Second opinion please

[09cs]

I recently shot some of my 308 loads, and would like a second opinion on these primers from some seasoned reloaders, the bolt did not feel "sticky" or anything like that.

Powder is Varget, loaded with 175 SMK at 2.800

From left to right: 42.7gr, 43, 43.3, and 43.6
Max listed from hodgdon website is 45gr.

This was the brasses second time being loaded (so shot once from factory with 2 reloads, so 3 firings through it)

Thanks for the help like always!

IMG_0788.jpg

IMG_0789.jpg

[sghart]

Looks great to me. Good job.

[09cs]

In the second pic, to me it looked like some cratering, which is why I was concerned

[Rock6.3]

In the second pic, to me it looked like some cratering, which is why I was concerned

Cratering can be felt, it a ring around the primer strike where the material is raised up and usually is jagged like a meteor impact.

[maxx03]

The primers look ok. As there is no cratering. You can also punch the primers out and inspect the sides, but they look good from here. The first picture is pretty good it shows that the edges are still rounded.

[kouye]

Separate your FC and LC brass. LC brass has less capacity so increased pressure and those are the ones that show a little cratering/flattened primers.

But still, none are overpressured.

[elk hunter]

Cratering is not a good or reliable sign of high pressure.

[bsumoba]

What kind of primers? I'm going to suspect federal primers. cci is usually one of the harder cup primers.

separate the brass like the other responder said. You will see some rather large volume case differences between those and thus, inconsistent velocities and pressures.

That being said, I see some flattening, but no cratering or ejector swipes so it's probably okay.

Find out what your velocities are. Those powder charges are a little on the light side if they are from a bolt action. Also see if maybe you can seat the bullets out further than 2.800. If you can do that, you can also get more powder and velocity out of your load with the same pressures.

[ducky_0811]

Like other said, sort your brass when doing ladder testing. I've always found that the 175's prefer to be seated out to 2.810. Leaves a little more volume, lower pressure. I also shoot both LC and FC brass, they weigh almost the same but internal volume will be different.

[09cs]

Like other said, sort your brass when doing ladder testing. I've always found that the 175's prefer to be seated out to 2.810. Leaves a little more volume, lower pressure. I also shoot both LC and FC brass, they weigh almost the same but internal volume will be different.

I had only LC brass for certain weights, and FC for a different one.

What kind of primers? I'm going to suspect federal primers. cci is usually one of the harder cup primers.

Those powder charges are a little on the light side if they are from a bolt action. Also see if maybe you can seat the bullets out further than 2.800. If you can do that, you can also get more powder and velocity out of your load with the same pressures.

They are actually CCI Large rifle primers. I'll try to seat them a little further next time. Yes it is also a bolt action. I got a good grouping around the 43.6 so will try and fine tune from there

Cratering can be felt, it a ring around the primer strike where the material is raised up and usually is jagged like a meteor impact.

Thanks for the tip!

[09cs]

Like other said, sort your brass when doing ladder testing. I've always found that the 175's prefer to be seated out to 2.810. Leaves a little more volume, lower pressure. I also shoot both LC and FC brass, they weigh almost the same but internal volume will be different.

I'll try 2.810

[Clever]

Lookes like the primer pocket is to big. What tool are you using for the primer pocket.

[09cs]

Lookes like the primer pocket is to big. What tool are you using for the primer pocket.

Lyman primer pocket reamer

[Wrangler John]

Which is why really finicky shooters have their bolt modified with a bushing that reduces the size of the firing pin hole with the firing pin precision ground to match. Solves any problems with cratering and blanking (having the firing pin dent blown out leaving a hole). Here's five minutes of more than you ever wanted to know about firing pin bushings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDJKLp7BsI

Current production Savage centerfire rifles and the Precision Target Actions already have small firing pins. Remington 700's will need this done, something I have done as part of a action "blueprint" or separately on a factory rifle.

The photo below shows a Federal 205M Match Primer with a slight ridge pushed up that resembles a crater, but is due to the soft primer cup not to excessive pressure. This condition does not exist with Winchester Small Rifle Primers (with the Winchester primer also delivering the best accuracy), or with Remington's 7-1/2BR primer, or the Wolf 223 Small Rifle Primer, in this cartridge with the same load.

[AandO]

GEEZ

They look pretty to me. I know without looking at the primers if a load is too hot just by the feel of the rifle responding to the overcharge and by the math in dispensing loads.......

IMHO one should not be loading to the hot side until one knows the warning signals from their weapon......That would be the feel of the Bolt pulling and the release of the brass and cycling of the action. Other subtle signs are the throw distance of the brass changing to either shorter or further due to the brass sealing tighter in the chamber.

Primers are a secondary confirmation and not my primary source of info.

One should know as they are working up loads when to stop prior to primers being the source indicator...or so I would think.

When priming Brass I make note of how tight they are and label the overly loose ones as a last firing or a reject on the spot before loading.

Brass is cheap relative to bolts.......