THR:
Hear me out. I know the first rule of reloading is never to exceed published maximums, but relatively recent developments with the 6.8 SPC suggest to me that it's now possible to push the cartridge to new levels of performance.
For those of you that aren't familiar with the chambering's history, Remington screwed up when it submitted the SAAMI spec by getting the chamber dimensions wrong. As a result, the expected performance couldn't be achieved without serious overpressure issues, and manufacturers immediately downloaded their 6.8 offerings.
Nowadays, finely tuned 6.8 barrels are available with more generous chamber dimensions, slower rifling twist rates, and fewer and shallower lands/grooves. Although it's possible to safely fire old "hot" 6.8 factory rounds in the new barrels, no powder manufacturer that I'm aware of has released updated loading data.
I'd like to push the envelope on this cartridge, and start working up to some of the unofficial loads that are floating around on AR15.com, but I've never previously had to be concerned about pressure issues, and really don't know what to look for.
I know that bulged brass and blown primers are a bad sign, but would one slowly working up to a "Kaboom!" level load always see obvious signs well before reaching dangerous pressure levels?
I think the 6.8 has a lot to offer, and it makes me sad that Remington screwed it up. I'd be thrilled if I could make my rifle safely perform as it was originally intended to, and would really appreciate any input anyone here could offer.
thanks
rkh
Hear me out. I know the first rule of reloading is never to exceed published maximums, but relatively recent developments with the 6.8 SPC suggest to me that it's now possible to push the cartridge to new levels of performance.
For those of you that aren't familiar with the chambering's history, Remington screwed up when it submitted the SAAMI spec by getting the chamber dimensions wrong. As a result, the expected performance couldn't be achieved without serious overpressure issues, and manufacturers immediately downloaded their 6.8 offerings.
Nowadays, finely tuned 6.8 barrels are available with more generous chamber dimensions, slower rifling twist rates, and fewer and shallower lands/grooves. Although it's possible to safely fire old "hot" 6.8 factory rounds in the new barrels, no powder manufacturer that I'm aware of has released updated loading data.
I'd like to push the envelope on this cartridge, and start working up to some of the unofficial loads that are floating around on AR15.com, but I've never previously had to be concerned about pressure issues, and really don't know what to look for.
I know that bulged brass and blown primers are a bad sign, but would one slowly working up to a "Kaboom!" level load always see obvious signs well before reaching dangerous pressure levels?
I think the 6.8 has a lot to offer, and it makes me sad that Remington screwed it up. I'd be thrilled if I could make my rifle safely perform as it was originally intended to, and would really appreciate any input anyone here could offer.
thanks
rkh