Pressure signs with a belted magnum?

[Bigwheels]

I'm wondering what other signs to look for when gauging pressures in a belted magnum. I know about sticky bolts, & cratered primers. Is there something else to look for?

 

[corbin9191]

For a belted magnum you can take a close hanger and make it into a hook and then go inside of the brass and see if there are any cracks. And if there are then you know your pressure is pretty high or there is faulty brass. Another thing to look for (dont quote me on this, you shold ask a more expirenced person) but if you are using new brass or polished brass look for the blow back on the case.

 

[Guest]

Pressure signs are going to be the same for belted cases as for non-belted. You touched on sticky bolts and cratered primers, but also look for flattened primers, ejector marks on the casehead, and abnormal velocities. You could get really obsessive and measure casehead expansion with a blade micrometer, but I suspect that's beyond what you're wanting to do.

 

[JD338]

Pressure signs are going to be the same for belted cases as for non-belted. You touched on sticky bolts and cratered primers, but also look for flattened primers, ejector marks on the casehead, and abnormal velocities. You could get really obsessive and measure casehead expansion with a blade micrometer, but I suspect that's beyond what you're wanting to do.

Dubyam said it perfectly!

JD338

 

[Bigwheels]

Thanks guys. I'm 100% self taught as far as reloading, & shooting goes. I can say that I'm sure that I'm pushing the envelope some with my hunting loads, but they all seem to be fine. I will see an occasional, slightly cratered primer, & I allways get a little carbon around the case neck, but I think thats normal. (every factory load I've shot has done the same thing) I am working up my 250gr. AB & my last chrony test of 3 rnds got me up to 2800 fps out of my 26" 338 WM. I moly the bullets, & have the charge @ 73gr H-4350. I'll chrony more today. The rifle has over 2000 rnds through it, & still groups @ 1/2" moa, & some of my brass has been fired up to 5 times without problems.

 

[FOTIS]

Case head expansion is a good one. If the forward half of the belt (of a pre fire-formed to your chamber--not new ) brass measures more than .0005" after firing then back off.