My 375 H&H pressure test barrel will be ready to roll in about three weeks. If you want to find out what the pressure curve and velocity are for your favorite handload; send me an e-mail at noak@direcway.com
If you send me six rounds loaded in new, unfired cases (the test chamber will be at minimum dimensions) and $30.00 I will send you back the test data. Please, no "hot rod" loads. If my computer program indicates that the load exceeds SAAMI/CIP specs I won't run it.
When you e-mail me please indicate bullet used, bullet weight, OAL, powder used, weight of powder in grains, and primer used.
This won't tell you the exact pressure in your rifle because there is wide variance in chamber dimensions. Since factory chamber dimensions tend to be looser than tighter your rifle will likely develop 1,500 - 2,000 psi less. This testing will give you an indication of the intrinsic pressure characteristics of that load in that brass. The pressure curve itself is instructive. I will append some notes with each test to interpret the curves.
If you wish I will test your ammunition on a 100 degree F day after it has been on the dashboard in the sun for at least an hour. That will tell you what it will do on a hot day in the lowveldt. The temperature gets up too 100 degrees here in mid to late July.

If you want to run your ammunition through an official SAAMI conformal Piezo test barrel set up I can do that for you in late 2006. Then I will need 12 rounds and $250.00.

The test barrel is 24" long.

This is a safety service. Six rounds won't eat up too much time or barrel life.

My test barrels are cut to an M-24 contour (7#). The whole rifle weighs 21#. Recoil isn't too bad, especially with the Caldwell Lead Sled and two bags of shot.

I'll make an announcement for the 416 Rem Mag in May.

Thanks,

lawndart

Thanks for the offer of your services. Pressures are often just a guessing/estimating game in reloading, so to know for sure would be very interesting. Not sure if I'll participate personally but I'll be very interested in seeing people's results. Access to this kind of equipment is nice indeed.

lawndart,
This seems a bit too trusting of the public. Suppose sumbuddy had a bad day and loaded his ammo with the wrong powder, creating some "unique" loads inadvertently?

Shouldn't the customer supply the new brass and bullets ready to load and allow you to insert the specified charge of powder and primer to customer specs?

Rip,
Many thanks; you just introduced a very positive safety procedure into the system. My pressure gun just gave a big sigh of relief.
Also, this relieves any worries about sending loaded ammunition. I have plenty of the usual suspect powders on hand, not to mention enough primers to satisfy my family's handloading needs for the next four generations.
lawndart

Lawndart,
You would have to furnish the lot number of the powder you used for the customer. Maybe become a powder distributor yourself that way, shipping kegs of powder with your reports?

If you ever get a .404 Jeffery barrel, let us know!

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart: Oh nothing mom. Just pounding primers with a hammer.

A little off your subject but I laugh everytime I see this quote!

Seems I had a buddy when I was young and primers were still in milled wooden trays....
He tried to get me to do it (hit primers with a hammer) and I shied away and just watched. One time I found an anvil stuck into the side of my heel........

I even quit watching him when he advanced to hitting .22 Long Rifles............

BigRx

Rip,
You are on your game this week.
I may load one cartridge -1 grain and another +1 grain (safety permitting).
That will generate a crude nomogram so my customer can interpolate for pressure knowing velocity. Basically, if they adjust powder amount for the target velocity under known temerature conditions they will be at their pressure target.

I will have to get a 404 barrel to answer some questions. Not to end any arguments mind you, just to answer some questions.

lawndart

sign me up.

I assure you that i won't send you anything beyond "book safe" and nothing that hasn't already been fired in my guns.

.

Hey Alf,
Being an old fashioned kind of guy I adhere to CIP and SAAMI limits.
My test rig will handle up to 80,000 psi, but that will shorten its life. I payed for the damn thing, and I don't intend to wear it out prematurely.
My service will likely not be of much interest to the Hot-Rod enthusiast. It will more likely be of interest to the prudent reloader who wants to know how high and what shape his load's pressure curve is.
I will undoubtedly find a few loads that measure higher than anticipated. In those cases the reloader will know to back off a few grains so as to avoid wear and tear on his or her rifle.
Reading the manuals and running an internal ballistics program are both worthwhile endeavors. Obtaining empiric data will be frosting on the cake, so to speak.
Since RIP is my brother I will work up toward his favored loads. I will break off the chase as soon as I start to approach the limits of prudence in my test gun.
What is funny is that when we were younger I was the total wild-ass of the family. Now I am Mr. Probity and he is not.
Regards,
lawndart

Bro' lawndart,
I just have one load for the .404 Jeffery African Sheep Rifle that is over CIP specs for average pressure, but right at their max individual pressure limit, and you know my handloads are very low in sd, measured to 0.1 grain for each cartridge.

That is my only wild hair. Otherwise I am strictly sub maximal by CIP and SAAMI for about 50 different cartridges.

Can you give a break on one load that might be 61Kpsi, but is probably lower?
Pretty please?

Of course, but only for family and only in the name of science.

My biggest headaches are going to be the 416 Rem Mag and the 458 Lott. I'm working with a thinner margin there. The 404, 375 Wby, 416 Rigby, 450 Rigby, etc. will be easy as pie in comparison. Plenty of room and non critical charge weights.

lawndart

So now do you want components sent and not loaded ammo? I am easily confused. D

Yup,

Brass, bullets and recipe. I'll provide the powder and primers. I"ll send you back the data.

Wait until you are older. Then you will really know what confused is all about.

dart

fine, when can you start?

As soon as the barrel arrives. 30 days at this point.

lawndart

Leslie Gulch, LLC
PO Box 907
106 West Idaho Ave.
Homedale, ID 83628

(208) 250-7478