Pressure?

[Elkslayer402]

I was hoping to get some insight to the ejector marks I'm seeing on my brass. I'm not sure if it's signs of pressure or another issue. I've included some photos of the brass. Also included a picture of a factory load Precision Hunter 143 eldx I shot out of the same ifle as it seems to have ejector marks as well. Rifle is a Seekins PH2 6.5 PRC 22-in Barrel. I have already worked loads up for the 156 bergers using N560 and I'm very happy with the outcome. .5 Moa., 2923 vel., 1 grain under max.

I have several boxes of 143 eldx sitting around and and several pounds n565 so I hoping to use this combo. In doing so I am seeing ejector marks on all my brass even at lower charges. I attached some pictures hoping to get some INSIGHT to what I am seeing. Side note i did just clean the rifle. But did shoot fouling shots before I shot each round moving up in .4 grain increments. 10 total rounds were loaded but Chronograph battery died on shot 7. below are some results as well as pictures of the ejector marks on the brass.

Powder: N565
Book max: 56.5

Start load: 53.7 vel 2791
54.1 vel 2788
54.5 vel 2829
54.9 vel 2829
55.3 vel 2852
55.7 vel 2870

 

[Rick Richard]

What brass brand are you using?

I don't always believe brass indications without bolt lift resistance. Some brass and especially Hornady stuff is just too soft.

 

[Hand Skills]

This is the only photo I could really see details of the case head

LAPUA brass, looks fine to me

 

[Elkslayer402]

Correct it's Lapua brass. Thank you been reloading for quite some time but still consider myself somewhat of a novice. So from what you're saying even in having ejectors Mark's doesn't mean pressure and focus more on the looks of the primer and cratering?

 

[Rick Richard]

Correct it's Lapua brass. Thank you been reloading for quite some time but still consider myself somewhat of a novice. So from what you're saying even in having ejectors Mark's doesn't mean pressure and focus more on the looks of the primer and cratering?

I see no issue either…Yes and bolt lift resistance.

 

[Elkslayer402]

Thank you I did not see any pressure either but I've never noticed ejector marks on the case before so I thought I would ask. I appreciate the responses.

 

[jseandsje]

Might be headspace. Shoot a piece of virgin with a .010 jam, and starting load. That should tell you something.

 

[Elkslayer402]

Headspace? Can you help me understand more of what you're saying. Currently I believe I'm .030 off the lands measured from the ogive. Thanks

 

[tomcat818]

Was it virgin brass?

 

[Elkslayer402]

Was it virgin brass?

It was once fired brass

 

[tomcat818]

How did you prep the brass after first firing? Full length or just neck sizing? If full length did you bump the shoulder back and if so how much?

I don't see much need for concern looking at the brass with the slight ejector mark and swiping but it does indicate something is close to getting out of whack. I agree with others that heavy bolt lift is the red light event where charge weight needs to come down. Also, as some have mentioned these things are very brass dependent and I don't use Lapua brass.

 

[Elkslayer402]

How did you prep the brass after first firing? Full length or just neck sizing? If full length did you bump the shoulder back and if so how much?

I don't see much need for concern looking at the brass with the slight ejector mark and swiping but it does indicate something is close to getting out of whack. I agree with others that heavy bolt lift is the red light event where charge weight needs to come down. Also, as some have mentioned these things are very brass dependent and I don't use Lapua brass.

I did a full length. But being that I don't know how to answer your question makes me feel like I did something wrong and therein lies the rub

 

[Rick Richard]

I did a full length. But being that I don't know how to answer your question makes me feel like I did something wrong and therein lies the rub

I believe the question or concern may be over "bumping" the brass. Most of us want to set it back @.002…at the most.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

When you put a piece of virgin brass in without shooting it, does it still give you the swipe? Sometimes rough ejectors can leave the swipe. Heavy ejector print looks like this ( ). Doesn't appear in these cases. Sometimes virgin cases are a little "loose", when fired, they back into the bolt face pretty hard, when you eject, you can get the swipe.

If you bolt was not stiff, didn't here a click at the top of it, run the same load in as you did the virgin cases, but don't be surprised if you have to back off 1/2-1gr. Virgin cases can mask pressure as they are not yet formed "tight" in the chamber.