weak primers?

[deerhunter1981]

Hey 'all

Last time I was shootin my .444 i discovered, when cleaning it, that there was powder left in the barrel. When I looked into the receiver, it had pretty much debri in it (powder I guess).

I've been using 50 grain Norma 201 (equals Vith N133), Hornady 265grains and large rifle primers, CCI 200. I got the loading data from a well-known hand-loading manual.

I pretty green when it comes to hand-loading, so help me out here. Could it be that the primers are too weak, e.g., that it does not burn all the powder?

Except for so and so accuracy, probl due to heavy bullets and micro-groove/slow twist, the loads shoot just fine as far as I can tell

[Lloyd Smale]

it could be but i doubt it. What you could be seeing is filler. Powder isnt all powder theres alot of filler in it that used to get burning rates correct. H4227 is notorious for this and no matter what primer you use you will have residue. Unless its hurting the reliability of your gun and the load is shooting well i wouldnt worry about it. It wont build up as the next bullet is going to blow it out of your barrel anyway.

[Mikey]

deerhunter - I think you're using the wrong load and having unburned powder or powder residue left in the barrel.

If you think Norma 201 is the equivalent of N133, that's ok.  I'm familiar with the VV powders but there is no loading data for the 444 using N133 powder.  There is data using N110, N120 and N130 but no N133.  The VV manual states N133 is very close to IMR 4198 which is one of my favorites for the 444 and has always given me good accuracy.  

Actually, one of the most accurate loadings I have used is with H4198 - 49 gns with a 240 gn slug is pretty much a good standard for me.  For the 300 gn bullet, my Speer #12 Manual shows a load of 43 gns of IMR 4198.  CCI-200 primers were used.

I just think you are using the wrong powder.  For the primers I prefer Winchester Large Rifle and for powders I prefer Hodgedons although I have had good results with VV powders too.  

The so and so accuracy you referred to - might be the powder you have used.  The 300 gn jacketed slugs get excellent accuracy from my micro-groove barrels.

If you would like to try some other types or styles of bullets in your 444 and have a whole bunch of fun doing so, find the Beartooth Bullet website ( add a www and a .com) and read what they have done with the 444, heavily loaded heavy cast bullets and the micro-groove barrels - they take the 444 into a whole other arena.  JMTCW.  Mikey.