Pressure signs

[old24]

Hi All, one of the things I have been on the look out for is pressure signs when shooting with reloaded shells. Whilst I have yet to experience signs like sickly bolt I did get to see a 223 with primer stating to pop out. Just for curiosity where would you place this pressure sign - low middle or high range.

[Tackleberry]

more like excessive headspace to me , did you full length resize the case

[Tony Z]

Yep excess headspace that can flatten out the primer as it impacts the bolt face making it look flat from high pressure. A false reading.

[old24]

Thanks Tackleberry and Tony,
Yes they are resized. The press is RCBS. For this to happen I'm thinking human error, just have to review process to try and locate.

[Camel]

Ill go as far to say its a pretty big call to judge that as excessive anything from the limited information supplied.

If it was from excessive headspace, I would reckon that the primer would be flattened down to the level as the base of the case rim and fill the primer pocket, or that has been my experience with the one rifle that had excess headspace.

A good indicator of excess headspace is a shiny ring around your case AHEAD of the more solid web of the case where it thins out to form the side walls of the case.

The type of press is pretty much irrelevant if using standard type equipment for loading, like the vast majority of us do. Full length sizing will only size your cases down as far as the dies will allow, unless of course you are using very soft dies made of something that will compress, that's pretty unlikely.

What is the load used, and any other relevant information needed.

Show a pic of the whole of the case.

[DSD]

Unless the dies are second hand and been shaved to bump shoulder for a tight chamber.
Not arguing just agreeing, limited information

[trevort]

Camel you can screw in normal dies too far.

Also I would want to know how many times have you fired the brass. My 6/250 is nearly 10 years old and has the original brass. The pockets are stretching and while no primers have popped out I can seat some with thumb pressure. Yeah I know I should junk them but hoping the barrel goes first

[Tackleberry]

Camel you can screw in normal dies too far.

Also I would want to know how many times have you fired the brass. My 6/250 is nearly 10 years old and has the original brass. The pockets are stretching and while no primers have popped out I can seat some with thumb pressure. Yeah I know I should junk them but hoping the barrel goes first

this what i was getting at .

you get a case that is TIGHT and screw the FL die down a 16th or 32nd of a

turn and try in the rifle until the bolt handle drops easy then yoru done for

that rifle .

just the way i do it when i have to .

[pavlovaw]

It still could be a headspace issue. Had a similar problem with a certain rifle in 223 a few years ago. No pressure sign on the primer or brass but the primers backed out. No shiny ring on the brass either. Worked out that when the firing pin struck the primer it pushed the case forward the 5 thou extra headspace and the pressure of the primer and then powder going off caused the sidewalls of the case to stick to the chamber walls stopping the case from slipping back causing the primer to back out a slight way. The only real way to tell is find a gunsmith with a Go, No Go gauge and get him to test it.

[Old Trev-39]

You can check headspace yourself the following way. Take a brand new unfired case and chamber it. If the bolt closes loosely remove case and cut yourself some various thickness shim material that will fit the bolt face. Put a little grease on bolt face and stick shim on it and then chamber case. Keep changing shim or adding more until the bolt closes just firmly. Then measure shims and that will give you your head space gap. To fix if measurement is not to great fire form cases to chamber by seating projectile a bit into lands to hold case back to the bolt face. When reloading fire formed cases re adjust your sixing die so it only pushes the shoulder back a thou. Should not have any more problems with primers moving back.
Trevor.
P.S. I should add that to get abetter feel of bolt closure it helps if firing pin assembly is removed.

[trevort]

and the headspace issues could be caused by screwing a die down too tight and making the case too short

[Smee]

It could be an over dimension chamber and the dies are have been incorrectly set.

For years Nick Harvey recommend neck sizing only but now he states that full length is best

From what I have read and my limited reloading experience I think you need to raise the die about 3/4 turn.

[chris.tyne]

Here is a question,if the case contacts the chamber at the datum point on the shoulder and there is sweet f/all clearance at the rear when the bolt is closed how can the primer protrude from the case head when fired .

[Camel]

From my understanding it can't.

[chris.tyne]

From my understanding it can't.

Bingo,winner ,winner chicken dinner

It still could be a headspace issue. Had a similar problem with a certain rifle in 223 a few years ago. No pressure sign on the primer or brass but the primers backed out. No shiny ring on the brass either. Worked out that when the firing pin struck the primer it pushed the case forward the 5 thou extra headspace and the pressure of the primer and then powder going off caused the sidewalls of the case to stick to the chamber walls stopping the case from slipping back causing the primer to back out a slight way. The only real way to tell is find a gunsmith with a Go, No Go gauge and get him to test it.

Most would agree that this sounds pretty logical and more than possible.