My A-Square Hannibal in 500 A-Square has suddenly started displaying signs of high pressure. I say suddenly because I'm shooting the same factory loads and reloads that shot fine last year and the year before. I'm getting a sticky bolt, and bright ejector marks on every shot, as well as three rounds (two factory monolithic solids, and a handload) that blew primers. I've emailed A-Square but have yet to get a reply. Has anyone had any contact with this performance?

I've had bad brass ( too soft) from A-Square when I had my 500 A-Square. The bolt would lock up at 2275 fps with a 600 grain bullet. If you were unlucky enough to get full power 500 A-
Square loaded ammo and they had another bad run of brass it could lead to big problems. Get a couple of 460 Weatherby brass, blow them out to 500 A-Sqaure and try the same loads to see if the problem is the brass. You can use about ten grains of Bullseye pistol powder held to the bottom of the case with a little bit of cotton batton, fill the case to just short of the neck with cereal or porridge then pour melted wax to the point of flood at the case mouth. Point it straight up and fire it. The case will then be fire formed to 500 A-Sqaure.
Take good care
Dave

Has your brass grown to long?

Do you trim your brass ?
The brass does streth a little when you resize it.
If the sase is a little long and the mouth is rubbing at the front of the chamber , tahat could cause you problems like tis.
...tj3006

Good point about trimming, but what about me having the same problem with factory rounds? Especially the blown primers?

Hi there confused!I had a bolt stick with factory rounds from a 270 win.The round that caused the bolt to stick was from the same that I would regularly shoot and I think it was from the same batch as those that never gave me any issues.The way it happened was that I was shooting continiously and never really cleaning my rifle properly.At that time,I didn't know how to clean it properly.So,one day after about 50 rds in one session,with a hot barrel,the bolt stuck.I took the rifle home,after I broke the extractor trying to open the bolt, and gave it a cleaning.It solved the problem.

I've heard (never experienced) that some A-Square brass was pretty bad. The suggestion to try Weatherby brass is a good one and the directions for blowing out the case is also good. Maybe you should clean your bore well also. I use the Forrest foaming bore cleanser and it works well. Actually, all the recommendations the members have given you is good advice.

quote:

but what about me having the same problem with factory rounds

Oops missed that point.

There is a quick and simple test case: take new Weatherby .460 brass, put a little imperial sizing wax on it, then run it through the A2 die. Next take a 600 gr woodleigh and load it over 120 gr of IMR 4350. In my factory original rifle, that gets slightly over 2200 fps (2225 by chrono). The load is low pressure and predictable. If you have pressure signs with that load, then you have a real problem. This load is well under the starting loads in the A2 manual.

I have heard indifferent things about the factory A2 ammo but know nothing first hand; since I reload, I've never shot factory ammo in my rifle. But the fact that you have problems with the factory ammo proves nothing in itself about your rifle.

To continue:

If that load creates no problem, try using H335 to move upward. In my rifle, I got the following progression with 570 gr barnes bullets:

Generally speaking, the banded solids run about 70 fps faster than the tsx at the same load level (in my rifle), so the banded solid appears to get the same velocity as the tsx for about 3-4 gr less powder.

100.0 gr about 2100 fps (banded solid)
105.0 gr about 2200 fps (banded solid)

110.0 gr 2364 fps (tsx)
115.0 gr 2425 fps (tsx)

120.0 gr 2544 fps (tsx) HOT
120.0 gr 2574 fps (tsx) HOT
120.0 gr 2555 fps (tsx) HOT

I had no obvious high pressure signs with the max H335 load, but the chrono tells no lies and there is no free lunch. Note that the velocity increases with H335 were very predictable up the ladder until the top was reached. Jeffe suggested H335 and it seems to be terrific in the .500 A2. The only negative is a massive fireball from the barrel at dusk.

I have some unformed bell weatherby basic, if you would like to buy some and see what good brass does

Some great advice here, thanks. All the brass I have, including the factory rounds, are 460 Weatherby brass, so I don't think that's the problem. Analog, I'll try your advise as the 600 Woodleighs are what I've been handloading. My only concern is that if I start too light on a magnum cartridge, isn't it possible to create high pressure from the reduced load?

The 120 gr load of IMR 4350 will fill the case completely; it's a safe and sane load. You might want to try a new box of brass; maybe a bad lot of Weatherby brass?

[quote]Posted 23 January 2010 08:07 Hide Post
Some great advice here, thanks. All the brass I have, including the factory rounds, are 460 Weatherby brass, so I don't think that's the problem.

How do you end up with Weatherby brass factory loaded from A-Square? Just curious what headstamp it carries. I thought that A-Square made it's own brass.Maybe try another bullet type as well.
Dave

I'll tell you one thing that to get it right load up two of each load going down a GR. until you
are past the place ware the problem started. And
Keep track of each load And you will come away
from the shine on your shell This is good for reloading. If you buy your shells Just try a different brand.