7mm-08 Pressure Signs

[Sqdqo]

I loaded both medium and heavy Varget loads from my Nosler manual for 7mm-08 with 120 grain hammer bullets.
I have a Howa 1500 7mm-08 and a REM 700 that I had re-barreled. Both loads through the Remington showed pressure signs - flat primers, bolt hard to lift, and a noticeable ring around the base of the cartridge case. The same loads through my Howa don’t have any pressure signs.
The re-barrel REM is recent and the first time I tried Varget through it. I measured the over all cartridge length for the REM with my Hornady OAL gauge and measured 2.97 which seems very long. My max mag length is 2.85. I think the person who did the work cut it too deep, I’m also thinking his reamer may have been worn allowing a slightly larger chamber?
Would this seem correct with the pressure signs I am seeing?

 

[Sqdqo]

I use Lapua brass by the way. All full length sized, trimmed, and primer pockets trued.

 

[dthomas]

If the reamer was worn then the chamber should be on the tight side.

 

[Phil McGrath]

The two rifles use different chambers even though they are both 7-08. #1. the Howa might have a longer freebore/leade than the Remington does. #2. Well used reamers get smaller and cut smaller amounts with use, not larger.

Just what was your load data? Medium and Heavy doesn't tell us anything....

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Nosler (online data I have seen) will list 3 charge weights min, max and one midway between. Probably what he is referencing. Nosler also tells you to use starting charge weights for non lead bullets. Since their only 120 gr offering is a ballistic tip(lead core). I would definitely start at the minimum charge weight for the Hammer bullets. Most solid copper bullets recommend "jumping" bullets often 0.050 or more off the lands, this will reduce pressure.

 

[Zero333]

Had same problem once the Lapua brass got tired due to hot loads that showed no pressure signs for the first 4 or 5 reloads.
Brass was shot only in that 308w barrel since new.

 

[Will Henry]

Every symptom you mention could easily be related to several possible flaws in the chambering job, coupled with the use of a Remington action with marginal primary extraction.
Very flat primers are often indicative of excessive headspace. Difficult extraction could be from poor surface finish in the chamber. Pronounced pressure ring could be from an oversized chamber due to poor set-up.
In other words, who knows? With out having a rifle in hand, it's all just guesswork. WH

 

[Sandstorm]

Hornady OAL gauge and measured 2.97 which seems very long. My max mag length is 2.85.

Your OAL gauge could be off .012 tho...and really would'nt make any difference any way.
What speeds where you shooting is my question.?
Ther's more questions here than answers...need more info Sir.

 

[CaribooBC]

I loaded both medium and heavy Varget loads from my Nosler manual for 7mm-08 with 120 grain hammer bullets.
I have a Howa 1500 7mm-08 and a REM 700 that I had re-barreled. Both loads through the Remington showed pressure signs - flat primers, bolt hard to lift, and a noticeable ring around the base of the cartridge case. The same loads through my Howa don’t have any pressure signs.
The re-barrel REM is recent and the first time I tried Varget through it. I measured the over all cartridge length for the REM with my Hornady OAL gauge and measured 2.97 which seems very long. My max mag length is 2.85. I think the person who did the work cut it too deep, I’m also thinking his reamer may have been worn allowing a slightly larger chamber?
Would this seem correct with the pressure signs I am seeing?

I just measured my COAL with a Hornady gauge… it came out at 2.992”. Winchester XPR with factory barrel. What were your final results with your Remington barrel, did you get it replaced? I have also tried various Varget and IMR 4350 loads and some factory ammo, I can’t get better than 2.5” “groups”. I had been loading my 139gr SSTs to 2.775”, as specified by my Hornady manual. Speeds were around 2680fps with 40.1gr of Varget

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

FTO here is Hammer bullets load data.

 

[rdremsek]

try sierra 120 grn pro hunter flat base with varget i have been using this for 20 years great bullet and very accurate my son my buddy and his son all shoot the same load I have shot many deer and a black bear with this load out of a rem 700 mountain rifle and the barrel is thin

 

[searcher]

Getting significantly different velocities (and pressure) from two different barrels is not abnormal. It often only takes an additional 150 fps to go from primers not being flat to somewhat flattened. So, a load shot in the Howa might not be shootable in the Remington. Do you know what the velocities are of each rifle using that load? I have a factory Ruger .257 Roberts rifle (1980's) that flattens primers and cracks necks with about half the factory ammo I have shot in it. Keeping my handloads at reasonable speed (mid-range loads), the rifle is both problem-free and accurate. As a result, I kept the barrel. Sometimes it isn't so much as who did what wrong - but rather whether it is a serious problem or one that can be worked around satisfactorily.

You mentioned you clean up your primer pockets. If you also reamed the flash holes on the brass you are using in the Remington (and not the Howa), that could have created additional pressure, depending on the reamer.