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More beginner questions - over pressure signs #6110359 12/31/15 12:33 AM
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Apparently a sign of over pressure is if the primer seems flattened. I just loaded a first batch and they all look like it's flattened. The rounded shoulder is noticeably less rounded than a shot primer. Other than this i don't see anything else from what little I know to look for. The loading was the following:

308 once fired federal gold brass
Cci large rifle primer
Varget 43.0-45.2grn
Hornady 168 Bthp
Seat depth 2.200" from case to ogive (for ref, a federal gold match smk 168 measures 2.225" with the Sam stool set up)

Is this ok, not ok? Did I do something in the grass prep.
I found my landing seems relatively tight. I have to drag my bullets about 0.025" shorter than factory federal. Could that cause this primer flattening?

Any thoughts are appreciated. I'm thinking I don't need to worry about this but please correct me if I'm wrong.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110398 12/31/15 12:55 AM
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pics of bases? load data looks ok


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110416 12/31/15 01:04 AM
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Best one I can take.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110534 12/31/15 01:53 AM
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According to my Nosler book, that is a OK loading. You can go up to 46 grns. A little bit of flattening is not a problem. Watch for cratering around the indentation. I don't see any in your photo.



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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110592 12/31/15 02:20 AM
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What exactly do u mean by cratering? Meaning the area where the primer is struck, that is actually bulges past the the flat surface of the rest of the primer?


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110675 12/31/15 03:05 AM
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I think your good KR.
cratering looks like a ring around the firing pin strike. If you have a reloading manual it should show a pic or maybe google or youtube it.
Chad or Jason should chime in when they find this thread.
Don't over stress it.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110835 12/31/15 04:23 AM
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Cratering: The primer metal flows back into the void between the firing pin and the bolt face. The appearance will be metal that sticks up above the flat surface of the primer in a ring around the firing pin indentation. I don't see any in your picture.
BTW, its only one of the signs of excess pressure.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6110988 12/31/15 11:58 AM
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Cratering is not necessarily a pressure sign, though.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6111150 12/31/15 02:08 PM
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I loaded up some brand new Lapua brass with Federal 210M primers last night. You wanna look at flat primers, LOL. My hand is sore because some of those dang primer pockets were sooooo tight.

Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6111277 12/31/15 03:20 PM
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Bet I've shot 5000 rounds with minor cratering on each primer.

You have have soft Federal brass, with no extractor mark. If that is the load the rifle likes, run it.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: ASIC777] #6111414 12/31/15 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted By: ASIC777
Cratering: The primer metal flows back into the void between the firing pin and the bolt face. The appearance will be metal that sticks up above the flat surface of the primer in a ring around the firing pin indentation. I don't see any in your picture.
BTW, its only one of the signs of excess pressure.


best description I've seen without a picture


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6112291 01/01/16 01:13 AM
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Originally Posted By: Korean Redneck
What exactly do u mean by cratering? Meaning the area where the primer is struck, that is actually bulges past the the flat surface of the rest of the primer?


Good description Buzzsaw gave. Here is a photo.




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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6112971 01/01/16 03:49 PM
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.243 cases, KR are you overloading your Wife's Savage again?????


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6113130 01/01/16 05:41 PM
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The 2 main signs of pressure are sticky bolt lift and shiny spots on the case head from the ejector or bolt face. I don't pay much attention to the primer, honestly.

Primer- different rifles will exhibit various characteristics on the primer. Bolts with a larger firing pin opening will easily show raised edges around the firing pin strike. Bolts with small or no clearance around the firing pin will not show any raised edges. Also, different primers will flatten out easier than others. Standard primers (non-magnum) primers have a thinner cup, and will flatten out easy, even on mild loads. For this reason, I don't pay attention to these signs. (Now, if you are piercing or blowing primers, then yes, that's a sign!!)

Keep your loads within "common sense" powder charges/loads. In this case, the max charge listed is 45.2 grains of Varget with normal FC brass (not military brass with less internal case volume). I know that 46.0 is about max with a 168, as other loading data also lists. So, the powder charge is getting near the max, and is within "common sense" powder charges.

I also look at the speeds on everything I shoot. I know about where the speeds should be on the combination of caliber, bullet and powder I am testing. If you are getting excessive speeds, then maybe a hot load. Also, as you increase your powder charge (I use .3 to .4 grain increments increasing), you will gain speed, about 25-30 fps per .3 grains of powder. Once you reach max pressure, you velocity will level off, and not increase any more. Often times, as you continue to go up in powder charge while at the rifles max pressure, your velocity will go down from the previous loads. This is when I know I'm at pressure and at max speeds I will get with the caliber, bullet and powder combo I am shooting. It is good to know this, so you know where the max.

Everything above is data shooting UNsuppressed! Once you add a suppressor, a lot of things change. A suppressor adds more back pressure, and increases the pressure of a load by about 5000-7000 psi. So a max load shot normal with a suppressor can easily be a over max or hot load with a can. So, test your loads on how you plan to shoot them.


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Korean Redneck] #6114000 01/02/16 01:56 AM
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flehan

that's a bad reloading dude!!


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Re: More beginner questions - over pressure signs [Re: Buzzsaw] #6114208 01/02/16 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted By: Buzzsaw
flehan

that's a bad reloading dude!!


Walking loading manual.


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