Unburned powder in the barrel

[woodlotowner]

I found some interesting and disconcerting results today while shooting the Remington 673, in .350 magnum, with some hand loads. There were what appeared to be obviously unburned powder cylinders of H-4831 in the barrel after firing some hand loads with 180 grain bullets. The 'remains' were yellow coloured hollow tubes in the exact dimension of H-4831 powder granules. Every round produced the same unburned powder results. I am wondering if this is because I am not using magnum primers or if it is a problem with this bullet weight in this caliber with this powder. It is a starting load from the latest Nosler book, so I am not getting creative here. I am never creative with hand loads. With heavier bullets (200 and 220) I use H-380 with stellar results. I have no H-380 data for the 180 grain bullet weight in this caliber.

This batch of H-4831 works well in my .270 WSM and the 30-06, so what gives??

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[iceman2]

Does your manual call for mag primers? if yes that could be your problem.

 

[acrashb]

There were what appeared to be obviously unburned powder cylinders of H-4831 in the barrel after firing some hand loads with 180 grain bullets. [...] so what gives??

Most loads in most rifles will not completely burn. As long as it shoots well, don't worry about it.

 

[pharaoh2]

I'd be inclined to try again with the hotter primer, but you would think the powder itself would have burned regardless.

 

[H4831]

It is not the primers fault. The powder is too slow burning for that light bullet in the large bore.
Maybe you should get creative. Just look at a 350 magnum compared to your 270 WSM. Do they look like they should take the same powder, considering the light bullet for a 350?

 

[Gatehouse]

If H4831 worked well in the .350 RM, Hodgdon would list it in thier manual. They don't so that tells you something right there.

You should try something faster burning for the 180gr bullet. I'd reach for H4895

 

[woodlotowner]

It is not the primers fault. The powder is too slow burning for that light bullet in the large bore.
Maybe you should get creative. Just look at a 350 magnum compared to your 270 WSM. Do they look like they should take the same powder, considering the light bullet for a 350?

Considering the .350 mag was the 'original' short magnum, and dimensionally it looks similar to the .270 WSM...sort of, I thought it would work, especially when I saw a listing for it in the Nosler guide. I now tend to agree fully with you in terms of burn rate for this caliber in this bullet mass. I will pick up some BL-C(2) and some H-4895 when I get to Epps next visit. Thanks for the input.

 

[woodlotowner]

If H4831 worked well in the .350 RM, Hodgdon would list it in thier manual. They don't so that tells you something right there.

You should try something faster burning for the 180gr bullet. I'd reach for H4895

Yes. Agreed. What was I thinking? And what about a 180 grain in this caliber with the twist rate in the first place? Is the bullet even stabilizing I wonder. Seemed like a nice crisp round hole at 75 yards. I was just trying to develop a nice 'light' load for plinking, if this term even applies in .35 caliber, since the 200 grains loads are a tad snappy. With the 200 grainers though the H-380 works very well.

 

[Gatehouse]

If you want a ligth load, you can use a H4895 60% load.

 

[woodlotowner]

If you want a ligth load, you can use a H4895 60% load.

Thanks Gatehouse. I will try your suggestion as a starting load with the 180s.