Over pressure signs?

[vhuang168]

Do these look like the start of over pressure?


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[elk hunter]

Was extraction sticky? I don't see any signs in the primer. More info would be nice.

[vhuang168]

Felt fine. Not sticky.

There is a little cratering around the FP strike.


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[Fjold]

I don't see any signs of excessive pressure. The edges of the primers are still rounded, no real ejector wipe. The chamber machining looks a little rough and your firing pin hole in the bolt face may be a little sloppy.

['ol shooter]

Yup, that looks like an oversize firing pin hole, is it a Savage? Take a look here:

http://gretanrifles.com/

[NapalmCheese]

Yup, that looks like an oversize firing pin hole, is it a Savage? Take a look here:

http://gretanrifles.com/

That's my thinking too.

Flattened primers will eventually cover up nearly the entire primer pocket. They'll look actually flat, and like they've flowed into the chamfered portion of the primer pocket.

More than that as pressure creeps up you'll also see imprints from the ejector (assuming a plunger type ejector).

As it creeps up more you'll see that same imprint, but sort of oblong. This is caused by the brass flowing into the ejector plunger hole and then physically being cut off or swaged back in place as you open the bolt.

What you're seeing is the result of the firing pin hole being slightly larger than necessary, it's pretty common. Your factory brass should show the same things.

[JagerDog]

I don't see any signs of excessive pressure. The edges of the primers are still rounded, no real ejector wipe. The chamber machining looks a little rough and your firing pin hole in the bolt face may be a little sloppy.

What he said.

Headroom still available if you want it.

[The War Wagon]

What he said.

Headroom still available if you want it.

I wouldn't load it any HOTTER however.

[elk hunter]

I think he could go a little farther with his loads, but I would start miking the heads before and after each shot and keeping a written record of the measurements and the instant it showed any increase I would back off a little. the cratering can be a sloppy firing pin hole or a small/undersized firing pin in a normal firing pin hole. Or a beveled firing pin hole, I've seen them all and in not just Salvage but Remington.

[vhuang168]

Thanks for the replies.

It is a Savage. Brass hasn't shown any growth in head diameter so far.

The last 2 rounds are compressed loads. 168gn Amax on 45.8gn of Varget. I've gone as far as 46.3gn and didn't see any obvious signs but thought I should get second opinions.

[vhuang168]

I don't see any signs of excessive pressure. The edges of the primers are still rounded, no real ejector wipe. The chamber machining looks a little rough and your firing pin hole in the bolt face may be a little sloppy.

Is there a need to clean the chamber machining? Is it going to cause issues with brass life or some other?

[JagerDog]

I wouldn't load it any HOTTER however.

Why?

[Fjold]

Is there a need to clean the chamber machining? Is it going to cause issues with brass life or some other?

It's mostly cosmetic. You can put some Flitz metal polish on a mop and spin it with a drill to smooth it out. It will make your brass look better but it won't make a lot of difference in brass life.

[NapalmCheese]

Why?

I'm curious as well.

I have factory 7mm-08 (61,000 psi max) that flattens primers.

I have factory 25 WSSM (65,000 psi max) that REALLY flattens primers.

Factory .308 should be 62,000 psi max, unless the velocities on my chrono said I was at max load, I'd be fine with continuing to push those loads. I mean it's not necessary if you like the performance, but I don't think it's dangerous.

Then again I'm not a super seasoned grey beard reloader AND I'm generally a little conservative.

[pacrat]

I don't see any signs of excessive pressure. The edges of the primers are still rounded, no real ejector wipe. The chamber machining looks a little rough and your firing pin hole in the bolt face may be a little sloppy.

^^^that^^^ for pressure indication.

Pin hole in bolt face is definitely sloppy. Causing the slight crater.

Chamber cut with dull reamer.............rough and fugly.

If this is a new rifle, I would send it back.