Thread: Maker Mucking About

Well I tried loading some 62gr up for my 223.
Turns out i must have a dud batch. A bunch of them have a rough finish and when seated in the case are loose and will spin easily in the neck, but they wont pull back out.
I mic'd them and it shows they are 0.001" wider at the base (top of boattail) than at their seated point.




When i checked seating depth i had grabbed a "good one". When seating on powder the first was good, the next 5 were duds. I felt them drop past the neck and then go loose. Pretty fckn disappointed as i was wanting to go shoot them.
I tried removing a lee collet neck die mandrel and squishing them tight, bit no luck.

Originally Posted by Roarless20

Well I tried loading some 62gr up for my 223.
Turns out i must have a dud batch. A bunch of them have a rough finish and when seated in the case are loose and will spin easily in the neck, but they wont pull back out.
I mic'd them and it shows they are 0.001" wider at the base (top of boattail) than at their seated point.

Attachment 269352
Attachment 269353

When i checked seating depth i had grabbed a "good one". When seating on powder the first was good, the next 5 were duds. I felt them drop past the neck and then go loose. Pretty fckn disappointed as i was wanting to go shoot them.
I tried removing a lee collet neck die mandrel and squishing them tight, bit no luck.

You should see the vids on making Hammers.*They put a lot of effort into them. Never had a dud Barnes. I was awaiting the shipment in to try 110gr 308 but might look askance now about quality issues.

Dunno what thats about. Sounds random. When I collected mine from Ammo Direct they were counted out of a large bulk lot of maybe a thousand or so and they all look good (100).

So Ive got 2 lots. 50 I mentioned that came out of a bulk lot that I collected, and 50 that were posted to me. Ive measured several from each lot and they are consistently .223 at your (Roarless20's) measuring points.
Ive hand loaded about 40 of these and never had a problem with the bullets being loose. OAL 2.309" Mixed FL sized brass.

They shoot about .75" consistently (several 3 and 4 shot groups over time). 25grns BM2

It seems about half are duds. I can feel the machining rings on the duds with my finger nail, with a pronounced lip at the boatail.
The good pills are smooth like an other brand projectiles.

Originally Posted by Roarless20

It seems about half are duds. I can feel the machining rings on the duds with my finger nail, with a pronounced lip at the boatail.
The good pills are smooth like an other brand projectiles.

Get in touch with the supplier you got them from. If anything they will want to know about the problem.

I cant understand how such a small amount in variance can make a difference. I wouldn't think the little machining edge at the base (the odd one of mine have it) will effect anything (its a soft gliding metal), and mine are the same measurement under the ogive as Roarless's and are quite tight in the case neck.

Not doubting Roarless at all, just wondering if there is another reason for the loose projectiles?

I have spoken with supplier and will return them so they an see the problem and they will refund me.

@Tahr of 50 prep'd cases all done the same at same time. Amp annealed and sized, 40 got 75gr eldm all mint, some (5) maker were good, other 5 were crap. I even resized the neck to about 0.020" under size and the dud projectiles still ended up loose.
On inspecting the packet of 50 projectiles 25 are duds. The only issue going on are the projectiles.

Originally Posted by Roarless20

I have spoken with supplier and will return them so they an see the problem and they will refund me.

@Tahr of 50 prep'd cases all done the same at same time. Amp annealed and sized, 40 got 75gr eldm all mint, some (5) maker were good, other 5 were crap. I even resized the neck to about 0.020" under size and the dud projectiles still ended up loose.
On inspecting the packet of 50 projectiles 25 are duds. The only issue going on are the projectiles.

Thats a bugger. I loaded 20 today and did have 2 that would revolve in the mouth but not pull out. I gave them another firmer bump in the seating die and it resolved, but not good. Cases are new and neck turned.
Doesn't instil confidence, eh.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Thats a bugger. I loaded 20 today and did have 2 that would revolve in the mouth but not pull out. I gave them another firmer bump in the seating die and it resolved, but not good. Cases are new and neck turned.
Doesn't instil confidence, eh.

Thats a bugger you've got some duds too. Let them (supplier) know also, that way they dont think it was just my one off few. I'm sure Maker will sort them out with replacement stock.

176 yards. 62 grn (.223).



Entrence


Bullet was just sitting under here


Entrance through ribs with shoulder off. The bullet angled from this heart region right through the gut bag and you can see how the gut contents sort of hydronic'd back through the cavity. Vicious.

@Tahr
Thats a great looking expanded bullet!
What velocity is it leaving the muzzle?

Originally Posted by Roarless20

@Tahr
Thats a great looking expanded bullet!
What velocity is it leaving the muzzle?

3100. They seem to have an expansion threshold of about 2000fps. That gets me out to 400 yds using a BC of .3

I shot a thumping red spiker at 330 yds and they worked ok. Pass through - maybe 'cos less expansion?.

@gimp?

Not .22 cal but 30cal Maker TRex.
I ordered some 110gn TRex standard velocity projectiles but was mistakenly sent the 110gn 300BLK version. Although Maker didn't get back to me when I asked what sort of mv they expected them to work at, I thought "What the hell. I'll give them a go".
Loaded in my 308win at 3000fps this was the result on a 70lb pig this evening.

The pig was running, quartering away and I hit him just in front of the right hip. He only travelled about 8 meters after being shot but I did give him a finisher once I reached him (although it obviously wasn't going anywhere). It was getting dark but a quick autopsy while gutting him found some of the projectile.


This appears to be the base of the projectile and there isn't much left of it. It looks much like a standard cup n core type base. I did notice damage to the lungs where I assume other parts of the projectile went but didn't find anything.
One kill is not much to go by but I am interested to use them a bit more and see how they go.

Dead pig.
Maker are hopeless at communicating.