I’m loading my very first rounds ever with some components I could find locally while waiting for the stuff I ordered so for reference I loaded Hornady 140bthp (not eldm) match bullets over 40.5-43.1gns of H4350 cci 250s in Hornady 1x fired brass at .020” off my lands it was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit my concern is the way my primers look I believe I understand what cratering is correctly but I had some that looked like this at my lowest charge it dosent seem to be related to powder charge and it dosent look like cratering as I understand it more like pressure molding the cup to the firing pin hole than metal flowing outwards I have an arc nucleus CRF action so I can’t go by ejector markings and at no time did I have any detectable bolt lift change and speeds seemed acceptable though I don’t beilieve I would go above 42.5 range in warmer weather should I be concerned?? Were 250s not the right move seems that’s what everyone was using
New to reloading possible pressure issue need advice
- Thread starter Anderson_A
- Start date
I’ve seen that people are using CCI 450s because of small rifle primers. Not sure I’ve seen magnum primers in Hornady brass. I’d switch to standard large rifle primers and run your test again. The cratering is definitely from pressure. My current load for 140s in Hornady brass is 41.5, .020 off the lands.
I see now where I went wrong I didn’t take into acct anyone I’ve seen using 250s is using a premium brass as well thank you sir
