Powder Residue

[Ehtereon11B]

New to reloading and tried a new recipe for my .35 Marlin over the weekend. Had some interesting powder residue on the necks. Shot 12 rounds total. 6 Factory, and 6 handloads with 2 different powder amounts. The burns appear on 4 of the cases. Took pictures of the worst 2. Cases spent 6 hours in a tumbler. Any thoughts?

200 grain Hornady FTX
39.1 gr Hodgdon Leverevolution
CCI 200
Brass is once-fired reload from factory ammo

 

[Walkalong]

A little black on the neck is pretty normal. as pressures go up the brass seals better and the powder burns cleaner, both of which help to lesson the residue on the necks/cases.

I am not familiar with that powder, and without looking it up, I do not know if that is a starting load or closer to max.

Welcome to THR

 

[helotaxi]

Normal. You get a little backflow/blow-by from the time the bullet leaves the case until the pressure expands the case neck to seal it all off. The residue from that low pressure (relatively) burn is kinda dirty and when the case neck is expanded, it's sandwiched between the case and chamber wall and smashed into a fairly solid carbon "film". Usually a quick swipe with a shop rag or an alcohol wipe get rid of it immediately while hours in the tumbler may not touch it.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Hodgdon listed the maximum load as 45 grains for that powder. The suggested load printed right on the bottle for my caliber and bullet weight is 41.4 grains. I started low with 37.26 grains for one set and 39.1 grains for the second. Great groups on both with 3/4" and 1/2" at 100 meters respectfully. Glad to hear it is normal though.

 

[rcmodel]

It will get worse the more times you reload the brass.

Firing & resizing work hardens the necks, so it will take more pressure to get a case seal early in the pressure curve.

rc

 

[MEHavey]

Anneal the case necks and the problem will totally go away....
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4147934&postcount=8

 

[Ehtereon11B]

I think annealing the case is a little above what I want to do on brass right now. I will probably pick up neck sizing dies for my rifles since that brass is more expensive than pistol.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think annealing the case is a little above what I want to do on brass right now. I will probably pick up neck sizing dies for my rifles since that brass is more expensive than pistol.

Is your rifle a lever? Those are very good groups. If it's a lever, don't even try neck sizing dies.. they won't even chamber or if they do, they'll do only once and with great difficulty.

 

[popper]

FL size and just set the neck back a few thous. I like that powder, most any powder leaves that soot.

 

[Walkalong]

You set the shoulder back, and around .003 is a good way to go, or get a case gauge, and size to fit that.

 

[FROGO207]

If the carbon ring bothers you just use some 000 steel wool to polish the neck before dropping them into your tumbler and that's that. Agreed that most brass will get this unless at the high end of the load data. No real thing to worry about however. And welcome to the forum.

 

[243winxb]

LVR Powder is not made for Light Loads.

Increase the powder charge to maximum load. Hornady made this loading/powder to reach top velocity. Load will burn cleaner at maximum. If you looked at the data, this is why you purchased LVR powder?? You can always change powder to one of the 4895's 35 Remington
Cartridge Load Data Starting Loads


Maximum Loads LVR Powder



Bullet Weight (Gr.) Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
180 GR. SPR FN LVR .358" 2.470" 40.0 2044 26,700 CUP 45.0C 2302 33,900 CUP
200 GR. HDY FTX LVR .358" 2.540" 37.0 1897 26,500 CUP 41.4C 2116 34,700 CUP
200 GR. HDY RN LVR .358" 2.510" 42.0 2040 25,600 CUP 45.0C 2235 31,200 CUP

 

[popper]

But it works good down to 19 gr. with 170 cast! Sooty but accurate in my 336 30-30. My accuracy goes to pot after 30 gr.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Is your rifle a lever? Those are very good groups. If it's a lever, don't even try neck sizing dies.. they won't even chamber or if they do, they'll do only once and with great difficulty.

Yes my .35 Rem is a levergun. Which is why I like to use the Hornady FTX bullets. Not many places carry them so I jumped at the chance when I found them at a local gun place. I have tried a few recipes on my 7mm-08 with IMR 4064 and never got burns around the neck. Different cartridge and powder yes but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

If you looked at the data, this is why you purchased LVR powder??

Yes I looked at the data, both what is on the bottle and what was published online. That data also said to start 10% below. The chart on the bottle was the lower amount so that is what I started with. (41.4-10%=37.3) Second load was 37.3+5%=39.12. I probably will bump it up to max load over the next few test loads to see stretch the legs on the Marlin so to speak.

 

[popper]

Full bore FTX necks don't get so sooty, just moderate loads with cast. I like the FTX in 30-30, 308 MX with LeverR powder. Just having fun with cast now and LeverR works well there also. Hodgdon site does have an on line load manual for their powders and many bullets.

 

[powell&hyde]

Bump the load up in .03grs at a time and you will be fine.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

I'll gradually increase the powder amount over the next few batches to see if I can get better groups. I doubt it but always good to check. From now I will just be focusing on getting the best FPS possible. Haven't had a chance to use my chronograph yet so it will be interesting.

 

[FROGO207]

Be sure and let us know when you shoot your chronograph. Most of us that have them do shoot them at least once. Guess how I know that.:banghead:
I find that I usually can find a winning balance of speed and accuracy at the higher middle of the load data. Rarely at the max or above. If I don't then I try a different choice of propellant. I also try to find one that comes close to filling the case in hopes the results will be more consistent and double charges will be eliminated.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

I have heard plenty of horror stories about sending a rifle round through your brand new $100+ chronograph. This is why I boresight rifles and run rounds through them at graduated targets before I consider taking my chrono and tripod out to the range.