Hot Factory Loads?

S

Stugotz

New member
I was out shooting this morning and would appreciate your thoughts. I shot a box of factory 120gr A-MAX ammo and based on the primers, I'm a little concerned the factory loads are on the hot side. (Flatten Primers, your observations?!?)

120gr_6_5_CM.jpg
 
If I were loading with primers I was familiar with, I'd say those are pretty hot loads. It might just be a "soft lot" of primers.
 
Flat primers CAN be an indication of pressure but isn't always.
Depends on what primer is being used, cup hardness, etc.

I have had primers get pierced that were nowhere near flat. Then there is my .300 Win Mag which flattens primers even with mild H1000 loads.

Were there extraction marks? A heavy bolt? Are the pockets loose at all? If there are no other signs besides flat primers I wouldn't worry.

If it is pressure problems, usually the next sign is a heavy bolt and/or primer strikes dimpled outward.......then the dreaded pierced or stuck case.
 
I don't shoot much factory ammo at all but I recently purchased a Savage 12LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor. Since the caliber was new to me and I didn't have any brass I purchased several boxes of Hornady's ELD-M ammo. All the primers looked like yours after firing. On a positive note none had any signs of difficult extracting and after I prepped them for reloading the primer pockets were still pretty tight.
 
I think you'll be fine. The easiest way to know for sure is with a chronograph. If they were shooting faster than expected they may be a little too hot. But predicting pressure by looking at primers is about as accurate as predicting the future by looking at tea leaves.
 
I have a LabRadar chrono, but didn't take it with me for this session. (Rifle shot was an AR-10 build). Other than the flat primers, the brass looked fine. The BCG on this build is/has a JP HP bolt so I don't believe pierced primers should be an issue. I will be reloading this brass later this fall using 130gr Sierra HPBT/CCI BR2 primers and H4350 powder.
 
No firing-pin cratering, and edges are still rounded.
From a primer* point of view, not an issue.

From brass** point of view (no hints of extractor marks/bright spots, etc), totally normal.




*Note: primers are NOT a good source of pressure indication (notwithstanding tradition) ;)
Some (e.g., Federal) are softer and therefore flatten more than the harder (e.g., CCI) primers at normal pressures.
** the case is the ultimate 'decider' of pressure limits.
 
FWIW; I have read, from a credible source, that factory rounds in many calibers are a bit over max. reloading manual charges...
 
I like mehavey's post the best and will also add that you can take half the SAME box of ammo and shoot them in two different rifles and see different looks on the primers.

I think we need a bold and highlighted "sticky" thread for folks who have the wrong idea about reading primers.
 
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