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6/7/2005 8:39:59 PM EDT
When I chamber a round and eject it, after inspecting it I notice the bullet has a lot of scratches on it. They're not very deep though.

Is this normal? I could see how it could affect accuracy, but I'm not sure how big of a factor it would be. I've never shot from a rest to see my groups so I wouldn't know.

If it is a problem, how can I fix it?
6/7/2005 9:09:46 PM EDT
[#1]
Post a picture.   scratches on the bullet or case?  bent tip or side?


The rifling puts in some big grooves
6/7/2005 10:04:03 PM EDT
[#2]
the scratches are from the feed ramps.  Don't have a clue on how to eliminate it.
6/7/2005 10:07:14 PM EDT
[#3]
I have shot rounds that have been ejected and reloaded a lot. They shoot fine. I am sure there is a breaking point but I don't know were that is. I hear the soft primer hits are more of an issue than the scratches.
6/7/2005 10:08:22 PM EDT
[#4]
Do you really care about scratches on the bullets?
6/7/2005 10:28:38 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
Do you really care about scratches on the bullets? hr


Any change in the bullet will effect accuracy. However I don't think it's that much an of issue in this case.
6/7/2005 10:34:32 PM EDT
[#6]
I wouldn't worry about it.  
6/7/2005 11:15:36 PM EDT
[#7]
The way it's been explained to me:

When bullets are chambered, often they strike the reciever, scratching the bullet.
M4 feedramps usually fix this. It's not enough to notice, except when you're shooting for extreme accuracy.

6/7/2005 11:38:17 PM EDT
[#8]
I do not believe the "major" scratches are caused by the chambering of the round, but the manual ejection of it.

Now picture this in slow mo.. As the fat part of the case leaves the chamber, the neck and bullet are pushed against the right side of the chamber.  As the CH moves further rearward the bullet clears the chamber entirely and the bullet is forced against the sharp front edges of the lugs of the barrel extension on the right side and is dragged across it as the bolt is moved further rearward.  I believe this is what causes the scratches.

It was awhile ago that I tested this, but I believe this is the method I used:

First, I used a match round because the copper seems softer and more apt to scratch.  Loaded a single round and chambered it by pulling the CH and letting it fly.  Slowly pulled back the CH and used my finger to hold the round straight until it cleared the locking lugs and could eject freely.  Inspected for scratches, there were some but minimal.  Repeated the procedure, except this time I just pulled the CH back quickly and ejected the round normally.  Inspected for scratches and there they were.

I'm glad you brought this up because I remember I had intended to test it again but forgot until now.  I'm not positive why, but I think it was because I only did it once and wanted to repeat the test.

Can anyone else confirm/deny my results?  I can't wake my girl up by opening ammo cans right now.  I'll try it again tomorrow, but still interested to hear what others' results are.
6/8/2005 12:23:59 AM EDT
[#9]
easy enough to test, load a round but don't let projo get much past the rear of the barrel extension.

usually there are rough edges inside the lug cuts in the extension. they'll shoot out in most cases.

the accuracy comes from the rear of the bullet unless we're talking MINUTE amounts of it.
6/8/2005 3:54:07 AM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:

M4 feedramps usually fix this.



M4 ramps will not fix this.  In a properly operating rifle, the bullet only hits the rifle extension and adding extended ramps will do nothing for it.  The only thing you could do would be to polish the extension ramps.  This may or may not solve the problem.  Much of the problem could be in the mag, and how it delivers the bullet to the ramps - at what angle, etc.  Overall, it is nothing to worry about.
6/8/2005 4:45:11 AM EDT
[#11]
In extreme cases where the corners of the locking lugs on either side of the feed ramps are very sharp it can cause feed problems.  I had one like this and I fixed it with some 2000 grit sand paper wrapped around a bullet to polish the corners of the locking lugs.  The scratches didn't go away but they were no longer gouges and just scratches.

Before I did this I couldn't shoot Wolf, after I did this my rifle ate Wolf like candy.
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