300 PRC Pressure Signs

[shooters]

I have a 300 PRC and running 230 Berger and N570. 22" Bartlein barrel. Defiance action.
ADG Brass.
I've loaded 79g up to 84g of N570.
Sometimes I feel like it's hard to tell by brass alone if I have pressure with the ADG since it's so hard.
At 82g, groups start to open up. Like 2" groups. At 84g, it's pretty much horrible.
At 79-81 grains it's a 1/2" gun or better.
I would like to run them a little hotter if I could.
Right now with the 81g and 230 Berger out of the 22" barrel is 2814 FPS average. Good SD and ES. The 84g was 2905 average. This is a built rifle with defiance action. I've never had a sticky bolt from too much pressure on any of my built rifles with the finance actions. Usually the first signs of pressure I noticed in the brass, but like I said, it's very difficult with ADG for me to tell.
So my question. According to applied ballistics, the 215g is the better option unless I push the 230 Berger to 2900. So, can someone tell me by looking at the brass alone of the 230 Berger with 84g of N570 is too hot?

 

[Elk Hunter 338]

Yep if you are getting that in ADG its HOT!!!

I personally would drop down to a 210-215gr and pick that speed back up most of mine have ran in the 80-81 gr of H1000 in ADG and been stellar shooters with any length of barrel..

 

[shooters]

Yep if you are getting that in ADG its HOT!!!

I personally would drop down to a 210-215gr and pick that speed back up most of mine have ran in the 80-81 gr of H1000 in ADG and been stellar shooters with any length of barrel..

I don't have any H1000. I do have lots of N570 and N565. So if I drop down to 215, I'm not quite sure where I would start with the N570

 

[Slick8]

Those are hot for sure with that circle from the plunger. I'm seeing similar in a 30-28 nosler with H1k and 230's / 245's. The first sign for me on the 245's was the plunger mark and a blown primer on a ladder test today.

 

[shooters]

Ok. So, like I mentioned earlier, at 81g it shoots pretty well. So if it's shooting half inch group with 81g of N570 at 2800, is it worth going down to the 215's to get 2900?

 

[shooters]

I specifically chose the 230 over the 215 simply for my Montana moose hunt. I typically use a 200 grain ELDX for my MOOSE up in Alaska and I've had unreal success at every range. But that's a whole other topic. I just want to try the Berger one time. So I figured I'd try the 230

 

[Elk Hunter 338]

The 215 is an absolute wrecking ball.. you will not be let down..

The step down to a 215 for me in a short rig is a non issue.. in fact i am actually liking it better on game than the 230

I would run a 215 and see where you end up should be very close to where you at though