Interesting day at range--long

[rockrat]

Took two Ruger #1's to the range today. My 357 max. and my 7.62 x 39.

Shot the max first. Eye opener to be sure. Was on the Leverguns website, where I know some here also lurk and noticed a thread about some of Paco Kellys articles. Opened it and read about the 357 max. and his load of 21gr or 2400 with a 180gr sil bullet.
I had bought some at the last gun show to try in my 308/30-06 with boolits. Loaded some 21gr loads and some 22gr loads with the 360-180rnfp boolit as never had gotten a decent group with this one.
Went to the range and shot the Max. first. Shot our gongs to get it close then over the crono. Weird readings, 628.5 and others close to that so shot target. Got about 4 in 1.5" (best group so far) then noticed a KC-135 in the air and let the next one off with a light pressure holding the gun. Went high, so tightened up another shot and went low. Moved the crono out a few more feet and finally got one over the crono--2399fps:confused:. Something had to be wrong.
Out of 21gr loads so went to 22gr. Shot at gong and hit close to 21gr load so went to crono--2510fps[smilie=w:. Was shocked, that speed from a Max.?
Shot group, about 2" side to side and one low (5-10mph side wind). Best group to date. Cases about fell out and only a slight bit of flattening on the primer. Loads that hit about 2.5" high @100yds were about 1" low @222yds

Next went with the 7.62 x 39. Most loads were 24gr of surplus 4895 with one load of 27.5gr TAC with the Lee 312-155. No really great groups with this boolit, but boolits were cast from two seperate moulds.
314-190 did pretty well, considering the wind. 30-165 did OK, but does alot better with TAC but primers are flattening with the TAC load. Will play with the 314-190 boolit some more and work with the 30-165 sil/mod as it seems to shoot the best of the boolits. My TAC load with this boolit goes about 2297fps.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/001-3-1.jpg

[longhorn]

FWIW, I've always read and heard that the #1 is very slow to show traditional "pressure signs" such as flattened primers and sticky extraction. Never pushed one hard, myself. Anywhere that load's been pressure tested?

[rockrat]

Not to my knowledge. I wonder why a #1 would be slow to show "pressure signs"? Wouldn't chamber pressure correlate to flattened primers irregardless of what kind of gun was used assuming all other dimensions/headspace were the same?

[fryboy]

not necessarily , some primers are tougher than others yet i have loads that flatten the primers in a 6" revolver that the same loads dont in a 10 " tc , flat primers can be a good indication of high pressure but taken by it's self could also be read incorrectly , added to one or more other indicators such as the harder extraction,swelled case head or such i would say more definitely unless the primers were flatter than a fritter ( and i have seen that on factory ammo )

[Bret4207]

I would not use Pacos loads as published. I would work up. Yes, you have a very strong rifle, but some of his loads are on the bitter edge of things. Better safe than sorry.

[rockrat]

Understand. Last thing I want is an "oops". Had one years ago (too light of a charge of a slow powder!) to want anything like that again. Good Lord only gives you one pair of eyes.

I understand that flattened primers by themselves are not a good indication, but you have to keep any eye on other things, as "fryboy" says.

My chambering reamer was a custom job that I designed specifically for the 358627 boolit, so it has a bit more freebore than most standard reamers(Think Weatherby). Distinct possiblity why the rifle acts like it does.

[bearcove]

Flattened primers are pressure sign but give no indication of what the pressure is. 40k cup ,50k cup, 60k cup? more?

My Speer manual for 2400 says 16.5gr max with 180gr sil, 18gr with 35 flat sp, thats 48k cup.