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Muzzle residue

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Gil P. View Drop Down
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    Posted: June/12/2012 at 14:37
I was shooting some of my reloading 308 rounds yesterday and when I was done I noticed that there was this black residue on the muzzle. It was black and flaky; could this be powder? I guess it could be normal but ive never noticed it before.

I was using winchester brass and primers, 175gr SMKs and 43.4 grains of IMR 4895.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 15:04
barrel length short?  Could be unburnt powder but probably just burnt powder residue.
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Gil P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 15:10
The barrel is 20 inches long. If its unburnt, then the residue would catch fire?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 15:17

Take a lighter to it and find out..... would tell you if its unburntWink  More than likely just residue.  My 16" 308 is dirty like that as well. 

"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Gil P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 15:19
Will do, if its unburnt ill back off on the powder charge.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 15:47
I would only adjust if your accuracy is not where you want it. 
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Gil P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 19:39
This is off subject but does anyone here who shoots SMKs ever have bullets with a kind of "jagged" tip? A lot more than a few of my bullets have uneven tips on them. Has anyone noticed this on their SMK bullets, or is that just me?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 22:18
If you want better quality control Berger bullets seem to be better made than the SMK.   I still shoot the SMK and some Horniday AMAX but I am leaning toward trying some Nosler Accupoints and some of the Barnes bullets.

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Gil P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/2012 at 22:59
Thank you, the SMKs were varying by as much as 4 thousandths. I thought my bullet seater was off at first until I inspected the bullets.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/13/2012 at 09:09
the black residue are more of a laquer and varnish chemical composition, and although flammable, not in the sense you mean. They are produced by the burning of the flash suppressants, burning rate comtrolling compounds, and in some powders elements such as bismuth. A more than you would expect unburned powder is ejected however, especially in single base extrudede powders, and manufactures will place large sheets in front of the barrel to collect and analysis the residues.
In your jagged point question;, the front or point of the bullet has very little to do with accuracy and the shock front built up in ahead of the bullet is not affected by it. I shoot tons of smk (literally) and  you should enjoy the bullet especially if it works for you, without concern in this area. The reason you don't see more posts on the subject-- it is not important. Some competition shooters do not like this extruded  type of tip (David Tubb) and prefer to use a device which cuts the meplat back such that all the bullets have the same seating depth, which can affect accuracy. In tactical, and general use this extra step isn't needed. Higher cost bullets such as berger may provide a higher bc, which helps fight downrange wind drift but that is all. They are not more accurate than either smk or amax.
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Gil P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gil P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/13/2012 at 10:20
Good to know Dale, I wasnt looking forward to spending almost 50 dollars on Bergers anyway. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/14/2012 at 07:44
Nosler custom competition bullets do quite well too, and are typically cheaper than SMKs
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Alan Robertson View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alan Robertson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/20/2012 at 11:46
I've found the uneven meplats on everyone's match bullets, not just SMKs.
My eyes are getting old and such minor inconsistencies don't matter that much as long as OAL doesn't become an issue. Better shooters probably disagree.

I shoot whatever is on sale.
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