Re: Should I be concerned?
It's too hot by the look of your cases. I don't know how some of you guys who posted above can sit there and say "You're fine". <span style="font-weight: bold">You're not</span>!
It's only a matter of time before you break the ejector on that bolt...as Savages are wont to do under max pressure.
You need to do one of three things to alleviate pressure. Seat the bullets deeper, use less powder or go to a slower powder than H1000. For that case and bullet, I personally think H1000 is a little too fast.
Seating the bullet a little deeper allows the bullet to get a little run at the lands. By doing so, it doesn't stop there and allow pressure to spike. Even though you are running with Bergers, that doesn't necessarily mean you need to load right up to the lands. I see no point in loading right to the lands anyhow, unless you are benchrest shooting. Yes, there is that tiny little bit of accuracy gained/lost by doing or not doing it, but when it comes to long range, the minimal amount doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
As to using less powder, that's usually the first thing people should try. So, even though I mentioned seating the bullets deeper, you might try this and work up with bullets backed off the lands a ways. Run a ladder and see where you start getting marks on your case. You should also have a chronograph to see what your velocities are. Sometimes it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to just keep pushing a rifle for more velocity, when what you get is all your gonna get out of it without over-pressuring cases.
And lastly, you may consider a slower powder. There are a few powders that are slower than H1000. You may also consider going to a double base slower powder to get that little extra pressure, but just not during the ignition of the powder.
One note here: Even though H1000 is less temp sensitive, doesn't mean you won't be popping primers or worse, come the heat of summer. When you have the case loaded as hot as you do, you will go through the burn retardant and you will be over-pressuring your rifle. You might look into Reloader 25, Retumbo, AA8700 or see if you can get some of the surplus .50 cal powders out there. They actually work better than most people think.
