Powder compression in 300aac

TheSecretPolice · July 23, 2015, 12:33 AM

I'm a little new to rifle loading. I'm loading a 178 gr Hornady A-Max with 15.8 grains of IMR 4198. My rounds were a little to long and a few were catching on the rifling, they shot fine, and I don't see any signs of over pressure on the case. I had to lower the bullet .060 deeper into the case. Should I worry about blowing up my gun or should I be fine?

UPDATE: Primer pocket is not expanded but the primers from the fired cases that were too long are flattened a little bit. I think I'm going to have to pull 90 rounds.

steve4102 · July 23, 2015, 07:20 AM

If there is load data to support there charge, compressing powder in itself is not a problem. Compressing powder is very common and preferred by many.

Hodgdon list IMR 4198 as "compressed" for the 180gr Spree SP.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Seating deeper and getting farther from the lands will in most cases "reduce" pressure not increase it.

TheSecretPolice · July 23, 2015, 03:13 PM

Alright, thanks. I just didn't want to blow up a new AR build!

July 23, 2015, 07:20 AM	#2
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	If there is load data to support there charge, compressing powder in itself is not a problem. Compressing powder is very common and preferred by many. Hodgdon list IMR 4198 as "compressed" for the 180gr Spree SP. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle Seating deeper and getting farther from the lands will in most cases "reduce" pressure not increase it.

July 23, 2015, 03:13 PM	#3
TheSecretPolice Member Join Date: July 21, 2015 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 19	Alright, thanks. I just didn't want to blow up a new AR build!