First Rifle Loads - Dirty Brass

[bheard1836]

Good afternoon
First try at rifle loads.
Once fired brass. 55 gr FMJBT on top of 23.0 grains of IMR 8208 and Winchester small rifle primers.
The first 20 shot fine and I did not see any signs of excessive pressure but the cases came out very dirty - I think it is because I did not clean the lube off after resizing and they did not properly seal.
What do you pros think?

[rsrocket1]

Those soot marks are typical of the case not expanding soon enough to seal the gasses. It makes no difference to your shooting and doesn't hurt anything. If the loads shoot well, you are good to go.


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[bheard1836]

Thanks much!

[CK_32]

It's not bad but it's not great your fine.

[J-cat]

Good afternoon
First try at rifle loads.
Once fired brass. 55 gr FMJBT on top of 23.0 grains of IMR 8208 and Winchester small rifle primers.
The first 20 shot fine and I did not see any signs of excessive pressure but the cases came out very dirty - I think it is because I did not clean the lube off after resizing and they did not properly seal.
What do you pros think?

Your load is making 40,000PSI in a system designed for 55,000 PSI.

Need more powder, like 24grs+

[CK_32]

Your load is making 40,000PSI in a system designed for 55,000 PSI.

Need more powder, like 24grs+

True! ^ but work up. Don't jump.

[bheard1836]

So for the next loads I will go 10 each 23.5, 24.0, 24.5 and 25.0 and then test those out.
Lee manual puts the never exceed load at 25.3

[J-cat]

Skip the 23.5gr load. Go straight to 24 and then up in increments of .2grs.