Case head seperation?

[Zero333]

The bulge can also be that the sizing die did not size that part of the case. I see this with 243w 260r 7-08r 308w and many others.

Your chamber is generous around the head and the sizing die doesn't reach all the way down the case, hence why there is a lil bulge, but it's not dangerous.

Like others said, cut a piece of brass down the middle with a dremel and check for brass thinning above the head.

[Robinhood]

If I missed any of this my apologies. Just a few questions.

Is this an aftermarket barrel? Does it have a large chamfer leading into the chamber on the barrel breach? Do you have a picture of the fired brass with bulges? Is the chamber gauge standoff more than say .150"? Have you taken a dial caliper and compared the mouth of the chamber dimension with a SAAMI chamber drawing?


Look around page 83

http://saami.org/specifications_and_...FR.pdf#page=13

Should be in the ballpark of .471 plus or minus....

[gunrack]

I shot about 50 rounds through my .243 today with new Winchester brass. I measured the headspace before and after and saw not growth in the headspace. I was below the load max stated by Sierra but still see the little ring starting to appear just above the case head.

I shot the best group I have ever shot with this rifle today. It was a four shot group that measured 0.450" with new brass. 85 grain SBT over 37.2 grains of IMR4320. Then a second best group of 0.600" with a 100 SBT over 40.5 grains of IMR4350. Best groups to date with this little bone stock savage.

[Texas10]

Congratulations, gunrack! That's good progress and definitely "minute of deer" accuracy, and the reason we love to hand load.

In case your interested, the load I've worked up in my 243 with a 22 inch, 9.25 twist "pencil" barrel is 87 grain V-Max at .012 off the lands, 43.5 grains of IMR-4831, CCI-250, and Winchester brass. Haven't quite got it completely tuned, it's shooting well, just not as well as yours.

[gunrack]

Congratulations, gunrack! That's good progress and definitely "minute of deer" accuracy, and the reason we love to hand load.

In case your interested, the load I've worked up in my 243 with a 22 inch, 9.25 twist "pencil" barrel is 87 grain V-Max at .012 off the lands, 43.5 grains of IMR-4831, CCI-250, and Winchester brass. Haven't quite got it completely tuned, it's shooting well, just not as well as yours.

I just had a good day. A minute of deer is all I really need but you know how it is. we always want them little bitty groups. I feel more confident knowing that the rifle is more capable than I when I get ready to take a shot. Days at the range for me don't happen like that very often. I may never shoot another one like that but I have put in a lot of work on loads on this little rifle. I will make a note of that load you suggested and give a shot some time. I love to tinker with new loads but it sure gets aggravating sometimes. I haven't got enough hair left to keep pulling on it the way I have been lately. LOL