Primers
D: The same as "C" but with Federal large rifle primers
All the rounds were put into a Sheridan case gauge and they all fit perfectly - no indication from that of a chambering issue. There were also no issues chambering the rounds , they all went in smooth like factory ammo. After all the firings there were no signs of high pressure on any of the cases or primers. The photo attached is an example of each load A,B,C,D in that order. All rounds grouped nicely as well, no erratic shots.
There wouldn't have been any case lube remaining on the cases from the load process, they were resized and then cleaned again. The temperatures were mild here yesterday (65).
I don't think I am forgetting any details here but any insight from a more experienced reloader would be welcome. I have loaded a lot of pistol calibers and messed around with .308 in the past but it was through a Springfield M1A and I didn't experience any extraction issues with that.
Thanks in advance.