35Whelen
11-14-2014, 12:39 AM
Good day Gents. I have question that has been on my mind a lot the last few days.
I just cast my first batch of boolits ever. They turned out quite good I think, a bit frosty, but excellent fill out and from what others have told me, the deer don't care about frosted ones.
I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 358 Winchester.
My load development as follows
Case .358 Win brass
Primer CCI BR-2
Powder H4895 starting at 39 grains, 40 , 41 and 42 grains
Boolit Accurate 360- 240A Sized to .359
The magazine and throat seems to be on the long on this rifle. My problem is , if I seat the boolit to the crimp groove the round hangs up when cycling the bolt. The nose of the bullet has a meplat measuring .265", and it runs up against the shoulder of the barrel where the chamber begins. If I seat the bullet long out onto the second driving band, it cycles well with only the odd hang up, if I try to cycle to bolt gently. It will hang every time with a 200 grain RN j word.
My questions are two fold.
1- With the Boolit seated out for reliable cycling I am engraving the lands on the band ahead of the crimp groove. It is a bit of a stiff bolt closing, but once done, it is easy to cycle a second time ( boolit sized to .359 ) . At no time have I had a boolit pull out when opening the action.
The lands are engraving about half of the driving band, with the nose of the boolit having a VERY light engraving ( barely noticeable), but it is a bore ride nose design so I am not worried about the engraving on the nose of the boolit.
It is the stiff bolt closing on the driving band ahead of the crimp groove that has me concerned. Am I going to run into high pressure problems with this issue? Or should I just try shooting the 38 grain load of H4895 and have a good close look for pressure signs and velocity?
I did try a dummy round sized to .358 and the resistance closing the bolt was less, but at the same time I want a good boolit fit to the bore. The barrel is a Kreiger stainless , cut rifled 1-12 twist and has been lapped. The barrel button I got from the Smith after the work was done, shows the bore is .358 with the lands at .350
2 - What is the general rule of thumb for load development with cast boolits using jacketed data...>I know I have read this somewhere , but I cannot for the life of me find the write up. If memory serves me correct I seem to remember start at 60% of max listings for jacketed in cast boolit load development ? Or am I completely out to lunch on that memory?
I could try and get a close up pic of the engraving on the first driving band if it would help you guys in your advise.
Thanks guys...sorry if this seems like dumb questions but just want to be safe , and make sure I understand what acceptable engraving is and what is not.
Best regards
Paul
I just cast my first batch of boolits ever. They turned out quite good I think, a bit frosty, but excellent fill out and from what others have told me, the deer don't care about frosted ones.
I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 358 Winchester.
My load development as follows
Case .358 Win brass
Primer CCI BR-2
Powder H4895 starting at 39 grains, 40 , 41 and 42 grains
Boolit Accurate 360- 240A Sized to .359
The magazine and throat seems to be on the long on this rifle. My problem is , if I seat the boolit to the crimp groove the round hangs up when cycling the bolt. The nose of the bullet has a meplat measuring .265", and it runs up against the shoulder of the barrel where the chamber begins. If I seat the bullet long out onto the second driving band, it cycles well with only the odd hang up, if I try to cycle to bolt gently. It will hang every time with a 200 grain RN j word.
My questions are two fold.
1- With the Boolit seated out for reliable cycling I am engraving the lands on the band ahead of the crimp groove. It is a bit of a stiff bolt closing, but once done, it is easy to cycle a second time ( boolit sized to .359 ) . At no time have I had a boolit pull out when opening the action.
The lands are engraving about half of the driving band, with the nose of the boolit having a VERY light engraving ( barely noticeable), but it is a bore ride nose design so I am not worried about the engraving on the nose of the boolit.
It is the stiff bolt closing on the driving band ahead of the crimp groove that has me concerned. Am I going to run into high pressure problems with this issue? Or should I just try shooting the 38 grain load of H4895 and have a good close look for pressure signs and velocity?
I did try a dummy round sized to .358 and the resistance closing the bolt was less, but at the same time I want a good boolit fit to the bore. The barrel is a Kreiger stainless , cut rifled 1-12 twist and has been lapped. The barrel button I got from the Smith after the work was done, shows the bore is .358 with the lands at .350
2 - What is the general rule of thumb for load development with cast boolits using jacketed data...>I know I have read this somewhere , but I cannot for the life of me find the write up. If memory serves me correct I seem to remember start at 60% of max listings for jacketed in cast boolit load development ? Or am I completely out to lunch on that memory?
I could try and get a close up pic of the engraving on the first driving band if it would help you guys in your advise.
Thanks guys...sorry if this seems like dumb questions but just want to be safe , and make sure I understand what acceptable engraving is and what is not.
Best regards
Paul