Pressure Question??

[sigma2chi]

I'm running a BAT action with a Krieger #10 MTU.

.308, 175 gr Berger OTM in Lapua Brass with 42.1 gr of H4895. Fed 210 primers

That's 1.1 gr over Berger's manual suggested max. My groups are excellent at all ranges and my only signs of pressure are "semi" flattened primers (not near as flat as others I've seen and I've NEVER had any cratering) I've heard Fed primers are kinda soft anyway. One other thing I've noticed is that some of my Lapua primer pockets seem to loosen up after 4-5 firings. Maybe 4 out of 50 cases will do this.

A Few questions:

1. Can't some actions that are beefier such as a BAT handle more pressure than a smaller thinner one like a Rem?.?.?

2. Would these intermittent pressure signs be enough to make anyone here completely change their load from 42.1 gr some something milder?

3. Or are these intermittent primer pockets loosening up just natural attrition of brass and not hit and miss signs of pressure??

Thanks

 

[Clark]

Loose large Boxer primer pockets or flowing into the plunger ejector hole are the limit in 308, not the Rem700 action strength.
The Rem700 can take much higher pressure in the 6mmBR with small primer pocket, where the limit is piercing the CCI450 magnum small rifle primer.

I find the threshold of loose primer pockets and back off 4% with H4350 or other temp stable powders. I back of 6% for ordinary powders.