tc contender 204 ruger barrel-pressure isssues?

[spispeza]

hope you can help me  on this.i have a 17rem.barrel that cantbe loaded to max.published loads.out of the hornady manual.pressure signs show up;cratered primers,case expansion,etc..can only load to 3grs below maximum loads with various powders.am wondering if the 204 ruger would be the same like the 17rem.would really like to get a 204 ruger barrel,its all i could afford now.will have to save up more money to get savage 204 ruger with the heavy barrel.they want 460.00 for one without tax.also is this a trait of the tc contender that it cant be loaded to saami max loads like out of the hornadymanual?thanks

[Catfish]

I have a Bullberry barrel in .17-223 that seem to be real bad about that with some powders but not others. You might want to try some slower burning powder in your .17 Rem. barrel. I also picked up a T/C barrel in .204 for my Encore. The chamber on it was cut to deep and I sent it back to them. They shipped me a new barrel 2 days after they got my bad one and it seem to be doing just fine. I`m getting desent hunting accuracy with my fire form loads and should do alot better once I start loading formed cases.

[Cossack]

I shoot a 17 also. That (may) not be pressure signs you're seeing. Loose cartridge fit in a break action can cause the case to slam back into the back of the frame when fired making it look like high pressure with well below max loads. Try neck sizing so that the case fits so tight that the action has to be snapped shut. Of course a chron will tell you if your laod is too hot also.

[Cossack]

Afterthought: I ran into severe case stretching in my TC 17 when I fist started loading it. I'd only get one or two relaods and the case would separate, no matter how hot the load. The problem? I'd mated an earlier generation frame with a later generation barrel the result was just too much headspace. Changed the frame and my problem was over.

[Lone Star]

There are several issues here.  Cratered primers are not a sign of incorrect headspace, but they can be a sign of either too high pressure or too large a firing pin hole.  What kind of "case expansion" are you seeing?  Are you using rifle primers, or pistol primers?

Inexperienced handloaders seem to think that anyone can reach the maximum loads shown in manuals.  This is simply not the case, and I suggest that you read the front half of the manual to learn why.  A few reasons: your lot of primers is hotter than what the manual used; your powder lot is hotter; you are seating the bullets closer to the lands; your cases are softer; etc.  A published maximum load is NOT a guarantee that you can get there with your rifle and components.  Besides, you may already be getting the top velocity listed - only a chronograph can tell you that.

Next: the .17 Remington had quite a reputation for barrel fouling, and excess fouling can lead to high pressures with this cartridge.  With T/C's reputatin for rough barels (I have not seen a .17 Rem barrel) your problem could be mostly due to bore fouling.  

Anyone who is only getting one or two reloads before a head separation is incorrectly sizing their brass.  This happens because the shoulder is pushed back too far when sizing the case; the solution is not to screw the sizing die down in contact with the shell holder.  Either neck size, or back the sizing die out 1/2 turn and size a fired case.  If it chambers, lock down the die and use that setting.  If the case does not fit, screw the die down 1/16th turn at a time (1/4 turn is too much) and try the case each time until it does fit, then lock down the die.  This matches your brass to you chamber.