Unburned powder in .308 brass

[effex]

Hi guys,

New reloading question here.

I have some 308 cartridges which were load and fired fine.

After de-priming and sizing the brass I have a bowl full of brass with half a teaspoon of unburned powder at the bottom.

Is that to be expected? Or did I get a little bad powder maybe?

What's the story.

Thanks.

[headspace]

What sort of primer did you use and what powder?

[effex]

Hi Headspace,

Federal primers and 2208 powder.

[headspace]

That should be OK, how was accuracy, and have you tried reaming the primer flash holes? The other possibility is the humidity has got to the powder, did you leave it in the powder measure for any length of time?

[Bark]

It can be a sign that your powder charge is too light also.

What weight bullets? What powder charge?

[headspace]

How long had it been since the cartridges had been loaded?

If the load was a light one and the cartridges had been unused for a while the powder could become "matted" and not ignite properly.

JD

[effex]

Hi JD,

The cartridge as 6-7 months old?

I will have to get the exact load data tonight as I don't remember it off the top of my head.

[headspace]

The humidity you get up there could have a bearing on how long ammo can be stored.

Let us know the info when you get it.

JD

[Bills Shed]

Hi Effex,

I doubt it is the humidity but you never know.

I didn't have any trouble when I lived up there but I have had the same issue when I tried to use a slow powder with a pill that was to light.

The pressure does not build up enough in the barrel and so this leads to incomplete burning.

I too will be interested in the load data.

Bill

[effex]

Hi Bill & JD,

So that data...

150gr Sierra Game King
44.5gr 2208 powder
Federal Champion primers
Winchester brass

I have tripled checked and I'm definitely above the minimum powder charge according to ADI.

44gr - 47gr for this bullet weight according to their website.

Could that still potentially be not enough for a full burn?

Thanks again.

[Lyam]

What rifle are we talking about too?

What barrel length?

[headspace]

You could try the ADI load for the same bullet weight but change the powder to 2206H.

I live in Northern NSW and we get some pretty good humidity, but nothing like Darwin (sigh of relief)

JD

[effex]

Thanks JD.

I've only tried 2208 at this point so probably worth trying another powder anyway?

Might fix my problem and give me a bit more accuracy.

[BBJ]

I live in Northern NSW and we get some pretty good humidity, but nothing like Darwin (sigh of relief)

Happy to swap the weather if you can arrange it?

[Kipper]

You realise the Bureau of Meteorology don't actually make the weather right?

[BBJ]

They don't

Since when?

[headspace]

I live in Northern NSW and we get some pretty good humidity, but nothing like Darwin (sigh of relief)

Happy to swap the weather if you can arrange it?

Sorry mate, that's a little outside my pay grade.
JD

[headspace]

You realise the Bureau of Meteorology don't actually make the weather right?

That's understandable, they have enough trouble getting the forecast right.

[BBJ]

Sorry mate, that's a little outside my pay grade.
JD

Well, consider it an open offer.

Happy to swap in the future when circumstances permit

[chacho]

That's understandable, they have enough trouble getting the forecast right.

I still think of that massive hail storm in Sydney years ago. 1999 or 2000 maybe?

I remember there being something like $2 billion in damages, gold balls the size of cricket balls, mayhem in the eastern suburbs.

Largest hail storm Australia has had I think? Yet no heads up from the Bureau of Meteorology...

Everyone was pretty happy with them as you can imagine.

[mahna]

I remember the photos of cars with every window smashed and every panel destroyed.

Car dealers getting their whole inventory wiped out and stuff like that.

[lole]

More than just cars, the hail was so big it was smashing through roofs into houses.

Half the suburbs out that way were held together with tarps for months after.

[dustin]

I remember after some people were thinking it was an opportunity to get a new car out of their insurer.

People were doing stuff like putting golf balls in socks and they bashing their cars with them.

The insurers worked it out though and found stuff like dimple patterns in the dents and knocked them all back

[headspace]

Ah boys back to the topic...

I've just been working up a load for my .308 use 2206H and I'm also using 150gn Bullets, Game Kings and Nosler BT'

So far I'm only up to 43grains of the powder but I'll be testing some loads soon with 44 and 45grains.

The ADI load shows a maximum of 47grains so I'm still well below that, but I have the cases loaded to just below the neck. We'll see how that goes. I'm using Winchester cases and CCI LR primers.

JD

[Carter]

I think you've got a crossed line there JD.

47gr of powder for 150gr .308 is for 2208, not 2206H

Max powder charge for 150gr .308 with 2206H is only 45.5gr of powder.

Double check - .308 Winchester Load Data

[Boatman]

...I have the cases loaded to just below the neck. We'll see how that goes.

Shouldn't be a problem.

Not uncommon for powder around that density/burn rate to have a little compression at max load.

8208, 2206H, 2208... All often have compressed loads.

[headspace]

I think you've got a crossed line there JD.

47gr of powder for 150gr .308 is for 2208, not 2206H

Max powder charge for 150gr .308 with 2206H is only 45.5gr of powder.

Double check - .308 Winchester Load Data

You're right mate, I got wrong, I double checked the ADI data and it is 47gn of 2208.

So, I went out today and shot both loads 44gn and 45gn mostly with Sierra 150 Game Kings. I also shot a couple of 3 shot groups with Nosler Accubonds. but I reckon the Sierra's will do anything I want, and the rifle seems to prefer them.

Even though they are fairly solid loads the primers weren't flattened, but I think I'll leave it at that.

JD

[Carter]

You're right mate, I got wrong, I double checked the ADI data and it is 47gn of 2208.

NP.

Thought I'd mention it just to be safe

[Hinky]

So, I went out today and shot both loads 44gn and 45gn mostly with Sierra 150 Game Kings. I also shot a couple of 3 shot groups with Nosler Accubonds. but I reckon the Sierra's will do anything I want, and the rifle seems to prefer them.

And the Game Kings are a third of the price of the Accubond's.

Game Kings all the way.

[Lorgar]

So, I went out today and shot both loads 44gn and 45gn mostly with Sierra 150 Game Kings.

Throwing one more into the mix...

When I was developing loads for my Ruger .308 I tried the Game Kings and Pro Hunters.

I was shooting 100m - 200m and the Pro hunters were a bit more accurate than the Game Kings in my setup.

(Not knocking the Game Kings at all, just if you're in your LGS and there is a box of 150gr Pro-Hunters on the shelf...)