I tested out a GC and PC'd 270gr cast boolit out of my ruger 77/44 using 23.8 gr of W296. I load tested and worked the powder from minimum all the way up to 24 gr. With no signs of pressure.
The best group using this boolit and alloy combo is 23.8 gr of w296 powder. So I loaded up about 100 or so in two different additional range sessions and in each time out shooting three quarters of the way through both shooting sessions I had a stuck case. This is maybe after 30 rounds fired each time. I had to hit my bolt handle with my hand pretty hard to extract it. No damage was done either time. After I extracted the case in each session I inspected and kept firing an additional 15 to 20 rounds that fed and ejected smooth as silk with no issues or stuck cases after.
I am using matching cases and trimming after every firing so things should be consistent. I'm guessing maybe my powder scale might be throwing an inaccurate reading every once in a while? It's an RCBS master scale I bought about 17 to 18 years ago. I know it dose jump up and down a lot when the ac or heater is running. I did notice once I had a lead ring that shaved off like I slugged the bore sitting inside of the action. Could a random lead shaving be pinching the boolit or casing casing pressure? I've been shooting on some pretty warm days as well. Probably was in the 90's?
I did notice once in a while I would see a little round circle in my powder...a piece of trail boss that must have got caught in my trickler that mixed with w296 and I would fish it out. I'm wondering if a few pieces of trail boss were still mixed in and might have caused this?
Any ideas?