Neck fouling

[ShootSavage]

I just recently made my first reloads, I did two calibers 300 win mag and 243 win, on the 300 win mag shells after I fired them I found they were sooty or blackened around the neck (just the neck, no further down the shell) is this normal. I used Hogdon H4831 powder and 168 grain Hornady Match HPBT bullets, all from 5 - 3 grains under full recommended load.

 

[Winchester 1886]

Don't worry,it's normal...

 

[Ron AKA]

The neck is probably not expanding fully due to the lighter load. Measure the fired case neck outside diameter and compare to a hotter load.

 

[H4831]

H4831 burns best--most efficient and most accurate, when it is loaded full up and the bullet compresses the powder.
Load it up and the necks should be clean.

 

[ben hunchak]

I agree with H-4831 in regards to H-4831, not a powder to download much at all!

 

[kevguy]

Don't worry,it's normal...

...x2

 

[ShootSavage]

Thanks

Ok guys, neck not expanding fully makes perfect sense now that you guys have made me aware of it, thank you, I really appreciate it. Thanks again.

 

[b72471]

Clean the brass

What you have is normal for reloaded brass. If you want the brass back to it's shiney beginning put it in a lee holder and spin in a drill press , USE steel wool .000 or .0000 and a little oil. They will be like new.

 

[deerslayer]

Make sure your die is adjusted correctly, you might be bumping the shoulder a bit .

 

[ShootSavage]

Make sure your die is adjusted correctly, you might be bumping the shoulder a bit .

how do I know that I'm bumping the shoulder, I am new to reloading and just beginning to learn this stuff and appreciate all the advice I can get

 

[legi0n]

how do I know that I'm bumping the shoulder, I am new to reloading and just beginning to learn this stuff and appreciate all the advice I can get

Visually compare a fired case with a resized one.
Set them both on the table and if the resized shoulder is lower, then it is bumped.

 

[ShootSavage]

Visually compare a fired case with a resized one.
Set them both on the table and if the resized shoulder is lower, then it is bumped.

easy enough, Thanks

 

[mikeman20]

all of my cases have dirty necks after firing, doesnt matter the load and my shoulders arnt bumped down - maybe we just have dirty guns lol

 

[ShootSavage]

no more neck fouling

I did some new loads recently with near max powder charge of H4831 and there's no fouling of the neck, I went .3 grains under max and seems to have solved the problem, so looks like H4831 and ben hanchak got it on the money, Thanks again guys.