I tried my hand at reloading for my Garand today, and the results were dissapointing. The groups were OK, but I had around 5-6 FTFs. I am using 150 grain FMJ bullets, once-fired HXP brass & H335 powder. My test topped out @ 43.2 grains (Hornady gives a spread of 36.9 to 46.4 grains). Could my loads be too weak - and therefore short-stroking the action? I did not have this problem with the factory-loaded HXP ammo.
I am also having a problem checking my once-fired HXP brass with my Lyman headspace gauge. No matter how far I run the die down, I can't get the case to gauge right (it still sticks up above the top step of the gauge). The die is touching the shellholder, so I can't imagine it would be the shoulder holding it up - it must be something near the case head.
I have had this same problem checking size in .223 (a Lyman gauge as well), but I always had mixed headstamps so I only had the problem on a few brands of brass (example: a Federal case would drop in perfectly between the steps, but a PPU case would stick up out of the gauge - both sized on the same die at the same die settings). Unfortunately, I only have the HXP brass in 30-06.
Has anybody else had any problems with a Lyman gauge? Or any other brand of gauge for that matter?
I have read that you can have FTFs if you don't headspace the brass properly, but I am pretty sure that is not the problem (well, as sure as I can be seeing that my gauge isn't telling me anything useful). Am I missing something on die setup? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I am also having a problem checking my once-fired HXP brass with my Lyman headspace gauge. No matter how far I run the die down, I can't get the case to gauge right (it still sticks up above the top step of the gauge). The die is touching the shellholder, so I can't imagine it would be the shoulder holding it up - it must be something near the case head.
I have had this same problem checking size in .223 (a Lyman gauge as well), but I always had mixed headstamps so I only had the problem on a few brands of brass (example: a Federal case would drop in perfectly between the steps, but a PPU case would stick up out of the gauge - both sized on the same die at the same die settings). Unfortunately, I only have the HXP brass in 30-06.
Has anybody else had any problems with a Lyman gauge? Or any other brand of gauge for that matter?
I have read that you can have FTFs if you don't headspace the brass properly, but I am pretty sure that is not the problem (well, as sure as I can be seeing that my gauge isn't telling me anything useful). Am I missing something on die setup? Any suggestions would be appreciated.