In 1999 I got a Handi Rifle in 45/70.
I had a copy of "Speer 12" that showed three levels of 45/70. I wondered which one I had.
In Sept 1999 I tried to do the calculation, with some help from a mechanical engineering professor, Peter Torvik, and my father. My father was by then retired, but he had been chief engineer over the design of the M107, M110, M55, and lots of other guns, for which he had many patents.
I learned about the pin in double shear, the breech face I have do section a section modulus calculation for bending, and the thin wall and thick wall Lame's formula for the chamber wall.
I went through that calculation and concluded it was way stronger than the brass would ever be.
I posted that, and was told I lacked the education to do those calculations. [I have an EE degree from the Univ of Wash, same as my father].
But I did a validation test anyway.
Quickload calculation of pressure and velocity with 405 gr, Unique
shot 0) 15 gr, 24,700 psi, 1271 fps, no shot fired, listed for Quickload reference point only
shot 1) 18 gr, 33,217psi, 1403 fps, primer looks fine.
shot 2) 20 gr, 39,435 psi, 1485 fps, primer is fine
shot 3) 22 gr, 46,133 psi, 1563 fps, primer looks flat.
shot 4) 24 gr, 53,334 psi, 1637 fps, primer is flat.
shot 5) 26 gr, 61,067 psi, 1709 fps, primer is top hat and flowing,
action popped open and case ejected on firing
shot 6) 28 gr, 69,366 psi, 1778 fps, primer is top hat and flowing, case
head expansion .001", action popped open and case ejected on firing
shot 7) 30 gr, 78275 psi, 1846 fsp, case head expansion .0015" action
popped open and case ejected on firing, some leading in the muzzle.
shot 8) 32 gr, 87,841 psi, 1911 fps, case head expansion .0025", case head separating where case head is flowing into the extractor, action popped open, some leading in the muzzle, and case ejected on firing, primer is spreading out .010"
After I posted the test data, I had some tell me it meant nothing.
Then I remembered John Cleese [Liberal] in Monty Python saying, "Not necessarily, I could be arguing in my spare time."
To which Eric Idle [Conservative] says, "I've had enough of this."
It is 3:30 into the sketch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y