Overpressure? (Brass photos)

[Texas10]

Congratulations OP, you just became acquainted with Malignant Hero Syndrome. "The Malignant Hero falsely creates a crisis only they can resolve, thereby becoming the hero, the savior ".
Step one: Falsely identify an unsafe load
Step two: Scold shooter, thereby preventing a surefire future catastrophe (WHEW!)
Step three: Be sure to tell all your coworkers and friends (if you have any) how you saved the day.

 

[LGKLAS]

Checked Hodgdon's site and you can load from 43 to 45. I think, as others do, that you have an RSO problem rather than an over-pressure problem. I'm an RSO (new, a couple years) and at a small club range that is also open to the public. None of us have ever checked brass. Nor have any of us jumped all over a shooter. We take the view that we would rather the shooter and teach the person what the person did wrong than chew him out (which gets you nowhere). I've also been on a few ranges in a few states and once in a while I see an RSO act like they are on some kind of power trip. My home range has been on-going for over 25 years without an incident/accident (knock on wood). We work to have a safe experience, an enjoyable time, and maybe learn something along the way from each other. For all and from all. Sorry you ran into such dxxxhxxx.

 

[Webster]

I had a range officer throw a fit when he inspected my brass and scolded me for excessive loads based on flattened primers.

I shoot a very reasonable .308 load of 43.7gn of IMR4064 and 168gn match bullets with large rifle CCI primers out of a Savage 12 F/TR . I throw with a powder measure onto a scale and weigh to the stick every time, so I don't believe there is a systemic powder issue.

I agree the primers are flattened some, but not really different than out of the box Federal Fusion hunting ammo (excluding the difference in color due to the lacquer that is on the federal)

I have included a photo of 2 of each fired this week and would be interested in opinions.

Based on my many years of shooting I would say you are approaching high pressure. What's the black color around the edges of the primer. When you remove the primer are the sides of the cup discolored? Is it gas leakage or a shadow in the photo. One case does not have this color. Pressure is the only thing that will flatten a primer. I would not assume reasonable pressure because the factory ammo has cratering. Never had my firing pin hole bushed. I like to see the size of the crater. All my loads have some primer cratering, as I incrase the loads in .3 increments I can see the crater getting more pronounced. With experience with the same rifle you can judge approaching high pressure by the crater. Did you ever chrono the loads.

Max load 168 gr bullets and IMR 4064 from Manuals. The manuals are usually conservative. You are over the max published loads.
Berger 43.4 gr 2700 fps
Sierra 42.6 2688 fps