Purchased the 4895 2 weeks ago. Using it for the 2nd time. Never used it before.
This calamity came together largely as the result of loading some 357Mag loads with two different powders and some 223 with two different powders. On top of that, three different bullets in the 357 and two different bullets in the 223. And lastly, one powder I'd never used in 40yrs of reloading (4895), so the lack of visual recognition.
In retrospect, too many variables in play during the reloading session.
With the action still locked up, I initially probed the bore with a cleaning rod to confirm a bullet left the muzzle.
It took 10-15 minutes to free the bolt and bolt carrier from the upper. I was beginning to think excess pressure, especially when with bolt removed, the case head was still stuck tight in the bolt face recess.
With the case freed from the bolt face, and recognizing the excess pressure incurred, it took 2-3 minutes of brainstorming to ID the cause.
Fortunately, the 223 case is small in diameter, which reduces the force against the bolt face compared to larger cases at equal pressure. Same inside the chamber. The smaller the diameter the case, the less force and strain created, compared to larger diameter cases at equal operating pressure.
Rifle is fine. Had this pressure been created in a RUM, might have damaged both the firearm and me.
