Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Fired/spent primer

Interested in how this primer and case head look. Before and after. Getting some crazy speed numbers from a 257 Roberts.

100 NPT, 47.5 H-4350, RP case, Fed 210M, 2.950 coal, Ruger No.1 26" barrel.

Crazy speed numbers don’t magically happen. Looks like you are WAY overpressure. I usually don’t use primers as indicators, but the way that one is “leaking” around the pin indention is a give away. Being more than 2 grains over book max and crazy speed numbers are also evidence that you are in dangerous territory. Not familiar with a #1, but if it was a bolt action using this load, I would expect a strong ejector swipe and a sticky bolt lift.

What is the crazy speed number?

3328fps

I'd be more comfortable with about 75 fps less.

I don't see any evidence of case head swiping. How is bolt lift upon extraction?

If curious, installed GRT and run the numbers from a fired case from your chamber. It should give you a good estimatation of pressure numbers.

ckat, I did run one through a Ruger M77 bolt. It did have the ejector swipe and sticky bolt lift. One was enough in the M77. I started shooting them with the Ruger No.1. Single shot falling block, then put one through the M77. Planning on pulling the rest.

I would call that to be on the warm side. As stated by ckat, speed doesn't magically happen, it is a function of pressure.

The case I've pictured is from a single shot falling block.

Not familiar with installed GRT ???

mm, I plan on pulling the rest, and go back to 46 - 46.5. Really looking for 3200fps for what I want. PBR to 300 yds. from the 26" barrel.

Your velocity is telling you your pressures are up a bit, but you do have a 26 inch barrel too. I have three Number 1s and have never seen the primer marked like yours. I can't see any sign of primer leakage like someone mentioned but it is quite flattened and impressed with a nice pattern. Back off to about 3 200 fps.

3200 should be no sweat.

That is exactly my plan........

Is this rifle new to you? In other words, do you have anything to compare this load to as far as case indicators go? You reload, is the brass streching excessifly, and how are the primer pockets? If your not comfortable, back off a grain. You got plenty of snort.

Before I reloaded these cases I FL resized and checked all the case lengths. They were all between 2.230 and 2.233. I just check the 10 cases I shot. Three were at 2.233, the other seven had stretched between 2.236 to 2.246. Checked the primer pocket on the longer 2.246 case and the pocket is tight.

The rifle is not new to me, but I don't reload specifically for this rifle. I reload for a M77 with a 20" barrel and shorter throat. I've just started looking for a load specifically for this rifle.

My intention is to back off to 3200fps for this rifle.

Have another photo of spent primers from the same day, but with a mild load.. 120 NPT, 46.5 H-4831, Nosler case, Fed 210M, 2.950 coal, 2938fps. Ruger No.1 26" barrel.

I do NOT push envelopes, yet some of my rifles show what you've gotten. Unless you are shaving brass upon extraction, or pockets get too loose after multiple firings, I'd opine that you are safe. However, as others have said you are a bit hot and need to adjust. That is +P brass above, unlike the first photo.

I though that is what you were talking about. That isn't primer leakage but that would indicate to me a bit large fireing pin hole. Leakage would come around the edge's of the primer. No sign there but the primer fills out the pocket more than I would care for. Primer's can be a bad pressure sign in that some have softer cups that fill out the pockets easier than other's. I think he said the pockets remained tight I don't know much about checking case's for pressure from a single shot. Not surewhar the case head should measure on the cartridge your using but I'd find out and them try measuring case head. For the 257 Robert's my Hornady book says .471. If your larger than that I'd say to much pressure.

2.5 grains over max...... I can't imagine what the problem might be.