How low can you go?

[Faded]

I am blowing out primers on my 308 loads with Lake City brass and I am well below the published ranges. Hodgon has IMR 4064 at 43.0-45.0g.

LC08 Brass
168 SMK
IMR 4064 @ 38.8g
2.800"
WIN LRP or CCI BR2
~2530 FPS

My next batch I am going to drop 0.5-1.0g so that will put me at 37.8-38.3g. For what it's worth on my Federal brass I run at 42.2g with no issues, but I want to find a load on the LC08 since I have around 1k cases.

Have you guys ever had issues with going too low on your powder charge?

[Sir Toast]

No. However, I've heard that if you go too low, it can cause a weird phenomenon that produces a huge pressure spike even though there is much less powder which is very dangerous. Never seen one though.

[Sir Toast]

deleted

[AandO]

How many firings on this brass? What is the history of the brass?

[baih777]

My 308 loads for 168g vary between 41 to 46 between two rifles. Benchmark . RL15
. AR Comp. Varget. IMR4320
Have you checked your firing pin.

[Faded]

How many firings on this brass? What is the history of the brass?

The brass I bought used military surplus I was told. Not sure on firings.

[bigdawg86]

You sure you didn't accidentally use pistol primers?

[Faded]

My 308 loads for 168g vary between 41 to 46 between two rifles. Benchmark . RL15
. AR Comp. Varget. IMR4320
Have you checked your firing pin.

I believe the firing pin is fine. I have no issues with Lapua, Federal, and PPU brass loads. I just can't find one on the Lake city and its way below the range. I've tried Google searches and most people are in the 40's with LC brass and IMR 4064.

The rifle I'm using is a Savage 10/110 FCP HS precision.

[baih777]

are you using a handprimer or the press to prime your brass.
you might want to check the height of your seated primers.

[pacrat]

I am blowing out primers on my 308 loads with Lake City brass and I am well below the published ranges. Hodgon has IMR 4064 at 43.0-45.0g.

LC08 Brass
168 SMK
IMR 4064 @ 38.8g
2.800"
WIN LRP or CCI BR2
~2530 FPS

My next batch I am going to drop 0.5-1.0g so that will put me at 37.8-38.3g. For what it's worth on my Federal brass I run at 42.2g with no issues, but I want to find a load on the LC08 since I have around 1k cases.

Have you guys ever had issues with going too low on your powder charge?

What do you mean by "Blowing out primers"? Blowing out literally, as in punctured and gas escaping? Or just "protruding" due to low pressure? Big Diff.

What "kind" of load are you looking for? If your purpose for these 1k cases is loaded down below start, bunnyfart plinking loads. Seems awful wasteful from an economics view to use SMKs. When you can use plated lead at 12/13 cents each.

If you underload, you have protruding primers and sooty dirty cases that failed to seal the chamber.

If you overload, you run into excess pressure issues.

The low load, high pressure issue, that Sir Toast mentions is called "FLASH OVER". Caused with very small doses of slow powders. Such as 4831 and slower. Rather than the powder column in the case burning from end to end as intended.

As pressure/plasma increase from end to end burn, the bullet begins moving and increasing the volume the plasma is contained in. Called the "pressure curve".

With a "Flash Over", the small volume of powder lays in the side of the case. The primer flashes over the entire length of the powder lighting it all at once. Before the bullet can move and increase pressure vessel volume. Causing a "Detonation Spike" not a curve. Result.....BIG BOOM.

JM2c

[stilly]

I am blowing out primers on my 308 loads with Lake City brass and I am well below the published ranges. Hodgon has IMR 4064 at 43.0-45.0g.

LC08 Brass
168 SMK
IMR 4064 @ 38.8g
2.800"
WIN LRP or CCI BR2
~2530 FPS

My next batch I am going to drop 0.5-1.0g so that will put me at 37.8-38.3g. For what it's worth on my Federal brass I run at 42.2g with no issues, but I want to find a load on the LC08 since I have around 1k cases.

Have you guys ever had issues with going too low on your powder charge?

If you have a VERY low charge you WILL push out the primer a bit.

How Low? I tell you what, put NO powder in a shell, just a primer and it will back out about a mm or so when you fire it.

I even made a video of it...

[Faded]

are you using a handprimer or the press to prime your brass.
you might want to check the height of your seated primers.

Hand primed.

[Faded]

What do you mean by "Blowing out primers"? Blowing out literally, as in punctured and gas escaping? Or just "protruding" due to low pressure? Big Diff.

What "kind" of load are you looking for? If your purpose for these 1k cases is loaded down below start, bunnyfart plinking loads. Seems awful wasteful from an economics view to use SMKs. When you can use plated lead at 12/13 cents each.

If you underload, you have protruding primers and sooty dirty cases that failed to seal the chamber.

If you overload, you run into excess pressure issues.

The low load, high pressure issue, that Sir Toast mentions is called "FLASH OVER". Caused with very small doses of slow powders. Such as 4831 and slower. Rather than the powder column in the case burning from end to end as intended.

As pressure/plasma increase from end to end burn, the bullet begins moving and increasing the volume the plasma is contained in. Called the "pressure curve".

With a "Flash Over", the small volume of powder lays in the side of the case. The primer flashes over the entire length of the powder lighting it all at once. Before the bullet can move and increase pressure vessel volume. Causing a "Detonation Spike" not a curve. Result.....BIG BOOM.

JM2c

They are physically blowing out. Had 3 on the last 50. I have been trying to find a solid round I can use and have been working my load down. Started at 41g and that was way too hot as well. I can't get a load to be stable in this brass consistently and throwing out the brass seemed like a waste.

[Faded]

Here are the last 3 that blew. Bolt was sticking and you can see the marks. Looks like over pressure to me what do you think?

[AGGRO]

Did you caliper the projectile? They do make those in .311.