by OldmanFCSA on Tue Oct 31, 2017 11:11 am
As I tried before:
During a FCSA Sanctioned 50BMG Match recently, I had a similar situation where primers were removed from action after case removal, some were able to be removed by tapping case edge on table, and about half required removal by a punch mechanism.
My loading was at top of pressure curve on used cases with 7 loadings.
Case price about $0.75 each as were de-milled TZZ-95 brass, so about $0.11 each this usage
Primers price = $0.30 each
Powder price = $1.07 each
Projectile price $1.75 each
Loaded cartridge price = $3.23 each
Cost for the 150 Match cartridges loaded = $484.50
No labor or tooling cost figured in as tooling has been paid for for years, and labor costs are a labor of love for the Sport.
Costs to attend a match:
Fuel for 1700 miles round trip = $285
Motel Room = $130 (4 nights)
Food Approx = $80
Range Entry Fee = $50 per class so $100
Pit Puller $100 (due to my current knee condition)
Costs to attend = $695.00
If my loading was somewhat lighter, maybe the brass wouldn't have been ruined but the cost to produce would still be less than the cost to attend the Match. So the cost to scrap the brass would have been $16.50 total.
Additional costs, which are related to gas-jetting around primer and etching bolt-face, are zero in this case as an ArmaLite Professional provided a new bolt face unit at $0.00 cost.
Why the blown primers?
I developed and tested the loading here in Wisconsin at a mean temperature of 70 degrees and an altitude of approx 1100 feet above sea level. The rifle was cold each chrono shot.
At the Match, range temperatures were 97 degrees and climbing, and an altitude of 4600 feet above sea level. As Alliant Reloder-50 is not said to be temperature sensitive, I did not use any cooling methods for the ammo or provide heating equipment as I did for V.V.20N29 powders.
The rifle, a modified AR-50 with a 33" Feddersen barrel chambered with a 0.554" necked Match reamer, got very hot during the Relays. Untouchable action and barrel assembly. I firmly believe this combination caused the high pressure and thus loss-rate of my brass, while the rifle shot well for me to earn 2nd place in one class, 3rd place in another, and 4th Overall Placing with all scores and groups considered (not bad for not shooting any rifle for 15 months).
I've had a Match Director from Washington State say he would have dis-qualified me at sight of first blown primer.
I would have protested and with ArmaLite Professional attending, feel I would have won the protest.
As a former Match Director, I have seen much worse on the firing line, including a lady shooter using a rubber mallet to close & lock the bolt on a live round (her husband was a previous Match Director). I stopped her but we were able to help her by providing a piece of PVC tubing that fit over the bolt to give her more ability to close & lock the bolt (she recently had hand surgery).
So being out the cost of $16.50 for used brass blowing primers, it was of little cost considering all other costs involved. I firmly believe it was not a safety issue on this rifle and with my knowledge of the conditions. Others are allowed to disagree.
Your thoughts: