Why do I have bright spots on the case rim?

[Mad Man]

I just bought a new rifle in 6.5 creedmoor. This is my second rifle in this caliber and when I shot it today I noticed bright spots on the rim of every case. Is this over pressure? It's the same loads I used in my other rifle and this never occurred. I'm using a 120 gr. nosler ballistic tip with 38.0 grains of Varget and a Winchester LR primer. Max load is 40 grains. The primer is not flattened or cratered so I'm not sure what to do. Any help is appreciated.

[JMW4570]

It could be.. Do you get the shiny spot just by closing the bolt on on a live cartridge? Is the bolt sticky or hard to turn after firing? Is the mark a surface mark or indention?

[Airgator0470]

What rifle?

Maybe the case is not square with the bolt face...?

Rough bolt face?

[NJC]

Chamber and eject a round without firing of you can and see if it's due to part of the process there or something that happens when the round is fired ?

[Mad Man]

I just chambered and ejected a round and it did not do it. The bolt is a little hard to turn after firing but it's not real bad. The rifle is a Ruger Hawkeye Predator.

[Mad Man]

The mark is just a surface mark.

[Jafar]

Since the fired round is "gripping" the chamber after expanding from firing, it sits stationary while the bolt rotates to unlock. The mark left is the steel ejector making a drag mark. The brass is softer than steel, so it will mar a little bit. The reason it doesn't do it with an unfired round is due to the casing being able to rotate with the bolt during feeding and extracting.

[JMW4570]

Since you are running reloaded cartridges, could the head spacing between the two chambers be a little different? I've see that before.

Other ideas: New rifle: Strong ejector spring leaving a mark?

[Jafar]

Other ideas: New rifle: Strong ejector spring leaving a mark?

It definitely amplifies the situation, not to mention the sharp, new edge on the ejector that will develop a radius after a few hundred rounds.

[Mad Man]

Thanks for the help I think yall are right I just wanted to make sure it was safe before I loaded any more ammo. I will drop back to the starting load and see if it still does it.

[0utlaw]

Wait you didn't "start" at the "starting load"???


Man you're gonna fit in just fine around here :yup:

[Mad Man]

Starting loads are just there so hodgdons lawyers can sleep at night.

[Tack Driver]

Somebody help me understand why we give a shit about this "bright spot". :dunno:

[Mikec2003]

Somebody help me understand why we give a shit about this "bright spot". :dunno:
It can be a sign of an overpressure condition

[JMW4570]

And too much over pressure is like Tack at a sorority. Boom. Big, badda boom.

[ironhead7544]

I have had start loads stick in the chamber. Did you check velocity? Did you try some factory ammo? I hate to do it, but I always try some factory first in case there is a problem with the rifle/handgun.

You will find that some firearms just dont "like" some bullet and powder combinations.

[Jafar]

Somebody help me understand why we give a shit about this "bright spot". :dunno:

It can be indicative of a sticking bolt and pressed cartridge. It's one of the classical signs of a load that's too hot.

FBPA.