RELOADING FOR MY SAVAGE AXIS .223 HB

[silvis 44]

Ok this is my first time reloading for .223. I've reloaded for 30-06,7mm mag,38spl.9mm and 22 hornet. I didn't have any problems with reloading for them, but now for the .223 I'm having pressure signs on the primer (cratering).I'm using the sierra reloading manual using 53 gr. hp match with accurate 2015.I measured the camber for my gun and come up with 2.215 so I seated the bullets to 2.210. My question is sense I have to seat the bullet deeper than sierra manual specs can I safely drop the powder charge lower? And the lowest powder charge I went to so far is 22.4 gr.Can somebody shed some light on what I'm doing wrong.

 

[BillPa]

I didn't have any problems with reloading for them, but now for the .223 I'm having pressure signs on the primer (cratering).

Chances are better than even its not a ammo issue.
http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?48595-Question-Regarding-Primer-Blanking%85/page4

 

[Ggmac]

The axis has a dif FP assembly than the 110/10 series .
What primers are you using , was this a factory 223 rifle or was a 223 barrel installed ?

 

[243winxb]

CCI 400 crater sooner in my 223 axis then Remington 7 1/2 primers . Try a mag primer or a different primer.

 

[Dan Boone]

Chances are better than even its not a ammo issue.
http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?48595-Question-Regarding-Primer-Blanking%85/page4

Good catch right there.

 

[silvis 44]

Chances are better than even its not a ammo issue.
http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?48595-Question-Regarding-Primer-Blanking%85/page4

Thank for that info I'm going to check that out .

 

[silvis 44]

The axis has a dif FP assembly than the 110/10 series .
What primers are you using , was this a factory 223 rifle or was a 223 barrel installed ?

I'm using CCI 400 primers and yes this is a factory rifle .

 

[243winxb]

See cup thickness chart at link. http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

 

[silvis 44]

See cup thickness chart at link. http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php

Thanks this is very good to know.

 

[jonbearman]

What kind of scale(powder) are you using? Do you know how to level it? Not being a smart ass but some guys I taught had no clue to do that.

 

['Freak]

What’s the fired primer looking like about its perimeter, still with a radius near like it was before firing, or now pretty much primer cup filling the primer pocket with flat top out to a fairly sharp 90° shoulder right at the pocket wall? The “cratering” may be nothing more than primer cup material flowing into the gap created betwixt the firing pin and its surrounding overly large diameter hole through the bolt’s face.

 

[Grimstod]

Could be an oversized firing pin hole. I have an axis i converted to a 6.5x47. The firing pin measures .069 and the hole is .077 so i have same issues with primer cratering. The desired ammount of clearance is in the .002-3 range. .008 is way to much.

Switching to a magnum primer helps. Ultamit fix though is to get it bushed.

 

[brokeasajoke]

I have a Rem 700 that craters BR4 primers no mater the load so I have to look for other pressure signs. BTW I like those axis rifles. The .223 axis I shot would group 1.25" all day on factory ammo. I was pleased for the price.

 

[Dan Boone]

What’s the fired primer looking like about its perimeter, still with a radius near like it was before firing, or now pretty much primer cup filling the primer pocket with flat top out to a fairly sharp 90° shoulder right at the pocket wall? The “cratering” may be nothing more than primer cup material flowing into the gap created betwixt the firing pin and its surrounding overly large diameter hole through the bolt’s face.

Also a good point. Need a picture to make a positive call.

 

[silvis 44]

What’s the fired primer looking like about its perimeter, still with a radius near like it was before firing, or now pretty much primer cup filling the primer pocket with flat top out to a fairly sharp 90° shoulder right at the pocket wall? The “cratering” may be nothing more than primer cup material flowing into the gap created betwixt the firing pin and its surrounding overly large diameter hole through the bolt’s face.

The outer circumfernce doesn"t change just a little crattering around the firing pin.Somebody said to try different primers so I found some cci br-4 primer so I'm going to try them and see what happen.

 

[silvis 44]

The outer circumfernce doesn"t change just a little crattering around the firing pin.Somebody said to try different primers so I found some cci br-4 primer so I'm going to try them and see what happen.

Also a good point. Need a picture to make a positive call.

I hope you can see this pic

 

['Freak]

I hope you can see this pic

I don’t see a pic’ on my box, but, if the powder charge weight is down nearer the low end as listed in the Sierra’s manual for your bullet and if the fired primers are keeping the same radius about their perimeter then it’s very doubtful that it’d be too high pressure causing what appears to be cratering. What you’re seeing is more likely caused by excessive clearance about the firing pin in its hole poked through the bolt’s face.

 

[silvis 44]

I don’t see a pic’ on my box, but, if the powder charge weight is down nearer the low end as listed in the Sierra’s manual for your bullet and if the fired primers are keeping the same radius about their perimeter then it’s very doubtful that it’d be too high pressure causing what appears to be cratering. What you’re seeing is more likely caused by excessive clearance about the firing pin in its hole poked through the bolt’s face.

What site do you use to make a image to a url ?

 

[silvis 44]

I finally figured it out lol .