sorry if this has been gone over 100 times before. I did some searching but didn't find any thing. I bought the gun used and its claimed to have about 75 rounds through it,
my issue is I started doing some load development for my 338 LM. it has a stiller tac 338 action and rock creek barel, jewel trigger. I started my loads off at the bottom level in the Sierra manual and went up from there in half grain increments. (specs below)
300g SMK
lapua brass (once fired from my rifle)
neck sized only
federal 215 primers
83g-92g of H1000. (1/2 grain increments)
.025 jump for the bullet (bolt face to lands is 2.990 / loaded length is 2.965)
here is my problem
I fired 1 of each loaded round from 83g-89.5g then stoped. there was no hard bolt lift, the primers all look the same for all the fired ones just flattened a little but the edges are still round.
when I looked at the cases I can see ejector marks even on the lightest of the loads.
they get more noticeable as the power increased, once I get to the 85-86 area it's starts to get the little smear mark along with the ejector mark.
I figured I would get a Wilson gauge to check headspace and it appears to be good. specs below
Wilson gauge - 2.724"
never fired brass in gauge ( only sized) - 2.725"
fired round in gauge - 2.726"
does any one have any insight as to why I'm getting ejector marks. is it the way I'm loading or something with the gun? thanks for any insight
my issue is I started doing some load development for my 338 LM. it has a stiller tac 338 action and rock creek barel, jewel trigger. I started my loads off at the bottom level in the Sierra manual and went up from there in half grain increments. (specs below)
300g SMK
lapua brass (once fired from my rifle)
neck sized only
federal 215 primers
83g-92g of H1000. (1/2 grain increments)
.025 jump for the bullet (bolt face to lands is 2.990 / loaded length is 2.965)
here is my problem
I fired 1 of each loaded round from 83g-89.5g then stoped. there was no hard bolt lift, the primers all look the same for all the fired ones just flattened a little but the edges are still round.
when I looked at the cases I can see ejector marks even on the lightest of the loads.
they get more noticeable as the power increased, once I get to the 85-86 area it's starts to get the little smear mark along with the ejector mark.
I figured I would get a Wilson gauge to check headspace and it appears to be good. specs below
Wilson gauge - 2.724"
never fired brass in gauge ( only sized) - 2.725"
fired round in gauge - 2.726"
does any one have any insight as to why I'm getting ejector marks. is it the way I'm loading or something with the gun? thanks for any insight