Hello, New guy here with a few questions.
I loaded up some 450BM ammo last night and headed for the range this morning, After firing 3 shots of factory hornady 250's to make sure I was still zeroed I shot a total of 8 of my hand loads, On the 8th shot I got a stove pipe and upon closer inspection I found my extractor to be broken.
Let me back up a little and share my loading procedures.
I started off with factory once fired brass from my rifle, Cleaned and polished, Primmed with Remington 7 1/2 Small Bench Rest Primers, Charged with 35.4 grs of Lil gun and seated 250gr Hornady XTP bullets in them to 2.060, I did the "CLUNK" test an all passed. I am using a .284 FL sizer and seating and taper crimping them with a LEE 45ACP carbide die. On half of them I use Locktite to further "Hold" the bullet better, Because with out the Locktite I was able to use my Hammer style bullet remover to almost remove the bullet with two firm wackes, So I thought I'd experiment a little, Firing the first 4 hand loads with out the Locktite things went very well, all placed with in 2" of my factory shots, little to no soot on the brass. Firing the next 4 with locktite I noticed a bit more soot on the brass and the recoil was noticeably snapper, but the bullets were still with in what I see as an acceptable group for only having a red dot at 100 yards. Then on my 4th and final shot (things broke) I got the stove pipe and found bits of metal in the receiver. (Broken extractor)
My Questions are
1) Is this load to hot?
2) If I got little to no soot on my non-Locktite loads I should stick to just the tapper crimp? Right?
3) What do all you think of my load? Could I seat the bullet further, to the grove in the bullet it self?
I know some of this may fall into the "DUH" category, but I am new to this cartridge and could use any help you have to offer, With all the information I've read about this round, I'm pretty confused, I have Lil gun and W296 for powders, I'm looking for a mid range load with the 250XTP that will be used at the range primarily.
Thanks in advance, And thanks for having me!