Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Solve This Reloading Mystery - Accurate Tumblers??

  1. #1
    doc540
    Guest

    Solve This Reloading Mystery - Accurate Tumblers??


    How is this possible?

    Savage M12
    1/9 twist
    .223
    55gr Varmit Nightmare X-Treme HP
    24.5gr IMR 3031

    Out of 65 rounds today, I had 5 tumblers.

    Four of them were tight in their groups.

    I left this one alone to show how accurate it was.

    All 60 shots and four tumblers were in tight groups.

    What is up with this??


  2. #2
    Team Savage wbm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    New Mexico
    Age
    80
    Posts
    2,660
    My first guess would be that some of your "nightmare" bullets are indeed that. I think you have a few that are not spinning down the barrel but rather bob sledding down the barrel.

  3. #3
    seanhagerty
    Guest
    OK, lets start with basics. Are you sure they are .224 diameter? Measure them with calipers, do not trust the marks on the box.

    Sean

  4. #4
    doc540
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by wbm View Post
    My first guess would be that some of your "nightmare" bullets are indeed that. I think you have a few that are not spinning down the barrel but rather bob sledding down the barrel.
    Yes, I'm measuring everything since I'm looking for the optimum load for the M12.

    Natchez bulk bullets may include some "seconds"?

  5. #5
    n4ue
    Guest
    Hi. I've heard that some bullets were either incorrectly filled with lead or not at all.
    Try weighing 100 of them....

    ron

  6. #6
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    489
    Maybe like a bad tire, the bullet is out of balance due to under-par manufacturing and QC procedures. If so your measurements including weights may not be able to detect.

  7. #7
    Basic Member scope eye's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Sebring FL
    Posts
    2,823
    Sorry I can't help you with your dilemma, But that is just the freakiest thing, it just goes to show them savages would shoot rocks on target.

    Dean
    RUMs are like woman in Stiletto heals, you know they are going to put you in the poor house, but that has never stopped anyone from pursuing them.

  8. #8
    82boy
    Guest
    The barrel is carbon fouled.

  9. #9
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Elizabethtown,Pa
    Age
    75
    Posts
    1,313
    Quote Originally Posted by doc540 View Post
    How is this possible?
    Dunno, but you should have fired four more for group!



    Its my "Slap'm silly " load.

    No clue where the other five went!

    In that instance I assume it was the result using up some old .223" 40gr Hornets fireforming 22-250 Imp brass.

    Bill

  10. #10
    Team Savage snowgetter1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    1,135
    Looks alot like what happened when I tried Midway 6mm 55gr Dogtown bullets in my 243 Striker, Savage varmint barrel cut down. The bullets would tumble sometimes, hit sometimes and vaporize into what looked a gray tracer not even making it to the 100 yard target most of the time.

  11. #11
    Basic Member darkker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Columbia Basin, WA
    Posts
    2,408
    The answer is RPM. 24.5gr is a Hodgdon max load, in the ballpark of 3200+ fps.
    That gives you 256,000 rpm, which is essentially it's max. Each barrel is more or less smooth...http://www.shootersforum.com/ballist...pm-limits.html
    I'm a firm believer in the theory that if it bleeds, I can kill it.

  12. #12
    Basic Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    3,355
    Wrong powder......try something more common for .223, like varget,4895,748,322,335, BL-C2 or Benchmark. Scrub your barrel first.
    "As long as there's lead in the air....there's still hope.."

  13. #13
    65impala
    Guest
    I don't see how the powder can be at fault. I've tossed a few thousand rounds of 223 using IMR3031 powder and never had a tumble out of it. I've since changed to IMR4320 since it meters like a dream and gives me a little better results, but there's certainly nothing wrong with IMR3031 powder in the 223 remington cartridge. 24.6 grains with Remington cases, CCI BR-4 primers and 55gr bulk FMJ's were giving me 3300fps from my H&R single shot and typical groups averaged around 3/4 MOA which was good for that particular gun.

    ***disclaimer: The load listed above is max charge according to IMR and should be worked up to with caution. It worked safely in my rifle, but this is no guarentee that it is safe in your rifle****

    George

  14. #14
    doc540
    Guest
    Think I've narrowed it down to the bullets themselves.

    They're Hornady's repackaged and sold in bulk by Midsouth Shooters Supply.

    I suspect they're Hornady seconds, and a few aren't in spec.

    Heard from two other sources they had the same random tumbler from the same bulk ammo.

    Not to worry, the gun shoots fine.

    Put another 100 downrange at 200yds without a single tumbler.

    Thanks for all the info. Good stuff.

Similar Threads

  1. Mystery nut
    By WV1951 in forum 110-Series Rifles
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 04-10-2016, 11:34 PM
  2. Can someone solve my dilemma
    By bushwackr in forum 110-Series Rifles
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 02-10-2015, 10:32 AM
  3. Tumblers
    By Deerhunter 28 in forum Ammunition & Reloading
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-07-2013, 09:30 PM
  4. Brass tumblers
    By fgw_in_fla in forum Ammunition & Reloading
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 12-13-2012, 02:43 PM
  5. Replies: 30
    Last Post: 12-03-2011, 08:01 PM

Members who have read this thread in the last 1 days: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •