max load and pressure signs

[Rbutler]

I am still working on a load for those 70gr tsx rounds. the barnes site has a max of 24.5 gr of rl 15, im at 25gr and stopped but i see no pressure signs. Should i just stop and try another round or would it be safe to go over the barnes recommended max load capacity as long as i keep an eye on the signs. (PS what else other then the primer flattening should i look for)

Barnes 70gr TSX
CCI450 primer
25gr RL 15 powder
2.25 OAL

[mattt]

Set a cherry bomb on your nose and light it. That is what one of the signs of a too hot load feels like when things go bad. How long have you been reloading? Dont push the limits unless you are willing to pay the price. Dont take this wrong, just looking out for a fellow calgunner

[Rbutler]

im a noob reloader thats why im asking the questions. i would rather back down to a 60 gr nosler then go too hot on a round and turn my face into hamburger meat (im left handed shooting an ar). And no worries on taking it wrong i appreciate any advice. And i was questioning it because the primers are fine, my PMC 55gr have flattened primers but these didnt and i wanted to get some info from the elder reloaders of calguns.

[mattt]

Max loads are not always the most accurate.I have yet to find any of my 223 loads that are the hotest are the most accurate. Every gun has a sweet spot when it comes to reloading. That what makes reloading so fun. A 223 round that is perfect for my 223 might shoot 5" groups in yours. Find what your gun likes. Max loads just shorten the barrel Life and only once in a while are the best.Good luck

[Ahhnother8]

I am still working on a load for those 70gr tsx rounds. the barnes site has a max of 24.5 gr of rl 15, im at 25gr and stopped but i see no pressure signs. Should i just stop and try another round or would it be safe to go over the barnes recommended max load capacity as long as i keep an eye on the signs. (PS what else other then the primer flattening should i look for)

Barnes 70gr TSX
CCI450 primer
25gr RL 15 powder
2.25 OAL

Just like every gun likes different load combinations, every gun has a different max load. Some guns can't get up to the max loads in a book. Every lot of powder is different and it depends on what brass one uses too. With that primer, you will be WAY over max before it gets really flat. Look for primer cratering around the firing pin dimple and look for ejector marks (raised, shiny marks) on the casehead. When they show up, you are probably over max. Cratering can also be caused by a firing pin hole that is too large or a firing pin that is too small. Every gun that I have shoots great at max loads, but when you go over max the groups and chrono numbers get ugly. With more experience, you will hear, feel, and smell when you are over max.

[bootcamp]

Why push your gun?

I'm still fairly new so I stay the hell away from max. I like to look at the min and max and make 3-4 loads of about 10 each. So for 2230 for a 55gr FMJBT, min is 24gr, max is 26gr. I made 10 each: 24gr, 24.5gr, 25gr, and 25.4gr. 24.5gr shot the best, so I pressed out 1000 24.5gr. I don't have time to shoot 15 shots and go home and do further testing. I like to spend a range session testing the loads, then going home and going balls to the wall with the load i like.

On a side note, I also load 45acp. I started out with Unique, didn't meter worth a damn, so I never even got past min levels before I shelved the bottle. Then found 231, metered like a dream and was accurate at min. Loaded up 1000 at min, didn't even test i was happy with it. Then I couldn't find anymore 231 so I went with bullseye. Thought it was like 231 so I loaded it .2 gr higher than min. 5.3gr min, I loaded 5.5gr. This load kicked much higher than factory!! I friggin loaded 200 off the bat, it's still sitting in my cabinet waiting to be pulled. It kicked so hard my 1911 fixed sights loosened that it rattled off the slide. I thought I friggin cracked something. And that was just .2gr over min.

Went home jumped on the internet and found that it wasn't advised to load over 5.0gr 45acp 230gr fmj. WTF didn't my manual state that. My Speer manual that I treat like my reloading bible let me down. I ended up going .5gr below their min and load 4.8gr. I have since bought a few different manuals and don't solely rely on one manual.

For what it's worth, I know i'm not loading high velocity but for what? I'm hunting paper enemies. BLM shoots are a little different and I plan to shoot stouter loads. My home defense ammo is factory HP.

[m1match]

Keep in mind that your gun might not show obvious signs of high pressure at the max load. Also keep in mind that most (but not all) powders are somewhat temperature sensitive and your load on a cool day might start blowing primers on a hot day. RE15 is temperature sensitive. If it were me, I wouldn't exceed the load data in your manual.

Besides excessively flattened primers, some pressure signs could include: extractor and ejector smudges on the case head, pierced primers, blown primers, signs of brass being extruded into the ejector or extractor opening in the bolt head. Like I said though, sometimes you won't see those signs at excessive pressures.

[buffybuster]

I am still working on a load for those 70gr tsx rounds. the barnes site has a max of 24.5 gr of rl 15, im at 25gr and stopped but i see no pressure signs. Should i just stop and try another round or would it be safe to go over the barnes recommended max load capacity as long as i keep an eye on the signs. (PS what else other then the primer flattening should i look for)

Barnes 70gr TSX
CCI450 primer
25gr RL 15 powder
2.25 OAL

What is the velocity you are getting?
If you don't know that, the only reason you want to go higher is your desire to find the "limit". Things become very unforgiving at the limit. Load manuals were developed for a reason and it's not intelligent to exceed them blindly. (You have the case, but if you don't have the velocity then you have no idea what is happening with the bullet)

[CSACANNONEER]

First, what are you trying to accomplish by loading hot? Second, Barnes Bullets are a unique animal. I suggest calling Barnes for any and all technical questions regarding the use of their products. They have GREAT customer service and technical support!

[Rbutler]

sorry i forgot to mention that i started at 22gr and worked up to 25. Im just trying to get tighter groups, it at about 2 inches ive been noticing them get tighter with more powder but i dont want to push it too far.