Author Topic: BULLET SCRATCH (Read 401 times)

tvc15 · « **on:** March 19, 2006, 12:23:24 PM »

After reloading about 30 rounds I decided to chamber a few rounds to check things out. When the rounds were cycled out I noticed some of the bullets have a very small scratch between the ogive and the brass. almost like the bullet was not centered until it went into the chamber. The bullets are .03 off the lands. One clue this brass is some of my first through the dies and I didn't lube the cases and it was squeaking on it's way out. I feel they are OK to shoot. What do you think??

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2006, 12:43:25 PM »

Look real close while you chamber a round...bet it is rubbing on the chamber as it is being fed by the bolt.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2006, 11:50:05 PM »

I wouldn't worry about the scratch; the rounds should be safe to shoot. Most rounds I've chambered and ejected have a scratch or two on the brass and bullets. It doesn't hurt anything.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2006, 03:54:28 AM »

You don't mention what type action or what manufacture your rifle is, nor how many rounds have been fired though the rifle.

If you open the action, drop a cartridge into the chamber by hand and close the action then eject the cartridge do you still have the scratch?

I agree, the bullet is probably rubbing as it comes out of the mag and into the chamber. It could also be rubbing when it gets extracted from the chamber and thrown out of the action. The scratch on the bullet, depending on how severe it is, probably won't affect the accuracy much if it's just a light scratch. You might need to have the action smoothed and tuned if you want to eliminate this or, it might work it's self out over time and several hundred cycles of the action during the course of firing the rifle.

More information would help.

tvc15 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2006, 12:16:59 PM »

MOre info. It is a remmington bolt action. Mabey 4-5 hundred rounds have been shot. If it was the chamber scratching wouldn't it scratch in a different place each time? it will scratch 1 time only. tvc15

Steve P · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2006, 03:45:33 PM »

I am guessing you galled your sizing die and may have a little brass or copper up in the seating die scratching stuff. Clean up your dies good. Lube them with a little imperial sizing wax. Lube your cases from now on.
If you keep scratching, you may have to polish or replace the sizing die.

Steve