Spindrift
Well-Known Member
Usually, when I load a batch of cast bullet ammo, it gets shot after only a few days. The other day, I was shooting a box of 6,5x55 ammo, loaded with pan lubed bullets, with tumble lube overcoat. I always wipe the bullet base after pan lubing, but leave the small amount of tumble lube.
The load was a proven performer, 20 grs N120. This is a consistent load, but it is quite near «the wall», 1 grain more of powder and accuracy goes south. The cartridges had been stored with the bullets facing up, maybe 3 months?
Accuracy was consistently bad, with group sizes 2- 3x normal. Checked the usual things; scope mount, torque, even changed scope from the cheapo mil-dot I was using to the (very) trusted Vx-6. No dice. The shape of the groups seemed to indicate slightly to much pressure.
A couple of years ago, I shot a box of .30-06 ammo, stored for about 6 months. Proven loads with imr4198. Tumble lubed bullets. I got unexpectedly bad accuracy, and actually a few after-burners. These loads were also at the top end of the pressure tolerance of the alloy/bullet/lube- system.
It seems, in these cases, some sort of reaction must have occured between lube remnants on the base, and the powder.
What is your experience in shooting stored ammo, loaded with lubed bullets?
The load was a proven performer, 20 grs N120. This is a consistent load, but it is quite near «the wall», 1 grain more of powder and accuracy goes south. The cartridges had been stored with the bullets facing up, maybe 3 months?
Accuracy was consistently bad, with group sizes 2- 3x normal. Checked the usual things; scope mount, torque, even changed scope from the cheapo mil-dot I was using to the (very) trusted Vx-6. No dice. The shape of the groups seemed to indicate slightly to much pressure.
A couple of years ago, I shot a box of .30-06 ammo, stored for about 6 months. Proven loads with imr4198. Tumble lubed bullets. I got unexpectedly bad accuracy, and actually a few after-burners. These loads were also at the top end of the pressure tolerance of the alloy/bullet/lube- system.
It seems, in these cases, some sort of reaction must have occured between lube remnants on the base, and the powder.
What is your experience in shooting stored ammo, loaded with lubed bullets?