I never hit this problem before......

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qajaq59

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I loaded up some once fired PVRI cases for my Savage 99 in .308 last week and had a problem. When the test loads got to 1.5 grains from the max I had a case get stuck in the chamber. Obviously there was a high pressure problem. I tried one more and got the same result and then stopped shooting.
Even though they were all loaded using a scale, I thought maybe I'd made a mistake and overloaded them. I'd never done that, but it certainly isn't impossible. But no, I pulled the remaining bullets, re-measured the powder, and all the loads were where they should have been.
I measured everything I could think of and didn't find the problem, but to be sure I decided to make some dummy loads and see how they went in and out of the chamber, thinking maybe the OAl was too long.
I made up 3 dummy loads with RP, Win and the PVRI brass and tried them in the chamber. The RP and Win dropped in just fine but the PVRI did not want to drop in and required force in order to close the bolt. I hadn't noticed that at the range, but now that I think about it, I believe I do remember it was harder to close the lever then usual.
When I checked the wall thickness at the case mouth I found the PVRI walls were 3 thousands thicker then the others, which gave me a case mouth that was 6 thousands larger overall. Apparently the Savage chamber has tight specs and when that thick case neck went in, it pinched the projectile enough to give me the high pressure problem.
I measured 25 of the PVRI case walls and they weren't all that thick, which is probably why I got thru 16 shots before the problem cropped up.
 
I have a Savage 99 in 300 Sav. I load about 1 Gr. off Max load for it using Rem. or Win. cases and have never had a problem sounds like you have answered your own question and that the PVRI cases are causing your problem. Do you have the same problem if you shoot a reduced load in those PVRI cases. If so only options are to either turn the necks or toss the cases. PVRI makes Mil-Spec ammo and the GOLD line of ammo for WOLF so that might explain the extra case thickness. With the availability of .308 brass I would sell it for scrap and stick with the Rem. or Win.
 
Rifles are individuals, and the maximum load for one rifle may not be the max load for another. The max load listed in the manual may, or may not, be the max load for your rifle.

As you have noted with your Privi brass, there are variations in components, even within the same lot. Some brands are more consistent than others, but you generally do pay for consistency. Lapua brass, for example, is usually among the best available for consistent loads. However, most of us get by quite nicely with Remington, Winchester, or even Lake City milsurp brass.

I would suggest that you need to decrease your powder charge by perhaps 1/2 grain in your Privi brass. That should resolve your high pressure symptoms. If you switch brands of brass later on, you will need to reevaluate your powder charge, and reduce or increase it as the situation seems to warrant.

You may also want to invest in a small base (SB) sizing die for your Savage. The thought is that lever action, pump action, and (commercial) semi-auto rifles have less camming power (or extraction power) than say, a bolt action rifle. The SB die sizes your brass closer to SAAMI minimum than a normal FL sizing die does, making it easier for the rifle to extract it from the chamber.
 
A $15 case gauge is a very valuable tool - if the cartridge fits in the gauge, you should be good to go. Lyman or Wilson.
 
While I'm not familiar with PVRI brass, if they are anything like LC or any other milspec brass, you would develop high pressure using a load from a reloading manual that uses commercial brass, based on the reduced case capacity of milspec brass in .308.

Don
 
It could also be possible your scale is off.... Check it with weights...
Click to expand...
Oh, I did that right away.

And I think I'll just dump the PVRI brass at the range recycle bucket and use the RP. The PVRI brass was handy and free so I tried it. But I have enough RP around for that rifle.

However it was a good reminder that just because I've loaded for years and never hit a problem doesn't mean one can't eventually pop up.
 
Reloading guides are just that, guides. I'm sure your data source didn't use PRIVI cases and may or may not have used the exact same primer or bullet and definitely didn't use the same powder lot or rifle. The change of any of these items can result in more or less pressure for a particular charge which is why loads are worked up and not just cook booked.

You did all the right things in your load development. You got pressure problems and stopped. The fact that the load was lower than a "maximum" book load is the reasons to do as you did and start at a start load and work up.

Reloading is often a journey to discovery.
 
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