Alright... what would cause this?
- Thread starter ipscgraz
- Start date
Just back from the range.
Put approx 200 rounds (25% reloads, 75% milsup) through the beast. No squibs were encountered and all miss feeds can be attributed to operator error.
Upon inspecting each spent round, proud primers were observed on some but not all. Over all, nothing like the primer I observed from my squib load experiment which was very pronounced.
Soooo, I'm thinking the squib load scenario may produce a pretty good measure of head space. Unfortunatly I don't have the measurement tools to confirm that.
As to why the originator of this post has encountered squib loads, I don't know.
My conclusion so far is that the rifle is NOT the source of this issue.
Put approx 200 rounds (25% reloads, 75% milsup) through the beast. No squibs were encountered and all miss feeds can be attributed to operator error.
Upon inspecting each spent round, proud primers were observed on some but not all. Over all, nothing like the primer I observed from my squib load experiment which was very pronounced.
Soooo, I'm thinking the squib load scenario may produce a pretty good measure of head space. Unfortunatly I don't have the measurement tools to confirm that.
As to why the originator of this post has encountered squib loads, I don't know.
My conclusion so far is that the rifle is NOT the source of this issue.
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ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I like the debate and troubleshooting seen here. I had to work today & just got home; will pull the loads tomorrow.
Loaded some 7.62 last night with a different brand of primers. That will be the acid test.
Loaded some 7.62 last night with a different brand of primers. That will be the acid test.
Primer
My 2 cents
If these are your hand loads, you pushed the shoulder back to far when you fl resized(caused by altered loading tools,trimed shell holders,dies) This causes exssive head space....To check this after you resize ,a rcbs cartriage checker can check ammo SAMMI spec for you.
But honestly I THINK IT IS HEADSPACE of the chamber.....Been there,done that ,wore the tee shirt,got the post card!!!!
Why some and not the others...well,you have to thank the extractor for holding it close to the bolt face...but the energy from the firing pin with the help of the ejector, pushes it away from the bolt face just enough to not fire the primer(energy spent in travel)
OOPS
My 2 cents
If these are your hand loads, you pushed the shoulder back to far when you fl resized(caused by altered loading tools,trimed shell holders,dies) This causes exssive head space....To check this after you resize ,a rcbs cartriage checker can check ammo SAMMI spec for you.
But honestly I THINK IT IS HEADSPACE of the chamber.....Been there,done that ,wore the tee shirt,got the post card!!!!
Why some and not the others...well,you have to thank the extractor for holding it close to the bolt face...but the energy from the firing pin with the help of the ejector, pushes it away from the bolt face just enough to not fire the primer(energy spent in travel)
OOPS
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Well...I just finished lunch & got the bullets pulled.
You guys (in general) were right.
Somehow, I managed to get 9 rounds loaded...without any Godd*mn powder.
PMO.
I have more loading faults in this tray than I have had in all my loading since I was about 20 years old; 36 years ago. Obviously time to review the procedures.
I could have just clammed up about this but I know there are norc-haters who will add this supposed rifle fault to the list of "unexplained" kabooms and fails.
As mentioned by other experienced shooters, the primer did ignite as evidenced by the black soot on the back of the bullet.
As mentioned by other experienced shooters, the "pop" from a squib load that I have heard at pistol matches was not audible in this rifle round.
At any rate, thanks to all for some good troubleshooting.
Insert red face here.
Flame on....
You guys (in general) were right.
Somehow, I managed to get 9 rounds loaded...without any Godd*mn powder.
PMO.
I have more loading faults in this tray than I have had in all my loading since I was about 20 years old; 36 years ago. Obviously time to review the procedures.
I could have just clammed up about this but I know there are norc-haters who will add this supposed rifle fault to the list of "unexplained" kabooms and fails.
As mentioned by other experienced shooters, the primer did ignite as evidenced by the black soot on the back of the bullet.
As mentioned by other experienced shooters, the "pop" from a squib load that I have heard at pistol matches was not audible in this rifle round.
At any rate, thanks to all for some good troubleshooting.
Insert red face here.
Flame on....
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No one got hurt, that's the important part. Think of it as a wake up call.
After a 10 year absence from reloading I am finding that I need to check each step twice. Yesterday I found another 7 rounds in my batch with bulged shoulders. They don't chamber very well with that condition. Another time, while running up a set of test loads I ran out of case capacity prematurely. Yep.. was reading the powder scale wrong. Had to pull 10 rounds apart and start from scratch. That one could have ended in catastrophe. Check, check and check again.
Thanks for sharing the experience. We both learned something by it.
I still think the squib load is a means for measuring head space. Will post my findings once I obtain proper measurment tools.
C
After a 10 year absence from reloading I am finding that I need to check each step twice. Yesterday I found another 7 rounds in my batch with bulged shoulders. They don't chamber very well with that condition. Another time, while running up a set of test loads I ran out of case capacity prematurely. Yep.. was reading the powder scale wrong. Had to pull 10 rounds apart and start from scratch. That one could have ended in catastrophe. Check, check and check again.
Thanks for sharing the experience. We both learned something by it.
I still think the squib load is a means for measuring head space. Will post my findings once I obtain proper measurment tools.
C
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I think you would only get the soft pop of a squib load if the bullet and case seperated and the case was ejected or the gases otherwise escaped. You must have had a good crimp for the bullet to stay seated in the brass.
Well, we shall keep an eye on the flamers and people who have nothing but negative remarks about anything that's meant to be constructive and passing on the some knowledge... 
I thank you for sharing your experiences....
I thank you for sharing your experiences....
Had my AME son (has the necessary measurement tools at work) measure how proud the primer was on my experimental squib load. He came back with 10 thou. That's exactly the same value Yoda (Hungry) came up with after I sent him some spent rounds to measure my headspace from.
So... it looks like a squib CAN be used to measure of headspace.
So... it looks like a squib CAN be used to measure of headspace.
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