CountryBoy19
Grandmaster
Anybody else seeing this in the latest batch of AA1680 that came from Powder Valley just a few weeks ago?
Load:
cast & water-dropped 230 gr Lee 5R bullet, powder-coated and sized to .3095"
Case: mixed head-stamp but mostly converted Winchester 556 brass purchased on INGO classifieds as twice fired.
Cases were sized then washed of all lube with VM&P Naptha and allowed to dry for 24 hrs.
Primer: Wolf .223 primers
Powder: AA 1680, 11.2 gr
bullet taper crimped with Hornady seating die
Seating length (COAL): just a bit under max (I think .050" under max to allow a bit more room in the mag)
Gun:
home-built AR upper running standard parts, 10.5" no-name barrel & form 1 30 cal suppressor
What I'm experiencing:
I loaded up 20 test loads between 11-11.2 gr to get velocity where I wanted it (subsonic) and verify bullet stability before putting suppressor on.
11.0 gave me 600-700 fps so I bumped up to 11.2 and I got 940-970 fps
Bullets were stable and no other issues arose so I put suppressor on part way through the 20 test loads. All seemed well; I did notice a little bit of what seemed to be unburned or partially burned powder. Considering most people are getting ~1000 fps with 11.1 gr the thought did cross my mind about unreliable ignition but I charged forward and didn't have any other issues with the test loads.
I wanted to go shoot with my brother/dad and also to try 11.3 gr to see if it was still sub-sonic. I loaded 10 loads at 11.3 gr and 90 loads at 11.2 gr.
Go out shooting and put 5 rounds of the 11.2 gr loads in the mag, bang, bang, puff
Dang, how could I have missed adding powder to a case? Waited a minute with rifle pointed down range then eject casing, unburned powder everywhere and bullet lodged 3 inches from muzzle
Tap bullet out with wood dowel and try again: Puff WTF???
Eject case, unburned powder everywhere, Bullet lodged 6" from muzzle
Gave up on shooting that gun/load because I assume I now have a problem that needs corrected...
WTH is going on? Anybody else seeing issues with this last batch of powder? I've never had ignition problems like this before.
Do I need more crimp?
Do I need to size my bullets larger? I have .3105" sizer as well but from what I read .309-.310 is the sweet spot for these bullets and my .3095 die is right in the middle.
Load:
cast & water-dropped 230 gr Lee 5R bullet, powder-coated and sized to .3095"
Case: mixed head-stamp but mostly converted Winchester 556 brass purchased on INGO classifieds as twice fired.
Cases were sized then washed of all lube with VM&P Naptha and allowed to dry for 24 hrs.
Primer: Wolf .223 primers
Powder: AA 1680, 11.2 gr
bullet taper crimped with Hornady seating die
Seating length (COAL): just a bit under max (I think .050" under max to allow a bit more room in the mag)
Gun:
home-built AR upper running standard parts, 10.5" no-name barrel & form 1 30 cal suppressor
What I'm experiencing:
I loaded up 20 test loads between 11-11.2 gr to get velocity where I wanted it (subsonic) and verify bullet stability before putting suppressor on.
11.0 gave me 600-700 fps so I bumped up to 11.2 and I got 940-970 fps
Bullets were stable and no other issues arose so I put suppressor on part way through the 20 test loads. All seemed well; I did notice a little bit of what seemed to be unburned or partially burned powder. Considering most people are getting ~1000 fps with 11.1 gr the thought did cross my mind about unreliable ignition but I charged forward and didn't have any other issues with the test loads.
I wanted to go shoot with my brother/dad and also to try 11.3 gr to see if it was still sub-sonic. I loaded 10 loads at 11.3 gr and 90 loads at 11.2 gr.
Go out shooting and put 5 rounds of the 11.2 gr loads in the mag, bang, bang, puff
Dang, how could I have missed adding powder to a case? Waited a minute with rifle pointed down range then eject casing, unburned powder everywhere and bullet lodged 3 inches from muzzle
Tap bullet out with wood dowel and try again: Puff WTF???
Eject case, unburned powder everywhere, Bullet lodged 6" from muzzle
Gave up on shooting that gun/load because I assume I now have a problem that needs corrected...
WTH is going on? Anybody else seeing issues with this last batch of powder? I've never had ignition problems like this before.
Do I need more crimp?
Do I need to size my bullets larger? I have .3105" sizer as well but from what I read .309-.310 is the sweet spot for these bullets and my .3095 die is right in the middle.
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