30-06 and 223 range day

[rickt300]

I actually shot my 7MM Remington magnum, my 35 Whelen along with my Handi barrels in 30-06 and my 223 superlite barrel.  The 30-06 did really well.  My latest loading is 51.5 grs. of H414 and Noslers 165 gr. Ballistic Tips, I also had to empty some brass in the form of Remington 150 gr. factory loads.  The reload is very mild probably getting no more than 2600 fps but it immediatly started giving me the best groups yet with this barrel. 3 shot groups of just over an inch. With a very old 3 power Weaver with a post reticle I though this was great. The factory loads shot right at 2 inches or a little over.  The 223 barrel shot 6 into 1 1/4 inch. the scope being a similar old model 4x Weaver with a post reticle. The load is 26.5 grains of AA 2520 under the 60 gr. Hornady HP.  Now things started getting out of line. The first 6 had absolutely normal primers, the next 4 all cratered primers and showed signs of high pressure. The primers cratering out enough to make opening the action a slight effort.  They also hit much higher on the target.  I stopped shooting them and shot some Monarch steel cased 55 gr. FMJ.  These gave an expected miserable group of 3 1/2 inches which is what they give in my AR 15. No signs of pressure at all.  The Whelen is a M98 mauser actioned rifle with a 19 inch barrel and a 4x Leupold on it and I was fireforming brass to set it up to load my new favorite, the 200 gr. Hornady Spire point on top of 53.0 grs ofAA 2520.  Some of which I already had loaded. This gives a mild 2450 fps and is nicely accurate along with light recoil. All the fireforming loads went into 1 1/2 inch, 18 of them.  If you haven't done it emptying 35 Whelen brass loaded warmly with 250 grain bullets will wear on you shortly.  The 7 Mag is a Remington 700 and it was just a sight in check, 3 shots in under an inch.  I guess I need to pull down my 223 reloads and figure out why they started acting warm.

[rickt300]

It appears I accidently substituted small pistol primers in the 223 rounds.  Hmmm wonder how that happened?

[bigvarmnt]

Interesting. That's why I quit drinking while reloading. What stock do you have on the 7mm Rem 700. Wood? I bought one several years ago BDL detach box mag. Never been shot. Thought of selling it and getting one with syn. stock. Don't think I can replace stock having detach box mag. Never seen any available. Have you?
Glad you solved the mystery without any problems. Is your superlight barrel 20" 1:9 twist using the 60 gr.ers?

[quickdtoo]

Glad ya got a handle on it! 

Tim

[rickt300]

I pulled down a couple of the 223 shells and powder charge was spot on.  The 223 was the last cartridge I loaded for so I looked at my smal rifle primer collection and there was a newly opened box of CCI 500 small pistol primers in the stack of supposed to be small rifle primers. I must have gotten them the last time I bought primers as the only small pistol primers I buy are the magnum versions which in the case of CCI would have been 550's, handed to me by the clerk in a stack of small rifle primers.  The 7MM mag is a 1971 model BDL in a nice peice of wood. I don't use it much as it seems to be overkill here in Texas and a bit long of barrel to be handled quickly inside a box blind. I like wood myself, once it is properly sealed it doesn't give you any problems and even a scratched up wood stock is way prettier than any synthetic.