Neck Soot .308 Win

[STR8 Shot]

Hello all,

I have shot my very first reloads over the weekend and notice a good amount of soot on the case neck. I am not sure what could be causing it. I read that low pressures would incur sooting on the cases - and perhaps that is my issue.

I shot a string of ten shots with commercial Hornady ammo, 150gn SP box says 2820 mv. No sooting at all.

When I moved on to my reloads, 165gn Speer Hotcore SP in front of 3 weights of Varget: 41.7, 42 and 42.3gn, that is where I saw the soot start to happen. Seemed to be consistent between all three powder charges.

The brass is once fired Hornady, and I did not anneal it first.

Any help is appreciated.

I will add photos once I'm home.

 

[saskgunowner101]

What are the min-max charges for this combo? Are you one of those people that equate lower pressures with being extra extra super duper safe, so you dropped down 2-3 grains from the min charge?

 

[cosmic]

Soot can be either low combustion pressure and/or excessive full length sizing. Your loads are in the book minimum range, so sooting is to be expected, and no cause for concern.

 

[yomomma]

Speer does not recommend Varget.


https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/rifle/308_Winchester_165.pdf

Your values are, as stated above, at the low end

 

[STR8 Shot]

What are the min-max charges for this combo? Are you one of those people that equate lower pressures with being extra extra super duper safe, so you dropped down 2-3 grains from the min charge?

I don't know if I'm one of "those" people.

I've never produced or shot a reload before this. According to Hornady, 41.7gn is just below the max load of Varget at 44gn.

I appreciate your attempt to help

 

[STR8 Shot]

Soot can be either low combustion pressure and/or excessive full length sizing. Your loads are in the book minimum range, so sooting is to be expected, and no cause for concern.

I appreciate your reply, Cosmic.

Thank you

 

[STR8 Shot]

Speer does not recommend Varget.


https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/rifle/308_Winchester_165.pdf

Your values are, as stated above, at the low end

I noticed that.

Not sure why Hornady shows Varget used with a similar weight.

I also referenced a recipe thread here using similar criteria to what I am using.

 

[saskgunowner101]

I don't know if I'm one of "those" people.

I've never produced or shot a reload before this. According to Hornady, 41.7gn is just below the max load of Varget at 44gn.

I appreciate your attempt to help

I sometimes come across as a grouchy Gus, but I'm really not lol. Just one of those things you see over the years where guys drop the charge below minimum charges, don't mention that part, and then people try to help, only to discover 20 posts later the reloader is the problem. That said...

I've shot lots of reloads in rifle and pistol, cast bullet loads and jacketed, and smoked or sooty necks isn't the end of the world. Powders seem to have their best range of pressures and coloring outside the lines starts showing up like this. I'd bet if you work the charge up, it will make less sooty necks, and if not, it's probably just not hitting it's optimum pressure for that powder/bullet combo.

 

[STR8 Shot]

I sometimes come across as a grouchy Gus, but I'm really not lol. Just one of those things you see over the years where guys drop the charge below minimum charges, don't mention that part, and then people try to help, only to discover 20 posts later the reloader is the problem. That said...

I've shot lots of reloads in rifle and pistol, cast bullet loads and jacketed, and smoked or sooty necks isn't the end of the world. Powders seem to have their best range of pressures and coloring outside the lines starts showing up like this. I'd bet if you work the charge up, it will make less sooty necks, and if not, it's probably just not hitting it's optimum pressure for that powder/bullet combo.

Thanks, I appreciate your input.

I will increase my loads for my next range trip.

I'll post my results.

 

[todbartell]

I noticed that.

Not sure why Hornady shows Varget used with a similar weight.

Varget is probably the most widely used propellant for 308 Win

 

[bigHUN]

If there is a soot on brass neck there will be soot in same place inside chamber.
What is a best trick to clean inside that deep hole?

 

[iron cat]

Varget and 4895 are my go to powders for my 308 and .223 match rifles

Keep the powder charge up and you will be fine
Thete is a powder trace sine wave on fired brass, I'd that what you are seeing, or actually powder soot.
If it is soot, you my be down in charge weight for your cartridge/ chamber combination, or having a neck that is not sized enough , it could be a number of things , without actually seeing the fired cases and measuring same
Cat

 

[STR8 Shot]

Varget and 4895 are my go to powders for my 308 and .223 match rifles

Keep the powder charge up and you will be fine
Thete is a powder trace sine wave on fired brass, I'd that what you are seeing, or actually powder soot.
If it is soot, you my be down in charge weight for your cartridge/ chamber combination, or having a neck that is not sized enough , it could be a number of things , without actually seeing the fired cases and measuring same
Cat

I'll post a picture later this evening, with measurements.

Thanks

 

[dan belisle]

If there is a soot on brass neck there will be soot in same place inside chamber.
What is a best trick to clean inside that deep hole?

A brush, some cleaning solution, a few patches (I also like the ones for cleaning the bolt lug recesses, they look like dental packs). - dan

 

[dan belisle]

I don't know if I'm one of "those" people.

I've never produced or shot a reload before this. According to Hornady, 41.7gn is just below the max load of Varget at 44gn.

I appreciate your attempt to help

In loading terms, 41.7 is not just below 44. That's a fairly large gap. I use Varget a lot in my 308's. You need to creep up towards that max u til you find your best load. Which may, or may not, be at the max load. I also usually compare similar loads from different manuals (I probably have 50 or so). You can see quite a range. Though from my personal experience, around 44 is going to be pretty close. - dan

 

[todbartell]

I ran some Varget loads this winter through a Savage 110 308 and even though I was 2 grains below their max load, speeds were higher than expected. Definitely high pressure loads

 

[STR8 Shot]

A couple of pictures. I left my calipers at work so I am unable to take a measurement.

 

[Butcherbill]

Honestly I’ve seen sootier necks, but I’m guessing it’s from lower powder charges.

Depending on what load data your using you’re on the low end of the start-max load range for Varget, except for Hornady. Speer doesn’t list Varget in .308 win for some reason. For 165gr jacketed bullets 41.0gr is Lyman’s start load for Varget, Lee’s start load is 42.0gr.

Lyman 48th

Lee 2nd edition


Hornady 10th

 

[OTG8]

Funny enough, I was at the range yesterday with 308 handloads.
IMR 4895 180g Seirra Pro Hunter SP
Also had neck sooting on my lighter loads 39g-41g of a ladder test. 42g and 43g had noticeably less

 

[STR8 Shot]

Honestly I’ve seen sootier necks, but I’m guessing it’s from lower powder charges.

Depending on what load data your using you’re on the low end of the start-max load range for Varget, except for Hornady. Speer doesn’t list Varget in .308 win for some reason. For 165gr jacketed bullets 41.0gr is Lyman’s start load for Varget, Lee’s start load is 42.0gr.

Lyman 48th
View attachment 930442
Lee 2nd edition
View attachment 930443

Hornady 10th
View attachment 930444

Thanks a bunch for digging that up, it is greatly appreciated.

Yeah, I can see that I am definitely in the low range according to both Lee and Lyman. I'll work up some hotter loads for the next range trip and report my findings. Likely two weeks from now.