I just wanted to know what are some good signs of max pressure when loading. The descriptions in manuals have left me wanting, anyone have any pictures of flattened or cratered primers, any other signs of too much pressure.

The reason I ask is that I've been working up loads for my .223 using 50 gr V-max bullets, hodgdon H335 in once-fired winchester brass with winchester WSR primers.

I've heard these primers are softer than others (I think becuase of the brass cup) does that mean that a flattened primer in these would be ok?

I'm confused as to max load with H335. Most load manuals I've seen online range the max with 50gr pills to be somewhere between 25-26 or 27 grains of powder, so do some of my reloading manuals. However, I've been relying on a Sierra manual I have (can't remember the version) but they stated max to be at 28gr and a recomended hunting load to be at 27.3, which worries me being higher than other manuals max loads.

I split the diffrence and worked up to 27.4 or 27.5 and have had normal bolt opening (I went a little higher and got sticky bolt opening), primers are pretty flat, but so were the ones on some other loaded ammo I've shot (not my reloads). I have select few rounds out of that batch that show signs of the primer molding around the firing pin, I think it's called cratering, but it's pretty mild (not strongly defined cratering, just barely starting to crater)

Does this sound like this load is to hot? I know I'm getting up there close to max. I was able to use the range's chronograph on sunday and I think this load said it was coming out right around 3400fps. I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but I think that was about the average.

I read a thread earlier that stated that H335 is temp sensitive, has anyone known this to be true? I work my loads up at around 65-70 degress and my maint hunting is done when it's probably 90-100. Will I run higher pressures with the added heat to the point of unsafe ammo if I'm loading H335 near max?

I know there's a lot of questions there so thanks for your time.

Why are you using Sierra loading info for Hornady Bullets?

quote:

Originally posted by OldGuy:
Why are you using Sierra loading info for Hornady Bullets?

Actually I see nothing at all wrong with this....

As long as we're using cup and core bullets and working up the manual used is not at all important.

That is assuming it's creditable in the first place.

If your loads are fairly hot at 70 degrees they will be a little hotter and maybe over max at 100 degrees. Worst that will happen when you are border line max is a sticky bolt. If you get there back off a couple grains. Most of us reload for accuracy rather than speed. If you get cratered primers back up a grain on the powder. Try and find an accurate load without reaching the limit of safety.

Max for that bullet in the Hornady manual is 25.7 grains. It shows 3300 fps frmo a 26 inch barrel. I load 23 grains with the 55 grains vmax and that is my secondary load, my primary is 26gr of Varget with a federal small rifle primer.

One thing about H335 is it's a really dirty powder and it is temp sensitive, varget is cleaner burning and temp is no issue.

What twist is your barrel? If you have loaded to 27.4 gr I assume you have at least a 1-10" twist. I have shot a few thousand 50 gr vmax out of my AR-15 with a 1-12" barrel in heat up to 105 and have not had any problems at 27.0 gr with LC brass and win primers. Sierra's recommendation for an accuracy load is 27.3 gr, with the slower twist barrel, my AR likes 27 a little better. This load will not work in my 1-8" twist barrels, I have to use Hornady's load data for the faster twist barrel of 26 gr.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike R:
What twist is your barrel? If you have loaded to 27.4 gr I assume you have at least a 1-10" twist. I have shot a few thousand 50 gr vmax out of my AR-15 with a 1-12" barrel in heat up to 105 and have not had any problems at 27.0 gr with LC brass and win primers. Sierra's recommendation for an accuracy load is 27.3 gr, with the slower twist barrel, my AR likes 27 a little better. This load will not work in my 1-8" twist barrels, I have to use Hornady's load data for the faster twist barrel of 26 gr.

Hmm, interesting point about the twist rate, I don't konw how that affects load, but it's intersting that you saw the diffrence. Mine is a 1 in 12 twist so it would appear that we're close, maybe I will download to 27 just to be safe.

Mustang,

It has been my experience that twist rate has a big effect on pressure and bullet performance. As stated in my first post loads that shoot great with no signs of pressure in my 1:12"s blows primers and evaporates bullets in my 1:8"s. In my opinion Sierra has their $h!t together and listed data for both, however I wish they would label their data by twist rate rather than by bolt action/Ar-15 data. Hornady if I remember right does not even list the twist rate for the data they post, they just use data for the faster twist barrels. But in their defense most of the guys shooting AR's are using the faster twist barrels and AR's are getting very popular.

vapodog,
I have actually seen a big difference in velocity between bullets of the same weight from different manufacturers. Even if I keep all the other components constant, and fired from the same gun, there can be 100 fps difference in velocity. I think that means a pressure difference exists as well.
I recommend using the powder charge listed by the bullet manufacturer as maximum. Of course, every barrel is different. That's where a chronograph comes in handy.

I use the Speer 50 grain spitzer with Winchester cases and the CCI # 450 magnum primer. Speer book #12 goes up to 27 grains with an IMI case but, maybe it's the case or the fact that my .223 is the Stevens model 200, but I found my best accuracy load at 26 grains of H335. My Hodgdon's #26 manual shows 26 grains at the top for a 50 grain bullet, so I thought it a good place to stop.