Puma 92 Load concerns

[wflickin]

I have just purchased a puma model 92 rifle in a 454 caliber to compliment my SRH.  I decided to take it to the range and try a variety of factory ammo loads, as well as some handloads that i had laying around. I took a chrony along out of curiosity, but more on that later.
 I went to clean the empty cases for reloading, and found that 3 loads showed signs o high pressure.  2 were full power 300 grain winchester, and 1 was a  full power hornady 300 grain load.  The showed smeared primers and 1 shell almost had a punched primer.

In addition, I notice on all of these loads that the cartridge showed an indentation on the rim about a 1/8 inch long that actually bent the rim to the point that I am thinking that the brass is no good.  I currently have the gun at a gun smith getting a peep sight installed, and am not sure what on the action would have left these marks.  I shot these out of my SRH, and didn't see any of these pressure signs.   Any thoughts on what is going on?   These signs were not on the present on the lower power winchester and federal fusion loads.

Regards

Oh.. velocities out of the puma.
Winchester 250 gr JHP......1585 fps
Winchester 260 gr Part gold...2250 fps
Winchester 300 gr flat nose...2005 fps
Hrndy  300 gr H.P.....1965 fps
Fed Fusion 260 gr....1955 fps  ( what a supprise... what powder do they use?)
handload...250 gr lrn..trailboss powder....915 fps

[teddy12b]

I've tried to do some experimenting with my puma 20" 44mag lately before deer season.  All I can think of is reduce the loads your getting pressure with and then work your way back up.  I'm sure you already know you're getting more pressure in a rifle than with a handgun with the same bullet, but it's something to keep in mind.  I'm interested in hearing how this works out for you.

[wflickin]

I hadn't concidered the higher pressure with the rifle loads when shooting the factory ammo.  After reading several of my reloading manuals for rifle loads vs. pistol loads ( 357 and 44 mag), I have seen that all have reduced the powder charges for the rifle.  I had my rifle in to a gunsmith to get a tang mounted sight, and he looked at it, and came to the same conclusion.  The markings that I saw was were the brass had been pushed into the area where the ejection pin sits.

I currently have 360 grain cast performance bullets that I down loaded for my pistol, and look forward to trying them.  I have also been looking very closely at several powders trying to determine how to get the best performance with least amount of pressure.  Any suggestions on a good powder to use with a 360 hardcast.  I have been using H-110, but it seems to come alive best at the high end of the load spectrum.   Any suggestions for a powder to use for a reduced charge would be greatly appreciatted.  I would like to try to get around 1150- 1200 fps out of my pistol with the 360 grain slug

[teddy12b]

I'd recommend buying one of those $10 caliber specific reloading books.  I have too many reloading books and also have the caliber specific books just to catch the odds & ends that aren't covered in the regular reloading manuals.  In particular it's nice because you get the reloading info from the powder makers too and in the 44mag caliber book they break it down into handgun loads & rifle loads.  I worked my way up using the same ammo in both guns.



http://cgi.ebay.com/Reloading-Manual-for-the-.454-Casull-LOADBOOK-USA_W0QQitemZ370088756780QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20080921?IMSfp=TL080921127003r39597

[corbanzo]

There are a few things that would cause higher pressures...  tighter chambers, less jump to the forcing cone, more barrel resistance. 

All in all... it is a different gun... so your ammunition is going to react different to it. 

[towpro]

I have one in 45 colt.  It does put some marks on the rim as it ejects the brass.  I can't say it's bending it far enough to make it unusable, but you can feel the marks it puts on the rims.
I said something to the smith that sold it to me (new).  he said "they will do that".