Snag with NF FPS

[Tanner]

Reloading a 275 Rigby here with North Fork Flat Point Solids 160 gr. My measured CBTO is 2.460 with my seating die all the way out it buries the ogive into the case mouth. So with no way to measure this I went COAL and the furthest out I can seat the bullet is .293 off the lands. This seems extreme and even starting at 4% under minimum per manufacturer recommendations I don’t think I could get much more powder in the shell. I’m fairly new to reloading, any recommendations?

 

[Sika98k]

European cartridge cases hold significantly more volume than American. Norma, Lapua, RWS,Seller&Belliot and Geco are available.

 

[Tanner]

Good to know, thank you, I guess my main concern is if this even going to be remotely accurate or safe with that amount of jump.

 

[RSL]

How are you measuring the distance to the lands? What rifle are you reloading for?

 

[Tanner]

How are you measuring the distance to the lands? What rifle are you reloading for?

Ruger no.1 and using Hornady oal guage with a bullet comparator. I realized the driving bands are what makes contact with the rifling unlike a Barnes bullet. My only other thought is unscrewing the die body off the case mouth several turns. I sent an email to North Fork, we’ll see if the get back to me.

 

[deewayne2003]

I loaded the 350gr FPS in .375H&H to a OAL of 3.575 with 70.0gr H4350; used the last driving band as crimp grove and used Lee FCD.

No issues at all and hitting same POI as 350gr RNSN Woodleigh.

 

[Tanner]

I loaded the 350gr FPS in .375H&H to a OAL of 3.575 with 70.0gr H4350; used the last driving band as crimp grove and used Lee FCD.

No issues at all and hitting same POI as 350gr RNSN Woodleigh.

Very good, thanks!

 

[RSL]

Ruger no.1 and using Hornady oal guage with a bullet comparator. I realized the driving bands are what makes contact with the rifling unlike a Barnes bullet. My only other thought is unscrewing the die body off the case mouth several turns. I sent an email to North Fork, we’ll see if the get back to me.View attachment 777986

Check the difference in the Hornady threaded case and the ones you are handloading case bottom to the shoulder. Looks wonky in the photo. But could be angles distorting stuff.

 

[ARHinAK]

Just out of curiosity, what’s the idea behind loading 160 gr solids ?

 

[Tanner]

Just out of curiosity, what’s the idea behind loading 160 gr solids ?

Elle.

 

[SRvet]

Elle.

Really! You know Karamojo died years ago! There is a reason why there are minimum calibres… if you are even a smidge away from hitting the brain then someone could get hurt!
Unscrew your seating die a few turns and reset your lock ring. You should be able to seat to longer lengths then. I would try to seat with one drive band visible if you can providing you still have some clearance to the lands.

 

[Tanner]

Really! You know Karamojo died years ago! There is a reason why there are minimum calibres… if you are even a smidge away from hitting the brain then someone could get hurt!
Unscrew your seating die a few turns and reset your lock ring. You should be able to seat to longer lengths then. I would try to seat with one drive band visible if you can providing you still have some clearance to the lands.

North Fork did get back to me and said that amount of jump is not normal and to change to a shorter seating stem. I’ll back the die out of the press a bit and go from there. Thanks for the help.

 

[Tanner]

Just out of curiosity, what’s the idea behind loading 160 gr solids ?

Just thought it was a neat option. Maybe I’ll get some use out of them in some hunting scenario but unlikely. Just wanted to play around with them.

 

[Gunnie]

Just thought it was a neat option. Maybe I’ll get some use out of them in some hunting scenario but unlikely. Just wanted to play around with them.

Tiny Ten!

 

[ARHinAK]

I get it. I have 300 grain solids for my 9.3x62 loaded up and ready to go for the same (for me) unlikely scenario.

 

[Firebird]

Love Gunnies’ idea-Tiny Ten!

 

[Tanner]

I get it. I have 300 grain solids for my 9.3x62 loaded up and ready to go for the same (for me) unlikely scenario.

I could see solids being more useful in that caliber. I’d definitely use it as a follow up for something like eland or giraffe.

 

[Tanner]

Tiny Ten!

Absolutely, might have to try that my next trip.

 

[50Gunner]

LOL, like minds Tanner, I load that exact bullet in my 1951 year Model 70 Winchester 7mm Mauser, forget that col gauge stuff, 7mm Mausers have throat length for days, has never affected accuracy in the three 7mm Mausers I own, you will never reach the lands in any long action bolt rifle, one in fact is the most accurate straight hunting rifle I own.

Back that seater die way out of the press, lock it down lower your bullet setting stem as needed.

My Load:

WW-Super brass
160gr North Fork fl;at nosed solid
47.5 grains 6.5 Staball
CCI-250
COL 3.175"
Velocity 2600 fps

That solid lands within the group with the 175gr North Fork SS bullets, they leave my rifle at 2615 fps over 46.5 grains 6.5 Staball powder.

It is a wonderful clean burning temp stable powder that also has copper fouling erasers in it, great, great powder for the Grand 275 Rigby and 7mm Mauser, what a rich and very cool hunting history they have the world over, most certainly including all of Africa.

One friend asked why I had a solid load for that rifle, told him I would comfortably hunt all the plains game Africa has to offer with that 175gr North Fork SS, the magazine would be kept full of five rounds of the flat nosed solid, particularly hunting plains game in Elephant, Buffalo or Hippo country, NOTHING survives getting pinwheel punched in the forehead or side brain shot with a flat nosed solid bullet.

Those solid bullets will let you hunt all plains game in Dangerous Game country and easily defend life and limb without solely relying on your PH.