Reloading 6mm Creedmoor with Neck Dies

[JamieZ]

So I started reloading a few rounds with H4350. 3 at 42gr, 3 at 42.2 and 3 at 42.4. To start off with I measured the length of what my rounds were going to be per how Carlos Hatchcock showed me,,,,which was by measuring my chamber with a Hornady overall length gauge and comparators to see when the Ogive of the bullet touched the lands and then take off .015 inches.

Needless to say I believe all 9 loads were slightly overpressure by the looks of the crease where the firing pin hit the primer.

Could these loads be slightly overpressure because of just using a neck sizing die compared to a full length die being the chamber would be more sealed off to expanding gases?

Hodgons states that 42.4gr of H4350 is max but even my 42gr rounds had the crease.

I fired a manufactured round using the same bullet and case Hornady Black 105gr to see if it was just my gun that did this to the primers and it wasn't,,,manufactured round looked fine and the manufactured round was a CH longer for OAL.

Hopefully my phone pic is good enough for you all to see what I'm talking about

 

[Robin]

I usually fire at least three of the load I have planned to go with and check them out. Your picture is a bit fuzzy but my interpretation would be to back off some.
Robin

 

[MilesTeg]

Am I understanding you correctly you started near the max load?

 

[dsdmmat]

Primers can be deceiving. A better set of indicators is bolt lift and ejector swipe.

What primer are you using? I try to stick to CCI primers because they tend to have thicker cups than Winchester’s and others.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

My max load of 4350 so far is 41.0g. No pressure signs. Approx. 2950fps.

 

[JamieZ]

Primers can be deceiving. A better set of indicators is bolt lift and ejector swipe.

What primer are you using? I try to stick to CCI primers because they tend to have thicker cups than Winchester’s and others.

I use CCI,,,,,bolt lift not sure what that is,,,ejector swipe would be on semi-auto right? It's bolt action. Maybe I'm being deceived because I'm using something different than the manufacture. Going back out today with lower charged loads,,,,,I will try loads between 41 and 41.5

 

[JamieZ]

My max load of 4350 so far is 41.0g. No pressure signs. Approx. 2950fps.

Thanks Bud,,,,are you using CCI primers? What I do remember is that you were using large Rifle primers but don't remember what kind

 

[dsdmmat]

I use CCI,,,,,bolt lift not sure what that is,,,ejector swipe would be on semi-auto right? It's bolt action. Maybe I'm being deceived because I'm using something different than the manufacture. Going back out today with lower charged loads,,,,,I will try loads between 41 and 41.5

On the bolt action you would still get a pretty predominant mark from the ejector with a hot load.

Bolt lift is how hard you have to work to get the bolt open after you fire it.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Thanks Bud,,,,are you using CCI primers? What I do remember is that you were using large Rifle primers but don't remember what kind

I was using CCI's but bought 5K Federal, which I'm using now. No issues with either.

 

[JamieZ]

On the bolt action you would still get a pretty predominant mark from the ejector with a hot load.

Bolt lift is how hard you have to work to get the bolt open after you fire it.

From what I could see,,,I was only getting the raised crease around the hole the firing pin was making.

 

[JamieZ]

I was using CCI's but bought 5K Federal, which I'm using now. No issues with either.

Guess I'm just using to much powder then. Ive never had any case pressure issues with any of my other loads when I dont go over max or a little below max of what Hodgons recommends. Thats why I initially asked if it was cause of the neck sizing die.

 

[JamieZ]

So much for going back out today,,,,its storming now

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Guess I'm just using to much powder then. Ive never had any case pressure issues with any of my other loads when I dont go over max or a little below max of what Hodgons recommends. Thats why I initially asked if it was cause of the neck sizing die.

Most guys start a couple grains below posted max then work up. I don't go for light speed, just decent consistant speeds.

 

[Acer-m14]

hard to tell from the photo .. but as someone said you would have marks on the brass from over pressure from the ejector ..
also in the fuzzy photo but looks like the primer is a bit high and not flush .. so would get a hard hit from the pin ..
or the pin is just a tad to long

i use the 4350 and 4350SC for my bolt 270win .. i hunt at max 100 yrds so load at 2800 to 2900 fps per the book i have ..
group the size of quarter @100 when i do my part so i'm happy ..

my bud has a 6.5 creed and his wife has a 243 and his dad got the the 6.5 too .. they got for Christmas .. i got them the lee 4 die set for full and neck sizin .. last Christmas .. we still haven't use them yet Grrr ..

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

What dies did you end up using?