A Real WTF Day

[mineralman55]

I finally got out to the range yesterday after what seemed like months of down time, mostly to test out some new loads with AA2495 and get some quality time with my Mega308. It is good there aren't too many days like yesterday, because I'd consider finding another hobby. First, the accuracy wasn't impressive, I was hoping for better, but I haven't had good luck with AA2495 in either 5.56 or 7.62 to date. Then, as I'm squeezing off a round "blamblam". A double. Never had that before. Squeeze off another and "blamblam". Whoa. I look at the bench and one of my RJ trigger pins is lying there! The other pin is working its way out. Geez! Strip the rifle down, get out my allen wrenches, remove the upper set screws, tighten down the lower ones, reinstall the upper locking screws. everything is tight. Fine, get back to shooting. A few minutes later, the bolt catch release falls out! The allen screw pin holding it in place has fallen out! Oh, com'on now. Get out the allen wrenches again, fuss with it a few minutes until it is reassembled, give the entire rifle a once over, and continue shooting. No more incidents for the day, but I was feeling a bit snake-bit at that point.

This is the second time the pins have worked their way out of a rifle with a drop in trigger, so I'm getting an anti-walk pin set to replace things. Okay, lessons learned. Check your equipment even for a routine trip to the range.

BTW, if anyone has a quality recipe using 155, 168 or 175 BTHP and AA2495 in 7.62 I'd appreciate it. If I can't get this stuff to work someone is going to get a heck of a deal on a couple kegs of it.

[Rsquared]

I feel for you MM. I think we've all had those kinda days when nothing seems to cooperate.

[MikedaddyH]

MM ,I've had a couple of days like that last year. It happens to every one. 

[shepp]

Reminds me of riding my motorcycle, rule of thumb was if you took it off put it back on with some lock tight. Learned that after the shifter linkage rattled loose and I had to clutch it to a parking lot, once had a spark plug completly unscrew (not strip thank god). That was a bit more of a challenge to repair in the middle of the country side. 

[98Z5V]

6 hours ago, mineralman55 said:

BTW, if anyone has a quality recipe using 155, 168 or 175 BTHP and AA2495 in 7.62 I'd appreciate it. If I can't get this stuff to work someone is going to get a heck of a deal on a couple kegs of it.

What are you loading now, for charge weights for those projos?  And which specific projos are they?

[Sisco]

Use nothing but RL 15 or Varget. Sorry can't help with any recipes.

[Ben Diss]

Second the powder suggestion.  RL15, Varget and I've had good luck with the Superformance powders.

[MikedaddyH]

6 hours ago, Ben Diss said:

Second the powder suggestion.  RL15, Varget and I've had good luck with the Superformance powders.

Superformance powder should only be used with rifle length gas systems. !!!

[mineralman55]

13 hours ago, 98Z5V said:

What are you loading now, for charge weights for those projos?  And which specific projos are they?

It was just one of those days where everything converges, just in the wrong direction. Hey, nothing exploded, so it's all good.

I'm an experimenter. Can't help myself. I've tried a lot of powders over the years, and the best combos have been:
40.5 gr AA2520, 168 Sierra Matchking
42.8 Match Rifle, 168 Sierra Matchking
41.8 RL15, 168 Sierra Matchking
39 TAC, 168 Hornady BTHP

All use 1x LC cases, WIN LR primers, seated to 2.795" +-0.003". All consistently gave <2MOA @ 100 yds. with iron sights. Varget produced similar results, but kicked like a mule, so I save that for the 30-06. I've got a bunch of Nosler 155s, 168s and 175s courtesy of Shooter's Pro Shop. The overrun bullets are good to go, the "blems" are sometimes iffy. So, if anyone has an AA2495 recipe they like, let me know.

BTW, I have had correspondence with Hodgdon in the past regarding their Superformance powder, and they emphatically said it is NOT for gas rifles. Probably better to cross that one off the list for our 308ARs.