What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

I am shooting 165g 30-06 nosler partitions with 62g of reloader 19. This is a max load in the book but very accurate. The primers are pretty flat after beiing shot but thats it. There is no diffucult extraction or anything but I am a little nervous because of the amount of powder. I am shooting a newer winchester model 70

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

you've got a couple of them covered, sticky bolt, now the flat primer depends on how flat it is, is there still rounding on the edges of the primer, another is brightmarks where the ejector is, cupping around the firing pin dent I'm sure there is more but those are the ones I keep an eye out for

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

Case head expansion and loose primer pockets after a few loadings are good indications.

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

Considering it is the dead of winter, you might save a few of these loads and try them at high noon in mid July. If they don't show any pressure signs in hot weather you are probably OK.

One thing Stubblejumper touched on is loose primer pockets. I haven't had this fall out of the sky on me with regular calibers like the 30-06 or .243; but it is a big issue with calibers like the 6MM-284 or any of the Ackley Improved series. The modern cases, which have very little body taper and a fairly steep shoulder angle, will show no pressure signs at a certain level - and you think you have a good working maximum load. When the time comes to reload them, however, the primer pockets are so loose you would need Super Glue to keep them in. Not good. One of those things you wish you would have checked out during the first few shots of the batch of 500 new cases . . . .

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

GandiLamont:

Since your primers are pretty flat it is time to stop. According to "Alliant Powder Reloader's Guide" MAX LOAD:62.1 grs.Back off and see what happens; your accuray may improve. Good luck.

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

If you are full length resizing each time it may be contributing to the flattened primers. If the chamber of your gun is on the generous side, when fired the primers can back out of the pocket a bit due to pressure and then be reseated when the case comes back against the bolt face. This can cause an amount of flattening to the primer when there is no over pressure to the load.

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

Well, I did full length resize these cases. They are my first batch of reloads. What exactly is the case head? There is no diagram or anything in my loading manuel. I assume that it is the base of the case where you put the primer in. Right?

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

sometimes you will see a slight (for lack of a better term) bulge at the very bottom of the case, right near where the belt on a belted round is. But sometimes I experience this on middle of the road charges that are no where near max load, so I keep an eye on it but dont stop using that load.

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

Good advice!

RE: What are some signs of 2 much presure
 

That is correct, the base of the cartridge where the primer is.