What is the purpose of the Pressure Ring?

[gilream]

I foolishly loaded some 52 gr. FB match bullets for my new .223 Remington with Lapua cases. I was figuring on the pressure ring from the 224 bullet (.2245) giving me a nice case neck to chamber fit. What I did not figure on was the pressure ring sliding past the neck shoulder junction...I could practically push the loaded bullet into the case with my finger! Needless to say i had to disassemble about 15 rounds and start over. I'll use the Sierra 53 grain flat base instead... it has no pressure ring.

But it brought to my feeble mind the question... What purpose does the pressure ring serve?

 

[CatShooter]

I foolishly loaded some 52 gr. FB match bullets for my new .223 Remington with Lapua cases. I was figuring on the pressure ring from the 224 bullet (.2245) giving me a nice case neck to chamber fit. What I did not figure on was the pressure ring sliding past the neck shoulder junction...I could practically push the loaded bullet into the case with my finger! Needless to say i had to disassemble about 15 rounds and start over. I'll use the Sierra 53 grain flat base instead... it has no pressure ring.

But it brought to my feeble mind the question... What purpose does the pressure ring serve?

If your bullet slid into the case, then your necks are not sized tight enough. It is not the ring's fault... the ring (0.0005") is not large enough to stretch the neck enough so it won't hold a bullet.

 

[Bob Sebold]

A "pressure ring" is due to a mass produced bullet manufacturing processes. It could be considered a flaw, or a marketing gimmick depending on your perspective. A properly made custom bullet will not have one. That said, I can't tell the difference with small pressure rings. I do know they serve no purpose for accuracy.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Uh-oh. This is going to get good.

 

[thefitter]

Saw this after I started my thread. ;D

 

[LHSmith]

Eddie- you custom bullets guys have been leading us astray with culled bullets with a bulge? For shame...for shame
Well, if the pressure ring don't do squat for accuracy.......then ......nevermind. :

 

[Warren Dean]

Uh-oh. This is going to get good.

Yep!
Gonna go get some popcorn and sit back and watch this one.... ;D

 

[Erik Cortina]

 

[dedogs]

Erik,
Is that lightly buttered, lightly salted or the full Monty extra both? ;D ;D

 

[Erik Cortina]

Erik,
Is that lightly buttered, lightly salted or the full Monty extra both? ;D ;D

I would tell you, but I'm sure it would start a discussion! LOL

 

[LRPV]

A "pressure ring" is due to a mass produced bullet manufacturing processes. It could be considered a flaw, or a marketing gimmick depending on your perspective. A properly made custom bullet will not have one. That said, I can't tell the difference with small pressure rings. I do know they serve no purpose for accuracy.

I should keep my mouth shut but I do like to learn, could you please elaborate?

 

[dedogs]

Erik,
Thanks for the chuckles. Haven't laughed for awhile.

 

[M14AMU]

I'm anxious to see where this goes!

Hot dang.....I'm outa corn!!

 

[BoydAllen]

Pressure rings are, to my knowledge almost exclusively found on custom FB bullets. Production FB bullets are generally passed through an additional die to remove their pressure rings so that they will be suitable for use with automatic loading equipment. I suggest that you take note of the names of posters who have posted indicating that the opposite is true. I have measured a lot of custom 6mm FB bullets in my time. They all had pressure rings. Your comment about where your bullets are seating relative to the neck shoulder junction makes me wonder what their distance from the lands is. I have a tight neck .222 with zero freebore that does not run into this problem, or even close with any of the FB bullet weights that will work with a 14" twist, including 53 grain Bergers and 53 grain Sierras.

 

[bigedp51]

First you have the engagement ring.

Then you have the wedding ring.

After this all you have is suffering.

And the pressuring is to remind you to take out the trash. :-[

 

[bozo699]

First you have the engagement ring.

Then you have the wedding ring.

After this all you have is suffering.

And the pressuring is to remind you to take out the trash. :-[

Only you big Ed!...only you! LOL
Wayne.



P.S Ed.......What r your thought on lubing the pressure ring?.... was this common practice for the infamous Lee infield?... Bwahahahaha!!!!!

 

[gilream]

I foolishly loaded some 52 gr. FB match bullets for my new .223 Remington with Lapua cases. I was figuring on the pressure ring from the 224 bullet (.2245) giving me a nice case neck to chamber fit. What I did not figure on was the pressure ring sliding past the neck shoulder junction...I could practically push the loaded bullet into the case with my finger! Needless to say i had to disassemble about 15 rounds and start over. I'll use the Sierra 53 grain flat base instead... it has no pressure ring.

But it brought to my feeble mind the question... What purpose does the pressure ring serve?

If your bullet slid into the case, then your necks are not sized tight enough. It is not the ring's fault... the ring (0.0005") is not large enough to stretch the neck enough so it won't hold a bullet.

Cat...you are most likely correct. I may have had the one case that i got careless with. At any rate, I pulled all of the bullets, resized the necks, and switched to Sierra 53 FB with no pressure ring. I have .0024" of neck tension now on the lot.

 

[gilream]

Pressure rings are, to my knowledge almost exclusively found on custom FB bullets. Production FB bullets are generally passed through an additional die to remove their pressure rings so that they will be suitable for use with automatic loading equipment. I suggest that you take note of the names of posters who have posted indicating that the opposite is true. I have measured a lot of custom 6mm FB bullets in my time. They all had pressure rings. Your comment about where your bullets are seating relative to the neck shoulder junction makes me wonder what their distance from the lands is. I have a tight neck .222 with zero freebore that does not run into this problem, or even close with any of the FB bullet weights that will work with a 14" twist, including 53 grain Bergers and 53 grain Sierras.

Boyd, the bullets that I referred to in my OP were handmade 52gr. FB bullets by Ed Watson. (had them around from years ago...I think Mr. Watson has since passed away) The shank of the bullets measure .2242 and the pressure ring at the rear measures .2245. The rifle is a new Cooper in 223 Remington. It has a minimum SAAMI chamber with a lot less freebore than I am used to. Seating the bullet to the hard jam (square rifling marks) minus .020" resulted in the pressure ring just entering the shoulder area and no longer contacting the case neck. My assumption was that the pressure ring sized the case neck larger, then exited leaving me with not very much neck tension. At any rate I have decided to change bullets and am going with the Sierra 53 FB Match....whose base still exits the case neck just slightly but has only a minimal pressure ring if any at all. My old .22 PPC has a very long case neck whereas this 223...not so much. BTW Boyd, my Berger 52 gr. Match bullets have a shank of .2243 and a pressure ring of .2247 (even greater than the Watson bullets). Thanks for the comments

 

[BoydAllen]

I have always gotten my best results with bullets of that type working up loads with them seated .006 or a little longer into the rifling. This also worked very well with the 53 grain Sierras. What sort of accuracy are you getting?

 

[gilream]

I have always gotten my best results with bullets of that type working up loads with them seated .006 or a little longer into the rifling. This also worked very well with the 53 grain Sierras. What sort of accuracy are you getting?

No serious groups shot yet...I went through the recommended barrel break in procedure (clean after each 5 shot group four times) while simultaneously zeroing a newly mounted scope and fire forming new cases with the 27 case lot (weight sorted) of Lapua Match brass. One 3 shot group did measure .073 at 50 yards so that is encouraging. Next chance I get I am going to shoot the test loads that i have ready to go using H335, Sierra 53 FB Match bullets, Rem 7 1/2 primers seated to -.020 the square marks jam. I will use this rifle to shoot some varmints in the future so I don't feel comfortable jamming the bullets too much.

What is your procedure for determining the jam length Boyd? I get a big difference between closing the bolt on a bullet seated long in the chamber and the Stoney Point OAL gauge (Hornady Lock N Load) with the modified case.