Shot my first reloads today...

[HairyScandinavian]

Can I get an eye on this brass please?

I just did a pressure ladder with 7rds H4350, 7rds N555, and 5rds Superformance all in .5 gr increments. Some of this brass had pre-existing ejector plunger marks. Here's the hottest load from each powder, how do they look?

Also was impressed that 19 different charges from 3 different powders would all overlay to a group like that all shot straight without a break with 45ish seconds between them. WTF lol

 

[wapitibob]

I do 1gr increments but yea, brass looks fine. I want a 6-7 gr spread to be 1" or better and pretty tight together, like the super.

 

[Shortschaf]

if the bolt didnt lift heavy I wouldnt sweat the way any of that brass looks.

Particularly since it's hornady brass, which, as you mention, can get ejector marks from factory ammo. Nice shooting

 

[SDHNTR]

What do you mean by pre existing ejector marks? Was that once fired factory brass?

The only one that concerns me is that top one. Pretty healthy ejector mark.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I do 1gr increments but yea, brass looks fine. I want a 6-7 gr spread to be 1" or better and pretty tight together, like the super.

Interesting... I figured with different charges they'd be all over. It was windy to the point the target was bouncing up and down on the ropes and I'd wait for it to settle and jerk the trigger. Only goal was to verify and look for pressure being these are first ever reloads I've done. I'm tickled...

I'll go back with a few other options and see if I can get some real groups going. Superformance and H4350 shot the fastest and as fast as I'd hoped so I may just stop there and load up 10 of each at the top and see how they do.

if the bolt didnt lift heavy I wouldnt sweat the way any of that brass looks.

Particularly since it's hornady brass, which, as you mention, can get ejector marks from factory ammo. Nice shooting

This rifle always has a little heavy bolt lift, even empty with no ammo. First shot with extremely light load was the heaviest then it smoothed out and felt normal for this rifle after that.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

What do you mean by pre existing ejector marks? Was that once fired factory brass?

The only one that concerns me is that top one. Pretty healthy ejector mark.

Correct once fired Hornady 147 M's. When I load the next round I'll sort through the brass before I load it and only load good clean brass with no marks so I'll know for sure.

 

[il_cop]

The primer from this angle warrants some further examination (looks like they could be cratered). But...If the bolt lift was normal and there are no shiny, fresh ejector marks, i'd say good to go, esp given the notoriously soft Hornady brass.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

Not what you asked for but good work man, looks to be good shooting loads and I recall it feeling pretty cool for the first time knowing you put them together!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Thinking I may try another grain on the top two but I'm already 90 fps faster than factory Hornady on the Super and H so maybe I should just settle in on that assuming a group of 10 shoots well.

The primer from this angle warrants some further examination (looks like they could be cratered). But...If the bolt lift was normal and there are no shiny, fresh ejector marks, i'd say good to go, esp given the notoriously soft Hornady brass.

I've attached a different angle of the higher loads across the right side.

Not what you asked for but good work man, looks to be good shooting loads and I recall it feeling pretty cool for the first time knowing you put them together!

Thanks! Yeah I was pretty giddy, especially after the first shot and my rifle didn't blow up in my face lol.

 

[wapitibob]

Interesting... I figured with different charges they'd be all over. It was windy to the point the target was bouncing up and down on the ropes and I'd wait for it to settle and jerk the trigger. Only goal was to verify and look for pressure being these are first ever reloads I've done. I'm tickled...

I'll go back with a few other options and see if I can get some real groups going. Superformance and H4350 shot the fastest and as fast as I'd hoped so I may just stop there and load up 10 of each at the top and see how they do.

This rifle always has a little heavy bolt lift, even empty with no ammo. First shot with extremely light load was the heaviest then it smoothed out and felt normal for this rifle after that.

If the load is going to shoot it won't be that bad. Obviously there will be a spread but it shouldn't be a shotgun blast.
I pick the flattest 2 gr spread and then shoot 3 ea at .5 gr and look at the clocking of all the groups. There should be a cpl that hit the same spot relative to aim point. I then split the difference, load up some and go to 600 and 1,000 and verify.
Different ways to do it but that's what works for me and uses the fewest components.


Ejector marks
The PRC is once fired I bought used, likely from a Christensen

 

[Harvey_NW]

I see nothing of concern, besides your possible future addiction to reloading . Hornady brass is soft, if there wasn't noticeable resistance on extraction I wouldn't be worried about the ejector marks. Groups look great, especially for ladders. Load 10 and send em as precisely as possible, can't wait to see results man great shooting!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If the load is going to shoot it won't be that bad. Obviously there will be a spread but it shouldn't be a shotgun blast.
I pick the flattest 2 gr spread and then shoot 3 ea at .5 gr and look at the clocking of all the groups. There should be a cpl that hit the same spot relative to aim point. I then split the difference, load up some and go to 600 and 1,000 and verify.
Different ways to do it but that's what works for me and uses the fewest components.
View attachment 1031190

Ejector marks
The PRC is once fired I bought used, likely from a Christensen

View attachment 1031191

The one that has been fired definately shows pressure. The firing pin strike shows a little cratering and the radius on the rim of the primer is starting to flatten out.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Ejector marks
The PRC is once fired I bought used, likely from a Christensen

The one that has been fired definately shows pressure. The firing pin strike shows a little cratering and the radius on the rim of the primer is starting to flatten out.

He's most likely right, my Christensen would do that with starting loads. This is a good example of how reading case heads to gauge pressure is like reading tea leaves to predict the future, it's not always what you think.

 

[Ganderzone]

Were you at all nervous the first time you touched off your first reload? I know I was . I see a slight ejector mark but Hornady has a tendency to do that as it is softer generally, what does your velocity tell you and your bolt lift? Also, agreed that Christensens tend to show an ejector mark early.

 

[nm.otter]

Hornady has a tendency to do that as it is softer generally

Is this an alloy difference, or a process difference? I wonder if it might be possible to harden the bottom third of them -- perhaps followed by annealing the necks.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Yeah those primers are abit flattened and a bit cratered. I would not go any higher.

 

[Ganderzone]

I'd imagine alloy composition, I wouldn't attempt annealing a case head as that will simply relax any work hardening. Best advice would be to grab some of the known top tier brass, Alpha, ADG, Peterson, Lapua, Norma etc, all make great brass.

 

[Lawnboi]

Pressure signs on the brass only show when you’re unsafe, or nearing so. Keep an eye on your chronograph and compare to pressure tests from Hogdon/hornady/berger. Velocity=pressure.

Have fun and be safe. Remember that a safe load on under a cover on a beach may not be in the rain or snow, so load accordingly.

 

[Pilsner]

"Thanks! Yeah I was pretty giddy, especially after the first shot and my rifle didn't blow up in my face lol."
That very first shot does tend to tighter the ol lower O-ring don't it?

Welcome to the addiction!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Were you at all nervous the first time you touched off your first reload? I know I was . I see a slight ejector mark but Hornady has a tendency to do that as it is softer generally, what does your velocity tell you and your bolt lift? Also, agreed that Christensens tend to show an ejector mark early.

Pressure signs on the brass only show when you’re unsafe, or nearing so. Keep an eye on your chronograph and compare to pressure tests from Hogdon/hornady/berger. Velocity=pressure.

Have fun and be safe. Remember that a safe load on under a cover on a beach may not be in the rain or snow, so load accordingly.

I was a bit nervous loading up to head to the range, but once I got there I kinda forgot all about it and was just business. After firing my first round it came back and I thought to myself hey I didn't blow up my face! I actually threw a TQ and 1st aid kit in my range bag lol.

Velocities were almost spot on from what I put in my notes as expected velocity, little variance here and there but actually pretty close. H4350 gave me roughly 50 fps faster than expected though which was the largest discrepancy. It seemed to hit velocity quickly with the lesser charges and only increase 20ish or so fps per .5 gr increase in the top 3 loads.