Tidesloe
Well-Known Member
I have a question about something it appears that I'm seeing with fired brass in a rifle I've had issues with. Earlier this year I had another lengthy thread going on it, and I'm kind of picking up where I left off, with more information.
It's a rifle I've had to bump shoulders .008-.009 to chamber brass. I've reduced that somewhat by changing headspace gauge, and getting a pair of quality Starrett calipers, but I'm still having to bump 5-6 thou. I don't believe I'm actually pushing my shoulders back that far. What I have evidence of, and it seems impossible is high and low spots in my neck and shoulder. Almost like ripples or ridges running with the shoulder and neck of the brass all the way around it. If what I'm seeing is actually what's going on with my chamber, it seems impossible for a reamer to cut a chamber that's not perfectly round and ripples in the steel. Has anyone ever heard of something like this, or know of any possibility or circumstances that can produce something like this. I can go into more detail on how I believe this is what's happening, if you guys want.
A little more info that make it seem more impossible. I had all but given up on this barrel and pulled it off and threw it into a closet from now on. I started load development with copper solids of various weights and profiles, and it would not shoot any of them at all. Worst shooting rifle I ever had. As a last ditch effort before I completely pulled the plug on it, I decided to load some test rounds with a different bullet, and powders. Here's the mind blowing part. Over a 6grain powder spread, It put 14 shots in .5 grain increments with 250 gr Berger EH into a group that was probably less than 3/4" outside to outside. I didn't measure it, but I'm pretty sure it was not 3/4 outside to outside. Definitely not more than that, with 0 load development. Just pressure testing and seeing what those Bergers would do jumped .120
I don't know what to make of it, and still not convinced I'm out of the woods on it yet with what I'm seeing going on with the brass. These were all 3 and 4 times previously fired brass. To say I'm confused is putting it mildly, but what it did with the 250 Bergers was nothing short of impressive.
I feel like I still need help wrapping my mind around how any of this can be possible, or help understanding other things that could possibly be going on here, if what I'm seeing is caused by something other than a screwed up chamber.
Thanks!
It's a rifle I've had to bump shoulders .008-.009 to chamber brass. I've reduced that somewhat by changing headspace gauge, and getting a pair of quality Starrett calipers, but I'm still having to bump 5-6 thou. I don't believe I'm actually pushing my shoulders back that far. What I have evidence of, and it seems impossible is high and low spots in my neck and shoulder. Almost like ripples or ridges running with the shoulder and neck of the brass all the way around it. If what I'm seeing is actually what's going on with my chamber, it seems impossible for a reamer to cut a chamber that's not perfectly round and ripples in the steel. Has anyone ever heard of something like this, or know of any possibility or circumstances that can produce something like this. I can go into more detail on how I believe this is what's happening, if you guys want.
A little more info that make it seem more impossible. I had all but given up on this barrel and pulled it off and threw it into a closet from now on. I started load development with copper solids of various weights and profiles, and it would not shoot any of them at all. Worst shooting rifle I ever had. As a last ditch effort before I completely pulled the plug on it, I decided to load some test rounds with a different bullet, and powders. Here's the mind blowing part. Over a 6grain powder spread, It put 14 shots in .5 grain increments with 250 gr Berger EH into a group that was probably less than 3/4" outside to outside. I didn't measure it, but I'm pretty sure it was not 3/4 outside to outside. Definitely not more than that, with 0 load development. Just pressure testing and seeing what those Bergers would do jumped .120
I don't know what to make of it, and still not convinced I'm out of the woods on it yet with what I'm seeing going on with the brass. These were all 3 and 4 times previously fired brass. To say I'm confused is putting it mildly, but what it did with the 250 Bergers was nothing short of impressive.
I feel like I still need help wrapping my mind around how any of this can be possible, or help understanding other things that could possibly be going on here, if what I'm seeing is caused by something other than a screwed up chamber.
Thanks!
