I have one of those uncomfortable situations. I decided to try H380 for my 22.250 and most reloading manuals give loads from 32-38 grains of powder for the 50 grain bullets.

My starting load was 35 grains with a 50 grain V-max bullet. About one case in eight showed a shiny mark from the ejector hole with no difficulty with bolt lift or other signs of pressure.
I worked up in 1/2 grain increments and groups kept getting smaller as I went up.

My Lee reloading manual shows a max load of 41 grains of H380 with a 50 grain bullet but all my other manuals show max nearer to 38-39 grains.
At 41 grains I was shooting .37" five shot groups and one case in four had the shiny spot from the ejector but still no other signs of pressure.
I looked at all of my cases and there is a gradual increase in the number of shiny spots as I worked up in powder charges. At 37 grains I was seeing about 1 out of every every 6 cases and at 39 grains it was close to 1 out of every 5 cases.
I haven't chronographed any of these loads yet but noticed nothing different about recoil levels or trajectory.

Am I pushing the edge here?

Here a 22-250 after several reloads. I beleve it's caused by the die or is an expansion ring. check the inside using a sharpened bent gem clip for any cracks.



And here is a sure enough case separation on a .270.

H-380 From 32.0 grains to 42.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

Thanks Steve, I guess the load isn't out of the realm of safety. I know what case seperation looks like from personal experience (All of us start reloading young and dumb). I'm going to chronagraph the 41 grain load and as long as I'm under 3900 fps or so I'll probaby shoot it enough to check case life.

Your ejector marks are from the ejector spring being so strong. Unless you lighten that spring, you can get shiny marks with factory ammo (especially when seating at or into the lands). Unless you Chrono way high,..I'd go with the accurate load you have. I have seen plenty of these marks in rem700's due to that spring being so damn strong. I have the gunsmith lighten mine to keep from bending the necks when I extract the cases.

I used 39.5 g. of H380 with a 50 g Noslet BT for a long time in a Rem. 700 VSSF and have not had any such pressure signs, but as you know each gun is different.