Ds J

Please describe how you set your sizing die before sizing your cases for this specific rifle and batch of cases.

From the OP I surmised that there was something not correct beyond the normal scenario of setting head-space by FL sizing die when reloading ?
Something like an incorrectly cut or oversize chamber / Bolt face problem / Problems between / with bolt and chamber
Overpressure scenario
Thus the reference to the use of military ammunition

DsJ needs to tell us what the exact problem is ?

Thanks but on second sober thoughts I'll leave well enough alone. I don't get to hunt so have no real use for them and lots of other pressing money holes to fill.

Well the Nosler Partitions can now be sold ? Full box x 50 ?

I'd be interested in taking a few of those off your hands for gits and shiggles. Of the three cast and powdercoated bullet loads I developed for my 270 the second most accurate was a 155gr and that only by a hair. Would be interesting to see how a heavier jacketed bullet at more typical velocities behaved.

So to repeat what I said earlier.
A local manufacturer has agreed to make me 160 gr bullets. The company APM bullets will provide a thick jacketed cup and core bullet - just what I want.
Lower velocity, and a easily deformed bullet that holds together - I hope.

When i got Cody the 7mm-08, I was really taken by the weapons + + + in every field, low recoil, no barrel lift, seriously less vicious report when suppressed, just calmer in every way. I am guessing that case life will prove to be very good as well.
When use on game it killed like any other bullet does, but as above, with much less fireworks. The penetration was god to better and even "wow!" on occasion, and that is with plain cup and core bullets. I found premium bullets just a waste of premium, they were 100 % more than needed on penetration, even on smaller non trophy kudu.

This whole 7mm-08 thing got me going in regard to 7x57 fame and the whole slow and heavy bullet thing. I liked the idea of slower and heavier, but not to the point of slow and heavy, just slower.
I started to find fault in the .270 Win that I use, meat damage and even more meat damage, always a lot of meat explosion damage, even with good bullets. I got to wondering if the .270 could be made to shoot more  7mm-08 154 gr like.
Turns out that the .277 bullet in 160 gr form has the same SD as a 7x57 shooting a 168 gr bullet. Walter Bell used 173 gr bullets and a 7x57 to kill elephants. Both bullets 160 and 168 have SD of 298 with the 173 bullet being 310 Sd.
 I believe this 160 gr will change the whole .270 Win concept - just a pity the 270 is a 1 in 10 twist.

A local manufacturer has agreed to make me 160 gr bullets. The company APM bullets will provide a thick jacketed cup and core bullet - just what I want.
Lower velocity, and a easily deformed bullet that holds together - I hope.

Posted the same content to GS.

It just occurred to me that the bullets I made for load dev on my new revolver yesterday cost me nothing except powdercoat as they were made from 100% range scrap I had collected on my last few club shoots and the melting pot and powder coating oven were both running off solar. That means they cost an almost incalculably small amount in powder.

I got a new to me pair of moulds on saturday and inclusive of mould degreasing, handle assembly and smoking I had a batch of roughly 100 of each powder coated and ready for sizing at 5pm and everything packed away from a cold start at 1:30. I find bullet making quite relaxing and now that I can do some of it for damn near free I'm extra chuffed.

Most reliable method is to take the rifle to a gunsmith to measure the headspace.

Second place is to shoot the rifle as is and set the sizing die to bump the shoulder 0.003". Yes, target and PRS shooters bump to 0.001", but we want reliable hunting ammunition that can chamber under adverse conditions.

Lastly, measuring case growth is a good indication of headspace. Measure the case length before priming, and again after it has been fired. The difference in length is very close to how much you bumped the shoulder

Thanks.

Will start working on that promised article.