Excessive muzzle flash and bulged cases

[Noonanda]

I think it might depend on the combination of caliber and action. I was talking to a guy at the range one day who blew up his sporterized 6.5x55 Swedish by putting too much powder in the case. Seems the older actions were a little weaker than the modern versions.

if it was too fast of a powder then I believe it. for example if you were to use RL-7 for a 130 gr bullet, there is a 2 grain difference between min and max, which tells me there are alot better powders out there to use. if you cross that line with the wrong powder type bad things can happen

[Bill Steele]

if it was too fast of a powder then I believe it. for example if you were to use RL-7 for a 130 gr bullet, there is a 2 grain difference between min and max, which tells me there are alot better powders out there to use. if you cross that line with the wrong powder type bad things can happen

Yes, we didn't get into the load. I was kind of busy moving my stuff down the line...

[22popnsplat]

With any new powder , be it surplus or not start low and work up .
I always cross check several sources for a safe starting load .
The chrono tells you nothing except velocity and in no way is a means to estimate pressure .

[kdsd731]

Well, just an update...On these 2nd fired reloads I tried 43gr of this WC-844 in my 147.5gr FMJBT 30-06 and still was over pressured. I have slight bulging in my cases still and still too much muzzle flash. No primer deformation though. I am going to go down to 40gr and see what happens. I may just buy a different powder for it but my h335 always worked fine at 48gr. On a positive note, my .223 showed no high pressure signs with 24gr pushing a 55gr FMJBT so atleast I don't have to pull all the rounds I had made.

[Knife Edge]

Be careful with going below published minimum chart value, especially in long cases as you can actually get an explosion.

[kdsd731]

So do you think I should just quit using this powder for my 30-06 instead of trying to find a charge that works? The last thing I want is a bad day at the range.

[Bill Steele]

Start loads are not "published minimums". For 30-06, Lee lists loads as low as 25gr of H335 for 150gr cast bullets, which yields 2000fps. I think you are fine reducing until you get the results you want. As you go down just be careful because at some point you can get into double charge territory. When charging, maybe start with the empty cases upside down... You should be able to get the results you want without going this low though.

Good luck, have fun.

[kdsd731]

I did another set of rounds today ranging from 36gr to 42gr. I started with the 40 and ended up going down from there. I have determined that a good load for this batch of WC-844 is 35gr. 36gr was the first round to not have any slight bulging. So I am going to go 1 grain less then 36 and call it a day. Maybe I will feel like spending the money soon and get me a chronograph to see how things are really going!

[Knife Edge]

Excellent.