06-20-2012, 11:37 PM
davidj Wrote:I have had my 20" Shilen AA upper for over a year now. After experiencing all the new 6.5 Grendel problems I finally got it shooting well.The only thing I have ever shot has been the 123 A-Max....Factory and reloads..Hornady and AA brass..IMR8208XBR..CCI450.
The load I settled on was 28.4 gr 8208 and it has been consistently delivering sub MOA .
I always shoot in the early morning when the temperatures are in the 60-70's. Sorry for the lengthy lead-in.
I have started getting pressure signs such a flattened primers and stuck cases. I dropped my powder charge down to 27.4 grains and things seemed to get worse. I have had several
case head separations (on 2nd reload). I have a Wilson case gage and I use it on every single case. The loaded bullets will slide in and out of the chamber but many of the fired cases stick. If I drop the bolt on these I cannot get them loose unless I use a rubber mallet.
Now for the good part: Factory loads work without any problems at all(the primers are a little flat though). Last month I shot a 1000yd qualification course with Hornady 123 A-Max factory loads and it went without a hitch. This leads me to believe my reloads are somehow defective. I have Hornady dies and have used them on both a Rock Chucker and a Dillon 550.I have been weighing ALL powder drops.
I welcome any and all thoughts on the subject.
Dave
You have had several case head seperations without rifle damage?
You seek escape from pain. We seek the achievement of happiness. You exist for the sake of avoiding punishment. We exist for the sake of earning rewards. Threats will not make us function; fear is not our incentive. It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live. - John Galt