I just tested a few of my first reloaded rounds and things arent looking too good. I fired 3 rounds and all of them were short stroking. My first assumption is that my loads are underpowered, however if I am not mistaken short stroking can occur with overpowered loads as well. There doesn't appear to be any other pressure signs, except for a few extractor marks on the head stamp and a few brass shavings on the bolt. I would think that if the rounds were overpowered then there would be more pressure signs, plus the extractor marks could simply be a result of the short stroking. But I need second opinions. (Wolf factory loads work fine in my gun, just saying)
I am using the lightest load possible in my Hornady handbook. I'm using roughly 25.3gr of Benchmark powder with 100gr bullets, using Wolf brass and CCI large rifle magnum primers.
I doubt that if I'm using the lightest load in the book that my loads are too hot, but I just want to make sure. My rifle is a CMMG 5.56 lower and a custom-made 20in upper that was originally a .223 upper. I'm sure that if it were originally designed to withstand the pressure of the .223, then it should have no problem withstanding handloads, let alone the lightest handloads in the book, which is another reason I think my loads are underpowered. Plus the buffer spring might be too stiff for these light loads, since it too was designed for the pressure of a .223.
I also included a picture of the head stamps of the 3 rounds that I fired. Note that the one on top isn't marked as much as the other 2.
So what do you guys think? Is it safe to increase my loads?
I am using the lightest load possible in my Hornady handbook. I'm using roughly 25.3gr of Benchmark powder with 100gr bullets, using Wolf brass and CCI large rifle magnum primers.
I doubt that if I'm using the lightest load in the book that my loads are too hot, but I just want to make sure. My rifle is a CMMG 5.56 lower and a custom-made 20in upper that was originally a .223 upper. I'm sure that if it were originally designed to withstand the pressure of the .223, then it should have no problem withstanding handloads, let alone the lightest handloads in the book, which is another reason I think my loads are underpowered. Plus the buffer spring might be too stiff for these light loads, since it too was designed for the pressure of a .223.
I also included a picture of the head stamps of the 3 rounds that I fired. Note that the one on top isn't marked as much as the other 2.
So what do you guys think? Is it safe to increase my loads?
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