Help with load

[SnkBit]

I went to the range today to check a few loads and had some primers try to back out with a relatively small load. Heres what I was shooting:
Remington 700 action, .308, 26" bbl with 1/12 twist.
Remington once fired brass
CCI 200 primers
Nosler 168gr ballistic tips

I started with 42.5gr of Varget and worked up to 44gr in .5gr increments. The primers were raised on all 5 of the 42.5gr loadings. They were fairly flat on all but one of the 43gr loadings with the exception of the one that was raised. At 43.5gr the primers were relatively flat on two of the five rounds with the other three still having a decent radius on the edge of the primer. At 44gr they were consistently flat but not to the point that I would think there is a pressure problem. On all of the loadings there are no indications of the case flowing into the extractor nor was the bolt even slightly difficult to raise.

Is this caused by the Remington brass? Maybe the CCI primers? I really don't think it is pressure but I don't want to continue to increase the loadings until I get this figured out.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: Help with load

so...............what about groups?

quit staring at the primers....whats that going to do for you ?

 

[jdel]

Re: Help with load

I myself have loaded up to just over 45 with that same brass, primers and the 168 CC. Reading primers is real hard for looking for PSI. If the bolt hard to lift after firing that's a pretty good indication your at or nearing max. You should be fine at that charge, even going further in .3 incriments.

 

[SnkBit]

Re: Help with load

Yeah, my groups all sucked. But that was my fault not the loads. Best I had was about .750" with the 43gr load. If I don't need to be concerned about the primers then I'll keep on until I get something I like or some definite pressure signs. On the note of group size, what can be expected out of the Nosler BT?

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Help with load

The BT is a bullet my 30-06 loves with several powders! Keep in mind that your load range is well within accepted safe range though of course each rifle is different.

You may find that if you over sized your brass then the head space may be a little excessive. If so the primer dislodges at firing and the lower pressure rounds aren't driving the primer back in as far as the higher pressure rounds are.

Got a case gauge?

 

[SnkBit]

Re: Help with load

Thanks QQ, I will check the headspace and the cases and see what I come up with.

 

[winxp_man]

Re: Help with load

factory .308 rounds for me always seem to have the primers pretty flat, but they shoot accurate. I would agree that the biggest thing that would tell you that there is the bolt being hard to open after you fired a round or cratered primers.