I am loading for a savage bolt action 26in barrel. I have a bunch of lake city pulled with the mil primers. I think the mil primers are thicker so worried pressure signs won't show easily. The load is IMR4895 42.9 grains hornady bthp 168grain seated to 2.807. Put one round over the crony and got 2840fps, no primer flatten and bolt lifted easy. Do you guys feel is pushing it or good to go? Thanks.
308win with lake city brass max load
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With a quick look at my QuickLoad app, that velocity suggests you're right at the max pressure with that load (QL app is not in any way an absolute and just give one a decent ballpark idea). And being at max pressure doesn't mean you'll see pressure signs, especially with the thicker more robust brass like LC, but you might if you try a little more powder and/or the ambient temperature happens to be verily hot. As long as you're not seeing pressure signs, it appears like you're "good to go". Just be aware, it is a "hot load".
The last time I used H-4895 (yes, it's different and actually have a higher burn rate that what you've got) with a load of 44.0 grs pushing 168 SMK's with velocity and pressure right where you are with temps in the mid 60's and with no issues and good results.
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You're probably good to go, check primers pockets after several firings see how many it takes to have the no go primer gauge enter. I've shot 5 hot loads in Lapua brass then loaded 5 in lake city brass groups were OK but primer pockets lasted one firing, about 1 grain down from max on commercial brass is max for Lake City brass. Using Lapua brass, Berger 168 gr and MR 2000 I can 2934 to 2940 fps in a 22" Bartlein 5 R 9 twist barrel for a fast 308 load. That said I use thousands of 308 & 5 56 LC brass, even LC primed brass....especially in ARs where its capable of fine accuracy, probably not as consistent as Laupa but ya don't worry about losing a few.
Would this comment cover all lots/years of LC brass ?
I'm very aware you have pushed the 308 to levels most would call as BS so I value your experience with pushing LC brass hard.
No lot numbers, just year of manufacture, 1000 18 and 1000 19 manufacture date years, current lake city is pretty good my 19 year brass is about 182 grs per piece...Lapua brass 177- 178 grains. Pretty close but still slightly less, and I use the same bushing in the bushing die for both Lake City and Lapua and that makes it easier loading. And the close weight is why I did the experiment with my brass load the same hot powder charge in both and shoot them...one test was 225 ELDM in 308 Lapua brass 5 into .314" S/D 2.4 2000 MR 2564 fps Lake City same charge 5 into .430" the velocity was just slightly faster like 2575fps and the primer pockets survived. This was out of the 30" 8 twist which will run 225 eldm at 2675 with Lapua and 6.5 Stabal....its on a long action chasis and uses 30-06 mags center feed so my 308 can run 3.4" out of the mag box, for 250 Atip if I want...but to go there I have to throat the barrel longer than it is and ruin the 200 to 230 bullets this 308 was set up to run. Not BS, but fact as to what can be done with a 308 case...when you're a retired machinist with a machine shop to carry out what I have in my imagination, to see what is possible. All those new powders....what can they do? I'm still learning and experimenting...my last 2 308s were built with 9 twist and 8 twist barrels on purpose. Why? I have a lifetime if experience with all the normal 308s barrel lengths ...maybe because of the velocities I'm getting with bullets in the .715 BC .777 BC or .823 BC and the accuracy and 10 shots strings are nice with less recoil than big magnums with similar velocities others are getting with 308s lighter bullets in .450 to. 640 BC. Why? It's the performance, and shared at no expense to others but alot of time and expense to me...and it's not for everyone, and I own many 308s...but few are standard or left in their orginal form...why? Because I can improve the performance of them ...at least in my opinion.
Based on your velocity I think you may be a little over based on Hodgdons data for the 168 SMK and 4895. their velocity is 2758 in a 24" barrel and you can expectct about 50 fps more in the 26". Unless. you absolutely need the velocity I would back the load down about 1.2 grains to save the brass. Should only cost you about 70 fps.
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