300 rum and primers

[ppoole]

I recently bought some 215m primers and went to load it with same same Berger 185 vld and h1000 cocktail. I also loaded .1 and .2 over and under with the h1000. My results were not good, I shot the old load with regular 215 and got .252" which is my best group so far at 100 I then got a 1.1-.9 with the 5 loads loaded with 215m. I have never tried the 215m before and from what I read they were supposed to be more consistent, so I was shocked at the difference I then pulled three more of my old load out and had a .312 group. I did shoot my best two groups with the old load.

What caused this I'm looking for the most accurate load and with the best consistency. Should I go up or down with the powder?

I use competition loading dies by redding. Nosler brass and I check each round for runoff anything more than .002 that can't be corrected is used as fouling. I have been loading for two years and had great results so far. Just baffled at the 215 m please enlighten me to what I messed up.

 

[lovdasnow]

hmmm, i like the 215m primers. never experienced this particular scenario myself. is the h1000 from the same lot as your old load or is it a new bottle?

 

[ppoole]

It is the same bottle it's about gone now but still the same

 

[durak]

There may be a difference in the age of your 215's compared to the 215M's. My RUM does not know the difference between the two - I've tested it several times - 3 rounds with each primer same powder charge - all shots were in the same group under .250. All primers are newer lots.

 

[Firecat]

I had this same situation happen to me just this week. My smith worked up a load using 89 grains Retumbo with Berger 210 VLD's and Federal 215 primers. He shot a group of .415 off a portable bench on a somewhat windy morning. I didn't have any regular 215 primers so I used some 215 Match that I had bought just for this rifle thinking along the same lines as you. The 215M did not work out well at all compared to the the standard 215's he was using. My groups opened way up. In fact it is incredible to me how much my results parallel the results you just mentioned. Makes me feel a little bit better actually because I haven't been able to get back out to the range to test the new loads with the 215 standard primers. From my research the 215 Match primers are a fair bit hotter.

I would recommend trying to find some more 215's and load them before starting down the road of changing your powder weights. It may just be that you need to use that primer in that rifle with that powder.

Here is a test done by a fellow using a home made device and his results when testing the strength and consistency of different primers.
Primer Testing Reference

 

[ppoole]

Ok I will do that I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'll check on that test thank you

 

[BK6x47L]

How old is your powder? How long since you loaded you rounds with 215 0before you loaded the 215M?

Sometimes powder will absorb moisture and your xx.8 grains is actually less because you have the added weight of moisture in your powder.

This is probably not the case, but can contribute and is something to consider.

Also how did the velocities match up from the old to new load with different primers?

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

I just use the 215. The thing burnes 100 grains of powder for cripes sake. I pitch a 180,190, or225 with my 300 u and my lowest charge weight is 93 gr..

 

[ppoole]

I loaded the old load about 8 months ago I loaded 100 up and have about twenty left but powder is dry.

I'm going to try one more thing I might be able to get it yet

 

[ppoole]

Mine loves 87.7 retumbo. 93.5 retumbo but the favorite is 89.7 of h1000 and the 215. .252 is hard to argue with when it's a factory barrel and receiver.

But I just got an instant Indicator in so I'll play with that and check the seating depth. I'll let everyone know what I find

 

[ppoole]

Bx6x47 I left the chrono at the house by accident and just got it in about two weeks ago have not been able to pull it out

 

[bobh918]

I haven't messed around with the standard 215's, but i have tried 215M's in some loads and have found them to be too hot and soft and have gone back to using cci 250 primers in my 300RUM. For some reason, in all of my loads I was working up, the 215M's were always running hotter than loads with the cci's. Even with minimum charges and backed off seating depths. Like everyone says, no two guns are equal, so stick with what works and go with that. It's just the price we pay to experiment and play!

 

[ppoole]

I haven't messed around with the standard 215's, but i have tried 215M's in some loads and have found them to be too hot and soft and have gone back to using cci 250 primers in my 300RUM. For some reason, in all of my loads I was working up, the 215M's were always running hotter than loads with the cci's. Even with minimum charges and backed off seating depths. Like everyone says, no two guns are equal, so stick with what works and go with that. It's just the price we pay to experiment and play!

Yeah I went and tried it again with no luck. I loaded the rest of that lot of brass with 215s and bullet seating depth measured from ogive is perfect, will check runout tomorrow and shoot Saturday.