I'm working up loads for 2 new vanguards and am not sure about a couple of things I'm seeing.
First up is the 270 with 130 ttsx. I'm at 58.5 RL19 in once used winchester cases with cci 200. Barnes max is 59.5. I'm seeing very slight cratering, and I mean slight, but the primer itself is not flat at all, infact it looks very healthy, knowing that primer flatness is only one of many signs I don't want to go just by that, I've heard cci cups are quite hard and can take quite a bit before getting flat. Velocity is 3150 in a 24" barrel and case heads have expanded about 1 thou. Maybe there is a bigger size difference between the firing pin and the firing pin hole? I hope so because this load is showing good accuracy potential.
Second up is the 300wsm with 150 ttsx. These are at 66.5 RL 17 in virgin Federal cases with cci250. I called barnes and they said to use the 4350s as a general guide as they have not shot this powder yet. To my understanding federal cases have less capacity because they are heavier so I expect I am probably near or at max. Velocity is 3200. What I am seeing is the circular mark caused by the plunger hole, I don't think the brass has really flowed significantly into the hole but the mark is there, and the primers here once again look in great shape, not flat at all. One thing I'm wondering about is that I keep hearing how soft federal brass is, is it possible it is showing signs prematurely? Now the case heads on this one have expanded a fair amount, about 3-4 thou, but because it is virgin brass I'm not sure how much is acceptable. And just to be clear where I measured on the case heads on these was where the body starts to angle in to the extractor groove.
My intuition tells me that I shouldn't go any higher with either of these loads but I'm just not sure if I should back off or not. Thanks for any advise
First up is the 270 with 130 ttsx. I'm at 58.5 RL19 in once used winchester cases with cci 200. Barnes max is 59.5. I'm seeing very slight cratering, and I mean slight, but the primer itself is not flat at all, infact it looks very healthy, knowing that primer flatness is only one of many signs I don't want to go just by that, I've heard cci cups are quite hard and can take quite a bit before getting flat. Velocity is 3150 in a 24" barrel and case heads have expanded about 1 thou. Maybe there is a bigger size difference between the firing pin and the firing pin hole? I hope so because this load is showing good accuracy potential.
Second up is the 300wsm with 150 ttsx. These are at 66.5 RL 17 in virgin Federal cases with cci250. I called barnes and they said to use the 4350s as a general guide as they have not shot this powder yet. To my understanding federal cases have less capacity because they are heavier so I expect I am probably near or at max. Velocity is 3200. What I am seeing is the circular mark caused by the plunger hole, I don't think the brass has really flowed significantly into the hole but the mark is there, and the primers here once again look in great shape, not flat at all. One thing I'm wondering about is that I keep hearing how soft federal brass is, is it possible it is showing signs prematurely? Now the case heads on this one have expanded a fair amount, about 3-4 thou, but because it is virgin brass I'm not sure how much is acceptable. And just to be clear where I measured on the case heads on these was where the body starts to angle in to the extractor groove.
My intuition tells me that I shouldn't go any higher with either of these loads but I'm just not sure if I should back off or not. Thanks for any advise
