Blowing smoke?

[Brad Y]

At the recent NWDRA I was plagued with trouble with my ever faithful (to that point) 6.5mm I had vertical issues which I have found the seating depth wasnt quite right with 7 thou less jam than normal. However more puzzling was that the rifle was producing a large amount of smoke each time it was fired. It looked pretty carbon fouled after two ranges so I cleaned it (borescoped to verify there was no more carbon) and used it again the next day and the same thing was happening. I did use a different batch of 450 primers but they were the ones that worked well for me in Tassie in March. Havent had any problem with them either nor have I had any difference between lots of 450's I have used in this rifle. Cases are all the same, projectiles same and powder the same lot of 2209 that Ive been using since mid last year.

What does a whole lot of smoke indicate? Is it the barrel giving up the ghost? Its never done it before with the same load. We joked about who put diesel in my powder actually.

[AlanF]

Some bullet coatings e.g. wax, can cause smoke.

[williada]

Brad, a lost of old blokes still use condoms. They like the smell of burning rubber.

[Brad Y]

No these are naked bergers- no condoms, I like to live on the wild side

Got me totally stuffed. Wondering if maybe I need to turn up the pressure a little to make sure its all burning. Already running 450 primers so cant get the spark any hotter.

[williada]

Brad, if its the same powder it should not go off like that. However brewing some cider I had an insipid batch and a mate said give it a month and it will turn. Well it turned overnight, is darker and sweet. Had me buggered and I've been brewing awhile. It was a temperature thing.

If your projectiles are going through paper at 100 yards and leaving a smudge on the hole, usually it is a sign of going too slow and an incomplete powder burn. Jamming into lands or a tighter neck tension can help assist the burn if your primers are ok for what its worth. Otherwise I have not got a clue unless it is something like Alan suggested. David.

[Brad Y]

David- I am usually jamming 10 thousandths. However Im not pushing this case to its capacity, just going along quite slow and steady. Have always wondered if I should turn it up a little and try get it burning a bit nicer. I had wondered today if its possible for the barrel (maddco and relatively soft) to have worn and gas is getting around the bullet causing burn problems, smoke, poor velocity spread and my vertical patterns on target.

[Razer]

Quote: What does a whole lot of smoke indicate? Is it the barrel giving up the ghost? Its never done it before with the same load. We joked about who put diesel in my powder actually.

Not diesel?
But, could the propellant have picked up some moisture, or, if you ultrasonic clean, residual moisture in the cases?
This will slow the burn rate down and also give you inconsistent/incomplete burn(smoke) which gives vertical problems.
Doesn't take long for the lid to be off the container on a damp or humid day to get damp powder, and, you said that you opened this can over a year ago!
I have found 450 primers to be very consistent in Lapua Palma brass, even different batch numbers, so I think that you could eliminate them as the cause.

[Brad Y]

I dont think it could have, its in the original plastic bottle it comes in with lid on TIGHT. Then stored in a safe.

Definitely not diesel.

I dont ultrasonic clean, just tumble cases and these had been deprimed and sized and sitting in the safe for a few months since last used. Residual moisture would have evaporated by now I would have thought.

[williada]

Brad you can soon test for a gas seal problem. Use a spitzer and test. if there is no smoke we know its a gas seal problem. I know Madco's in .30 in the past we on the large size, but I can not see the wear if an instant problem turns up. Did you clean the cases in metho? If you did, sometimes this can remain in the case effect primer ignition or strip residue off the walls. I did that once when I was batching cases. David.

[Brad Y]

David, no just a tumble in lyman media in a vibratory tumbler. I dont like using any wet methods of cleaning brass, particulary any chemical that could leave a residue. Im getting more conscious about reloading and anything that can get into reloads. Especially if I want to shoot well at long range, consistency is key.

[SMITHTON]

I like Alans suggestion. I had a 500 box of bullets and the plastic bag was tacky. had to wash the lot.

[Brad Y]

Bergers dont come in a plastic bag. And again its the same box that I have used til now without problem.

[johnk]

Bergers dont come in a plastic bag.

They do in 500s

[aaronraad]

Brad you can soon test for a gas seal problem. Use a spitzer and test. if there is no smoke we know its a gas seal problem. I know Madco's in .30 in the past we on the large size, but I can not see the wear if an instant problem turns up. Did you clean the cases in metho? If you did, sometimes this can remain in the case effect primer ignition or strip residue off the walls. I did that once when I was batching cases. David.

Like David suggests I'd just make up a 'safe' load of each and swap out one component at a time to find the culprit. If you have a fireforming barrel you could also use that to eliminate your working barrel.

Theory says that if the 450's are the only component you have changed then that should be the answer, but it could still be anything...check the bench for an empty can of silicone spray and interrogate the kids to find out which one sprayed the lyman media

[aaronraad]

Bergers dont come in a plastic bag.

They do in 500s

My Berger's don't even come with lead cores