Is this normal

Is this normal? The shot of the barrel is after the 6th shot, but I blew the powder out of the barrel after each shot. I didn't nothing to the cylinder and shots out of all 6 chambers.





Gun: Smith&Wesson Model 66 with a 6" barrel

Load: Powder: Universal Clays 3.5 grains
Bullet: Cast 158 grain round nose (from wheel weights)
Brass: Mixed headstamps
Primer: CCI small pistol
OAL: 1.5

Sorry for being a bit paranoid but, better safe than sorry.

I cant tell if its hanging lead or unburned powder. If its unburned powder yea its kind of normal if it gets worse try a different powder Clays should burn cleaner than that. IF its Lead you may want to look at bullet size or lube.

I'm sorry, it's unburned powder

when you hear or read about dirty powder there is an example of it. ... you may try a heavier crimp forcing a better burn.

You are already exceeding the max dose of powder according Hodgdon for clays...so upping the grains is out of the picture. As Reload suggested, try a tighter crimp first. If that doesn't work, punt and try a different powder.

I don't know how much you have to work with on seating depth....try to get the deepest depth you can and still be able to crimp in the groove.

Some powder just don't burn good in some applications....I can't get titegroup to burn clean in my 38sp either.

This is a 38sp,correct? just going off the OAL and bullet diam.

Yes it is 38 special and according to Modern Reloading 3.5 is the starting charge.

Here's Hodgdon
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

brow_tines wrote:Yes it is 38 special and according to Modern Reloading 3.5 is the starting charge.

Here's Hodgdon
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Yeah, Hodgdon lists 3.1gr as a max for clays. As long as you worked up to 3.5gr and have no pressure signs, you are good on the 3.5gr....now to get it to burn cleaner.

When I shoot "dirty" loads like that...I'll run a brush down the barrel and chambers every other chamber reload or so.