Is this load too hot

[coffeediver]

Reloading .308 Winchester using Lapua brass, 43.3 grains Varget powder with CCI BR primers and 175 gr SMK.

The rifle is a Savage 10 FCP-K with 24" barrel with the brake removed and using a AAC Cyclone suppressor.

I am shooting through a Caldwell chrony and my range in Colorado is about 6400ft in altitude.

I am curious if the fps that my chrony is giving me is too high for this particular load and do I need to back off the powder charge and retest for accuracy nodes. The Hodgdon manual says that 42 grains is the starting load and I read that you need to back off a few percentage points because of the Lapua brass so I ended up starting at 41.1. Also per the manual the max load is 45. The fps per the manual at max load is 2690 fps. I am getting consistently around 2730 fps using 43.3 grains with my rifle.

Does this sound ok considering the difference in load and I'm pretty sure Hodgdon did not test at my altitude? I had another accuracy node at 42.2 grains but it was better at the 43.3.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Yep

 

[geraldgee]

Question- are you seeing the same pressure signs when you shoot without the suppressor?

 

[BoydAllen]

This is what I think I am seeing on the head of your case. The primer's edges are not flattened. It appears that the firing pin may have more clearance in its hole in the bolt face than is desirable, but this is mostly an esthetic issue. As to the extractor mark, it is likely that it was caused by some burrs around the edge of the hole. What did the bolt lift feel like when you ejected the case. Was this the first firing of new brass? If the case had been fired previously did you pay close attention to how you set your FL die and do so based on actual measurements? Offering opinions based on a slightly out of focus picture is far from an exact thing. Use your own good sense. You are in a lot better position to see all of the factors than any of us are.

 

[ImBIllT]

Fed210M primers are flat by the time I get ejector flow with Lapua brass. Either those marks appeared on a different firing or those CCI primers are harder than Feds. If the ejector mark a appeared on those loads, then back off.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I have a suggestion. Take one of those pieces of brass and fire the load in question through it repeatedly. If the primer pocket gets loose in a few firings, you’ve found that the load is too hot.

I’m thinking that ejector marks are a warning sign, but I’m with Boyd on that one.

 

[coffeediver]

This is what I think I am seeing on the head of your case. The primer's edges are not flattened. It appears that the firing pin may have more clearance in its hole in the bolt face than is desirable, but this is mostly an esthetic issue. As to the extractor mark, it is likely that it was caused by some burrs around the edge of the hole. What did the bolt lift feel like when you ejected the case. Was this the first firing of new brass? If the case had been fired previously did you pay close attention to how you set your FL die and do so based on actual measurements? Offering opinions based on a slightly out of focus picture is far from an exact thing. Use your own good sense. You are in a lot better position to see all of the factors than any of us are.

I am loading with 2 scales, the RCBS Loadmaster and then trickling onto a more precise scale. Not all loads have the extractor mark but most of the later of the 50 rounds do. This group of brass now has 5 loads of 43.3 grains of Varget with the neck annealed twice.

 

[Rsadams]

You posted the fps is to high for that load.. if you are comparing it to book value? what barrel did they test with..? If your barrel is longer that's what your seeing... I like to crono some decent factory ammo through my gun first for a baseline...

I agree with Boyd also , the primers still round etc.. the cratered firing pin mark looks like the pin hole is a bit large and the ejector Mark looks like it has a sharp spot on the bolt face..BUT if your getting the fps you want why continue and press the issue... If you're going to press you luck you need a mic with ball ends to measure right above the case head for expansion.. The other thing is with the hot loads your brass life especially primer pockets will not be long..

If it was me I wouldn't go any higher , maybe back off a bit....

 

[Mikemci]

Yep, think about how it will be in 100* temps.

 

[243winxb]

AAC Cyclone suppressor.

increases back pressure.

I see 2 pressure signs.

 

[carlsbad]

Is your bolt hard to close? I've seen ejector marks put on brass that needed the shoulder set back during bolt closure. The primer dosen't look flat enough to come with the ejector marks. You could use a bushed firing pin. --Jerry

 

[Zero333]

I had a lot of Lapua 308win Large primer brass that don't last long and after a few loadings started showing pressure signs and shoot like shit.
Original load was 47.2 gr Varget, 155 Scenar, BR2, 2.810" coal.
During load development I found light signs of pressure at 48.4 gr.

- For the first 2 firings all was good.
- 3rd firing I had the odd harder bolt lift and some primer pockets got slightly looser but not too loose. Annealed before the 4th loading.
- For the 4th reload I dropped the charge weight down to the next lower node which was 2.0 gr lower than the original loading. Shot OK.

- 5th loading I got several slightly harder bolt lifts at the top of the lift and had some unexplained fliers.

- 6th reload shot like shit and I retired the brass.

Is it just a coincidence that the rifle was also a Savage 10 FCP-K ???

 

[T-shooter]

Looks too hot from the signs but shouldn't be. Are you jumping the bullet. Did you seat to the suggested length? Hodgdon is calling for 42.0 to 45.0 grains at a COL of 2.800"

I had a lot of Lapua 308win Large primer brass that don't last long and after a few loadings started showing pressure signs and shoot like shit.
Original load was 47.2 gr Varget, 155 Scenar, BR2, 2.810" coal.
During load development I found light signs of pressure at 48.4 gr.

- For the first 2 firings all was good.
- 3rd firing I had the odd harder bolt lift and some primer pockets got slightly looser but not too loose. Annealed before the 4th loading.
- For the 4th reload I dropped the charge weight down to the next lower node which was 2.0 gr lower than the original loading. Shot OK.

- 5th loading I got several slightly harder bolt lifts at the top of the lift and had some unexplained fliers.

- 6th reload shot like shit and I retired the brass.

Is it just a coincidence that the rifle was also a Savage 10 FCP-K ???

I like Lapua brass but not for hot loads. Hornady brass seems to handle higher pressure better. I had a strange problem with CBC stamped .308 brass. After a couple reloads I would have a hard bolt lift and sometimes had to tap the bolt handle to eject the case. No pressure signs anywhere and they all chambered easily. I even ran 2 full grains less powder and got stuck cases. They went into the trash.

 

[joshb]

I think you're ok. Unless you have "hard bolt lift", you're where I stop. Some times, I go up to test my limits, but usually not, these days. I used to stop when my primers were "flat". Yeah, "Filling the pocket" flat. What can I say? I was younger and stupid.

 

[chapstix97]

Your velocity is close to my reading with magnetospeed. I’ve used 43.0 Varget, Lapua brass 175 smk 2720 fps. Which is about 100 fps faster than federal match factory ammo. I’ve gotten over 15x firings with Lapua brass b4 retiring the brass.
This was with bartlein 1/11.25 twist barrel.

If you drop a .1 or .2 you might not get ejector marks. I’m not familiar with your savage. I use rem 700, your ejector dimensions might play part in that.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I saw a harder bolt lift after about 5 firings shooting .308, Varget 43.7gr, CCI BR-2 Berger 185 Jugs, at the time I was only neck sizing. I started doing body sizing and the issue went away.
To me, the area round the pin strike appears to raise up. As does the area around the extractor mark. To me, the amateur, this appears as though it is an over pressure issue. But the load he is calling out doesn't seem to be that excessive.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Looks more like a poor firing pin fit.

 

[DirtySteve]

I would say you are fine. The primers normally flatten before getting ejector marks. I think Alex nailed it on burs around the ejector causing the marks.

 

[liseo]

Looks too hot from the signs but shouldn't be. Are you jumping the bullet. Did you seat to the suggested length? Hodgdon is calling for 42.0 to 45.0 grains at a COL of 2.800"

I like Lapua brass but not for hot loads. Hornady brass seems to handle higher pressure better. I had a strange problem with CBC stamped .308 brass. After a couple reloads I would have a hard bolt lift and sometimes had to tap the bolt handle to eject the case. No pressure signs anywhere and they all chambered easily. I even ran 2 full grains less powder and got stuck cases. They went into the trash.

My experience with then (CBC, ) is that they are too soft and they expand in the web area, where the die dont touch.

 

[spitfire_er]

Lots of good info above. I would say no. That primer is nowhere near flattened. If I look around I could find some flattened ones that are running at the top end.

These are usually what mine look like. Norma case is a 280 improved with Berger 180's @ 2850, and the second is a 6mm-06 pushing 105's @3250.