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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Rifles, Bullets, Barrels & Ballistics
Custom action pressure ceiling.
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<blockquote data-quote="Pdvdh" data-source="post: 375150" data-attributes="member: 4191"><p>I can see pressure signs in my Lawton action with Lapua 300 Win Mag brass. OK, that's not 338 Lapua casings. And there are undoubtedly higher-priced and quality custom actions available. But Fiftydriver is always talking about reading pressure signs on Lapua brass with his 338 Lapua-based wildcats. Certainly some of those are custom actions.</p><p></p><p>The primers still flatten. Any recesses in the bolt face (plunger holes or ejector slots) will begin to leave an impression on the case head. The primer pockets will loosen up in one or two firings if the Lapua brass is substantially overpressured. All of these case pressure signs will become manifest before the action lets loose. </p><p></p><p>It may require a higher pressure load with a custom bolt action than a run-of-the-mill factory action before getting bolt lift resistance. Especially if the custom bolt face is without a plunger hole or ejector slot cut in the bolt face. But I suspect you'll still experience stout bolt lift before the custom action blows, unless you're unlucky enough to end up with an action with a structural defect or manufacturing flaw.</p><p></p><p>No matter the design, make or brand of the action, I believe an observant reloader can ID excessive pressure by examining the fired brass casings. No different for a wildcat cartridge than the factory rounds. I've expanded 30-06 and 300 Win Mag Lapua brass primer pockets without working at it too hard. </p><p></p><p>The most reliable method I know of to ID over-pressured loads is to reload the same individual casing over and over again during load work up. If the primer falls out of the fired casing on the 1st firing? The response is way to go! You're on the verge of a face full of torch-like, steel-cutting gas and metal. If the primer pocket loosens up within two shots, you're still heavily over-pressuring. Even if you get 4-5 firings before the case head won't hold a primer, you're still running them hot, but probably won't experience fireworks. If the primer pockets last 12 or more firings, you're probly operating within a safe pressure level. </p><p></p><p>It generally doesn't take me very long to open up a primer pocket during my load development forays, and I still have my eyelids. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite11" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll Eyes :rolleyes:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /></p><p></p><p>Now maybe someone with more seat-of-the-pants wildcatting experience than I have will sound in and share their experiences, and best advice, for identifying acceptable pressure & powder charges from the unacceptably high pressure & powder charges.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pdvdh, post: 375150, member: 4191"] I can see pressure signs in my Lawton action with Lapua 300 Win Mag brass. OK, that's not 338 Lapua casings. And there are undoubtedly higher-priced and quality custom actions available. But Fiftydriver is always talking about reading pressure signs on Lapua brass with his 338 Lapua-based wildcats. Certainly some of those are custom actions. The primers still flatten. Any recesses in the bolt face (plunger holes or ejector slots) will begin to leave an impression on the case head. The primer pockets will loosen up in one or two firings if the Lapua brass is substantially overpressured. All of these case pressure signs will become manifest before the action lets loose. It may require a higher pressure load with a custom bolt action than a run-of-the-mill factory action before getting bolt lift resistance. Especially if the custom bolt face is without a plunger hole or ejector slot cut in the bolt face. But I suspect you'll still experience stout bolt lift before the custom action blows, unless you're unlucky enough to end up with an action with a structural defect or manufacturing flaw. No matter the design, make or brand of the action, I believe an observant reloader can ID excessive pressure by examining the fired brass casings. No different for a wildcat cartridge than the factory rounds. I've expanded 30-06 and 300 Win Mag Lapua brass primer pockets without working at it too hard. The most reliable method I know of to ID over-pressured loads is to reload the same individual casing over and over again during load work up. If the primer falls out of the fired casing on the 1st firing? The response is way to go! You're on the verge of a face full of torch-like, steel-cutting gas and metal. If the primer pocket loosens up within two shots, you're still heavily over-pressuring. Even if you get 4-5 firings before the case head won't hold a primer, you're still running them hot, but probably won't experience fireworks. If the primer pockets last 12 or more firings, you're probly operating within a safe pressure level. It generally doesn't take me very long to open up a primer pocket during my load development forays, and I still have my eyelids. :rolleyes: Now maybe someone with more seat-of-the-pants wildcatting experience than I have will sound in and share their experiences, and best advice, for identifying acceptable pressure & powder charges from the unacceptably high pressure & powder charges. [/QUOTE]
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