Albert 888 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Having problems with my howa 308. At first I thought that my brass was showing over pressure sighns as I am getting a half moon shape mark on my brass from the bolt face which could be my fault,but on further inspection my bolt lug has score marks on it,I have run some factory and home load ammo through the mag and into the chamber and then extracted, the brass is marking as the bolt face is rubbing the brass. I have stuck a fag papper on the brass and chambered and it's rubbing the papper off. So is my head space to tight. The barrel has been removed from the action before this as my chamber had a machine mark in it and it was marking my brass. can anyone shed any light on the matter please and it's beginning to p##s me off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) Forgot to mention the bolt opens and closes but I can feel it binding but it not too stiff. Edited November 13, 2014 by Albert 888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem223 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 .You really need a set of go, no-go gauges to check this and you need to make sure there is nothing interfering with the chambering. If in doubt I would consult a gunsmith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 OK I have had a word with the gunsmith howas are known for having a tight headspace ,the scoring one the bolt lug is because I used oil instead of grease and a combination of only neck sizing my brass. Now I'm going to fl size all my brass and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 (edited) I also have a Howa in 308 and don't have a problem with scoring like you have.. and i only neck size mine Edited November 15, 2014 by hawkeye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Think your stressin for nuffin bro. Black your lugs, if only one is contacting stone it until the other contacts as well. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 I will try some high spot blue on the lugs thanks and some fl sized brass through the chamber. I most probably am stressing tho,just doing my best to get everything right. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 how many times have the brass been shot as I think fister is on the right track Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) Think your stressin for nuffin bro. Black your lugs, if only one is contacting stone it until the other contacts as well. U. We were always told if you have black lugs you got a clip round them and told to get them washed straight away Edited November 16, 2014 by hawkeye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 We were always told if you have black lugs you got a clip round them and told to get them washed straight away Lol not them lugs lol. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) I'm using Lapua brass and that's been fired 3 times now. I have only necksized as I'm waiting for a rcbs fl die to turn up. The last load I put through it where 2.2g over max book, Using N140 and 155 scenars the Base of the brass had a proud half moon shape from the bolt face extractor pin cut out,it started to do this at 44.5g,but didn't notice untill I cleaned the brass:-o ,so I'm going to back it off to around 44g,still have some test amo made up and it gave a 0.5" group will put over a chrono to see what they do. The 308 mark on the barrel isn't obviously out of position,will check for match marks and report back,I can remember seeing two punch marks when I stripped it down. The score marks on the lugs could be down to tight bolt lift after firing,it didn't seem that tight but it was raining and i was shooting the 223 whilst waiting to cool,I'm now putting a very light film of pneumatic grease on the lugs. Thanks for the info Im sure with everyones help I will get there in the end. I always clean behind my lug and wear clean underwear. Cheers Albert Edited November 16, 2014 by Albert 888 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Just a suggestion, I loaded some hotter than intended once (I meant to go up a grain but went up 2 for some reason which put it a gn and a half over max) and no matter what I did after that the brass still got scraped - I came to the conclusion the extruded "bump" in the head of the brass was causing it. New brass sorted the problem 100% though I've no idea how you'd check for the bump I'm talking about, that said you've had three firings out of your current brass so it wouldn't break the bank too much to get some new brass. I've also taken to f.l. sizing each time, seems much less hassle though you may get less life out of your brass that way. Seating the bullet further out will also lower the pressure a bit so might help too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) My lapua brass was tight after a few reloads, the half round scrape my remmy did, I just sized a fraction more. Fister is spot on with the brass losing its elasticity. You could anneal them or wait till necks start splitting and bin them. I would not assume it is down to being over book at first. U. Edited November 16, 2014 by Underdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Yes using 155 scenars and coal in my book is 2.795 that I have been using. The bolt face is marking 155g sp ppu unshot live amo when run through the mag into chamber then extracted,that's why I thought it was the head space. The chamber is as clean as, and I'm almost certain that I haven't got any lube in the chamber. I run a oiled patch through the chamber for storage after cleaning then clean out before shooting with 3 wet patches with brake cleaner then 2 dry patches. It was heavy rain when I test shot,I did my best too keep everything as dry as I could. I am going to back off the load. I won't put any more home loads through it untill I source a fl die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Thanks for that that's one less thing to worry about. The ppu is for my winchester p14 target rifle,only bought it as it was cheap and i wanted to harvest some different brass so I wouldn't get it mixed up with the howa brass. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) reading this it appears you only got pressure signs at higher charge levels..... back them off highly unlikely it passed proof with a very short chamber sound like you have a) neck sized lapua cases which are notoriously hard and don't have the same spring back b ) hot load for your bullet/case choice c) a small but in spec chamber d) previously had some crud in your lug recess and scored the lugs (don't go stoning the lugs without headspace measuring equipment) back off your charges and FL size your brass and see what happens Edited November 21, 2014 by Bewsher500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted November 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I have had a few chats and explanations of some experienced rifle shooters and they are coming up with the same as yourself. I'm currently doing my best to track down a fulllength die,going to have to order one. The chamber is stainless and I'm 80% I hand no contamination on the bolt or chamber. Apparently the ppu 150 g sp factory rounds I have been chambering are notoriously tight,and chambering them with no grease on the lugs has caused the bolt to mark,never shot them just chambered.One of my fellow shooters has offered to spend some time with me and shoot some loads over the chrono. When i get the fulllength die I will make some more loads. Studying the brass my max load will be around 44g of n140.the book says max is 43.3g at 2624 fps. I had touching groups at 100m with 37.5g but the drop was over 20" at 300m,estimated at 2350 fps. Looking at the Lapua data thier spec is 2820 fps at the muzzle with the 155g scenars. Thanks for the explanations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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