Signs of high pressure?

[rookyshot]

Hi everyone I’m pretty new to reloading but I’m carefully working some loads up for my 223 using RL10x and 55grn Sierra Game Kings and I’ve found an accuracy node at 22.7gr that gives me ragged hole groups at 100m which is also below the max load of 23.2gr

Could anyone of our experienced reloaders just give me some feedback on if these primers are showing early signs of high pressure and if I should be considering reduce the charge and finding a lower velocity accuracy node on the chrono?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Stalker62]

I think you are good to go.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

As above, they look fine. A tip I picked up a while back was to run the case head into a shell holder; apparently if it’s a struggle to push in then that’s a sign of a slight bulge in the primer (that may not be visible to the naked eye as such).

 

[rookyshot]

I think you are good to go.

Thanks @Stalker1962 there comes a point when learning to reload where reading manuals only takes you so far and you need a bit of practical guidance. Thanks for providing that .

 

[rookyshot]

As above, they look fine. A tip I picked up a while back was to run the case head into a shell holder; apparently if it’s a struggle to push in then that’s a sign of a slight bulge in the primer (that may not be visible to the naked eye as such).

Thanks I’ll give that a try to double check.

 

[User00040]

Don't go off primers, look for ejector marks (if your bolt has a plunger ejector).

Basically your looking for brass flow from the case head (very bad). Brass will always grow/flow after a firing (hence trimming necks and FL resizing) to give a good seal in the chamber, but there is a degree of spring back which allows the case to be extracted.

Brass flowing from the case head (strongest part) is not rectifiable and means each subsequent shot is weakening the case. What @Dr. Strangelove refers to with the shell holders would, in extremis, indicate that the case head has experienced growth, approaching the limits of case head failure.

Another thing to look at is primer pockets slackening. This is irreversible and also indicates the load is too hot.

Primers can give false signs due to firing pin holes being oversize or primer cups being too soft. Neither good but not a definite for pressure either.

If you reload a semi-auto shotgun you will often see primers being 'cratered' but this is not a sign of excess pressure.

 

[308tikka]

These arent flattened primers, which you can often see at the higher end of powder loads. Lapua cases are good, unless you have a slack chamber there should be no issues. As above check for the ‘line’ which indicates potential for separation.

If you have an accuracy node below max, use it. You will extend brass and barrel life as it will not be quite so ‘hot’. In these days of components supply issues it might pay to be parsimonious !

 

[GrizZLy9]

View attachment 225819
Hi everyone I’m pretty new to reloading but I’m carefully working some loads up for my 223 using RL10x and 55grn Sierra Game Kings and I’ve found an accuracy node at 22.7gr that gives me ragged hole groups at 100m which is also below the max load of 23.2gr

Could anyone of our experienced reloaders just give me some feedback on if these primers are showing early signs of high pressure and if I should be considering reduce the charge and finding a lower velocity accuracy node on the chrono?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Are these all the same charge weight? I’m only asking as there appears to be a fair bit of variation in primer appearance - eg comparing top left case with bottom right.

 

[rookyshot]

Are these all the same charge weight? I’m only asking as there appears to be a fair bit of variation in primer appearance - eg comparing top left case with bottom right.

All the same charge weight and seemed to shoot really consistently but I agree, the firing pin indentations do look different across this sample of cases.

 

[GrizZLy9]

All the same charge weight and seemed to shoot really consistently but I agree, the firing pin indentations do look different across this sample of cases.

It’s not so much the firing pin indentations I was looking at - more the squared vs curved shape of the primer edge. I agree with what a couple of others have said above about reading primers - personally I find it tricky. Even so, for a given charge weight I would expect fairly similar primer appearance.

 

[Shooterman1]

Are these all the same charge weight? I’m only asking as there appears to be a fair bit of variation in primer appearance - eg comparing top left case with bottom right.

First thought also

 

[rookyshot]

It’s not so much the firing pin indentations I was looking at - more the squared vs curved shape of the primer edge. I agree with what a couple of others have said above about reading primers - personally I find it tricky. Even so, for a given charge weight I would expect fairly similar primer appearance.

I think I’ll run a few through the chrono and see what the SD & ES and see if that throw anything interesting up.

 

[HandB]

Looks good - no sign of primer cratering or flattening so well done on developing a nice load.

 

[rookyshot]

Looks good - no sign of primer cratering or flattening so well done on developing a nice load.

Thanks @HandB , I've really enjoyed learning to reload, its taught me an awful lot and brought a new dimension to my shooting.

 

[Muir]

What reloading book do you have?
Pretend the internet and this forum doesn't exist and reason it out. Reloading is not a hobby made for referendum. If you were learning reloading in my reloading room I would have responded "You tell me." and then asked you how you came up with an answer. ~Muir

 

[Triffid]

Read this.

Primal Rights

Primal Rights

www.primalrights.com

Don't read too much into what the primers look like, they can tell a different story.

Triffid

 

[swaro79]

someone tried to sell me this rifle before. this is a sign of high pressure with home loads.

 

[Foxyboy43]

someone tried to sell me this rifle before. this is a sign of high pressure with home loads.

Or loose primers because of pocket wear.
No big pressure signs like ejector “smiley faces” or bolt wipe, I assume the bolt was not hard to lift?
Re the pics there is quite a range of firing pin primer indentations particularly the bottom row - were they defo the same primers and identical loads, bullet and seating depth?

 

[Border]

someone tried to sell me this rifle before. this is a sign of high pressure with home loads.

Possibly. But may not of been with handloads, could of been factory.

 

[25 Sharps]

As above, they look fine. A tip I picked up a while back was to run the case head into a shell holder; apparently if it’s a struggle to push in then that’s a sign of a slight bulge in the primer (that may not be visible to the naked eye as such).

Presuming you mean the primer bulging out, that’s a headspace issue not a pressure issue.

If you are talking about the case head itself having expanded enough to no longer fit in the shell holder the yes that is a sign of a fair amount of over pressure.