SmallCaliberCentral

ok, we start with a brand new savage 12 fcv 26" 204. i measured my new remington brass with hornady headspace guage, 3.550"---- after firing, it measures 3.548" 20 pcs. all the primer pockets will not hold a primer, you can push them in with your finger. some blew out big as a large rifle primer. guys at the range could not understand why. i started with 25 gr. of rl10x, and ended up with 24 gr. rl10x, same problem. any ideas, besides sending the gun back to savage? MARK25-06

What bullet/weight?

What primer?

What are you using to seat the bullet?

You need to clear up what you mean by the "3.550" vs. 3.548"?? What's that?

Did you start at 25gr of RL10X? Why so high? If not, where did you start? Where did you get your data from?

Just trying to be helpful.....more and better information would make it easier.....not trying to be a PIA.

George

1. nosler b-tip 40 gr. 2. lee bullet seater die .020" jump 3.using the hornady headspace guage 4. 25.0 works on 2 other rifles that i have and 2 others, that are friends at the range. plus i have never fired factory ammo out of any 3 guns. sorry primer,remington 7.5. cci br., cci 400 , winchester srp. saterday, i will buy a box of hornady 40gr. and try them.MARK25-06

sorry, and federal 205 primers MARK25-06

Mark', your thread title is "i figured out my brass problem"... does that mean that you DID figure it out?

If so, what was the issue?

It is not that unusual for brass to shorten on the first firing. That is why it is a good idea not to trim before first firing. However, like Vartag, I don't understand what the 3.550" is. Max case length on 204 Ruger is 1.850. Even with bullets seated long, the col will rarely exceed 2.350. With RL-10x, I also got my best accuracy with 25g in the 39 sbk, but just couldn't get it to shoot submoa with the 40 vmax in my Savage with 1x12 twist. 39 sbks shot in the .4's. Every rifle is different.

the 3.550" is to the datum line on the shoulder.all shoulder bump back should be measured with some sort of guage, hence the hornady headspace guage. all my brass is 1.846" oal, before and after firing. the shoulder should move forward to help seal the chamber . so far ive killed 150 pcs of brass.

You might find this recent thread on Predator Masters of some use to you on new brass and headspace issues. In particular read the posts by Catshooter who runs an ammo loading factory. I hope it helps with your problem.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/fo ... 832&page=1

Mark when U put the guage in your calipers do you zero them? Just trying to understand the high numbers.

Sent from my LG-C900k using Board Express

no need to zero, the case is about 1.600" to the datum line and the headspace guage is about 1.750" long that gives you about 3.600" total outside measurement. MARK25-06 MIDWAY.USA. part no .479704

Mark, I have the Hornady comparator but use it differently. I set the digital to zero on a fired case, and then it is easier for me to set the bump back to .001 when the cases need it, which isn't very often. Of course that doesn't help your brass problem as it is just a different way of doing business.

I hope you get it squared away because it sounds very dangerous. Please report back once you find whether it is the rifle, the brass, or something else.

Even with a powder/bullet load that should be ok, there are details that can push the pressure over the line. Something as simple as a neck crimp that is too heavy can do it. If the case neck and chamber pinch the bullet, you will have the same problem. I think it's odd your brass stays at 1.846" oal, I have to wonder if there isn't something out of spec with the chamber, specifically in the throat area. Does it feel like it takes more effort to chamber the cartridges than it should? I think I would mark some loaded cartridge necks the bullets with a felt tip, then chamber and un-chamber them to see if there is any sign of the neck or bullet being pinched.