Soot all over my fired cases.

[track]

I'm reloading for my 257 Weatherby and after firing, the entire case body is covered with black soot. My loads are with RL 22, from low to high loads.
However, this is with only RL 22. I've used IMR-7828 and RL 25 without any issues. This is the very first time this occurred when reloading. Is it possible that the RL 22 is contaminated?

 

[reb]

Sounds like case lube left on the outside of the case

 

['Boo]

RL 22 can be very dirty with low pressure loads.

What bullet and weights of powder have you tried?

What is the velocity of the RL 22 loads compared to the other two loads you tried?

 

[Ganderite]

I usually associate soot with a low pressure load. Neck does not expand hard enough to seal.

 

[fade2black]

Sounds like a classic case of low pressure loads. Increase the charge or try a crimp on the bullet.

 

[Eagleye]

Sounds like a classic case of low pressure loads. Increase the charge or try a crimp on the bullet.

Yes, low pressures will leave soot on the exterior of the case. Increase your powder charge a bit....soot will disappear. Dave.

 

[track]

I always start at the bottom of the load data and then work it up to maximum, with 1/2 grain increments. In this case, with a 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, I started with 67 grains, ended with 71 grains, with 1/2 grain increments. Yesterday, I used IMR-7828SSC as well, however no soot. I think I'll switch to RL 26 and try the RL 22 in another cartridge, to see if the same applies with the soot.
I'm aware that soot is an indication of low pressure, however, after shooting max loads, I'm still perplexed about all this soot.

 

[alpining]

Just because the book says it's a max load does not mean it's your rifle's max load. It might just be getting warmed up. What did your chronograph say?

That said, there's no reason to necessarily stick with that powder in that cartridge if you have alternatives.

 

[Dogleg]

It's sign of low pressure; or at least of low shot-start pressure. It can also be caused by hard necks.

I have a custom .204 that smoked the cases with up to max book loads in new Nosler brass. I had to go 1.3 grains over max before it cleaned up, which is quite a bit with Bench-mark. Also sort of odd that the issue showed up with such a easy lighting clean powder in a small case. Things happen.

Another odd thing is that a lot; even most light loads don't soot up cases. My relatively light cast bullet loads never seem to. There must be a combination of factors that turn the odd load into a smoke stack.

 

[tigrr]

Low pressure or time to anneal.

 

[alpining]

... There must be a combination of factors that turn the odd load into a smoke stack.

100%, and part of the fun!

 

[LordEvilPepper]

I usually associate soot with a low pressure load. Neck does not expand hard enough to seal.

this x2

your case is failing to sealand you are getting blow back of gas around the case... not particularly good for the gun

 

[track]

this x2

your case is failing to sealand you are getting blow back of gas around the case... not particularly good for the gun

I've used two other powders with these same cases, at the same time, "it's only with RL22" that I receive the soot.

 

[fade2black]

I've used two other powders with these same cases, at the same time, "it's only with RL22" that I receive the soot.

I would stay away from RL22 in that rifle if it did that with a variety of charges. A lot of factors can contribute to chamber pressure including free bore, cartridge OAL/seating depth, primer type, neck tension, temperature, pressure, etc.

In your rifle that powder wasn't generating enough pressure to expand the neck and create a seal from gasses escaping past the case neck and down the chamber. Also possible the primers using combined with that powder aren't generating a strong enough ignition to generate that pressure needed. Hard case necks could be a factor too, but likely not a strong factor if the same batch brass didn't have issues with other powders.