Reloading for my Winchester M70 338 Winmag. Have reloaded many times using Hornady 225gr SPs and RL22, but this is my first time using monos, Nosler 225gr E-Tip and VV N165 powder. I had just come into four pounds of the N165 and wanted to try it.
Loaded a ladder test string starting at 62gr to 75gr. What I've always done : FL size, charge, seat.
Cases were not annealed, as did not see the need. For the ones in this case, these would be their 2nd firing.
First round at 62gr, the neck came off.
2nd through 4th rounds, splitting & cracking at the shoulders.
No other pressure signs.
Number on the case indicates the order the cases were fired. Stopped at #4.
Looking at photo, I had evidently pulled #3 before - probably seated to deeply.
Q: What are potential causes?
Though this has never happened before in my loading, makes me want to take out the cerrosafe and cast the chamber for a sanity check.
The one difference with the gun is I put a walnut stock on and bedded it.
Haven't re-checked torques, although I wouldn't expect that to cause chamber distortion.
Figure at a minimum, pull the rest, dump/deprime and anneal.
Any ideas or observations are appreciated. Thanks.
Loaded a ladder test string starting at 62gr to 75gr. What I've always done : FL size, charge, seat.
Cases were not annealed, as did not see the need. For the ones in this case, these would be their 2nd firing.
First round at 62gr, the neck came off.
2nd through 4th rounds, splitting & cracking at the shoulders.
No other pressure signs.
Number on the case indicates the order the cases were fired. Stopped at #4.
Looking at photo, I had evidently pulled #3 before - probably seated to deeply.
Q: What are potential causes?
Though this has never happened before in my loading, makes me want to take out the cerrosafe and cast the chamber for a sanity check.
The one difference with the gun is I put a walnut stock on and bedded it.
Haven't re-checked torques, although I wouldn't expect that to cause chamber distortion.
Figure at a minimum, pull the rest, dump/deprime and anneal.
Any ideas or observations are appreciated. Thanks.
Attachments
Last edited: