A hypothetical question of pressure?

[Mac11700]

I understand some changes due to pressure reading methods or minor changes in powder formulas and such but wow.  That means the starting loads were apparently well over maximum, and the near maximum charges I had been using were off the chart.  Of course I have never noticed signs of high pressure.  The 303 chambers are cut with added headspace supposedly to handle dirty and corroded ammo anyway, so they tend to stretch even with light loads.  Even with my loads I could reload the brass several times and I have never had a case head seperate.  Those of you who reload for 303's especially the SMLE versions know what I am talking about.

What a lot of this means is they have most likely have change how they are pressure testing in now....as compared to back in 92'.. Also...formulation of powders change..as do primers..and also different brass...New equipment makes huge changes in their values...Using current reloading manuals is the smartest thing to do...for this very reason..As I have said before..a phone call to the company is cheap insurance for any one who reloads when in doubt

Mac

[edgemark]

First, Elmer Keith died in a nursing home after a stroke:

http://www.sixguns.com/bunkhouse/elmer_keith.htm

IMO, since this was asked in a hypothetical manner, and nobody is going to go out and do something stupid, let's explore the options 

If you built a rifle designed for 100,000 psi then your 280 cartridge could be used at 100,000 psi!
Obviously, the case would need to be held in manner that would allow VERY minimal case expansion and thereby minimizing flow of the brass.

The action locking mechanism is crucial. A break open design can't be expected to take the same thrust as a bolt action, and the action will stretch when firing. Assuming there is enough metal surrounding the cartridge to minimize expansion you need to protect against total case head failure. The locking lugs on a bolt are designed for this and Dan Lilja has a good article describing this:

http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/custom_actions/bolt_lug_strength.htm


and also: 378 Weatherby Cases in the Remington 700 Action?
http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/custom_actions/378_weatherby_remington_700_action.htm

If you find a way to lock up the Handi better then higher loads would be available, but short of major modifications............

edge.

[handirifle]

edgemark
You pretty well summed it up, at least what my musings were.  Mac, true, and mostlikely never unsafe, but their current data, like you said, might be tested on new style brass, new powder, or new measuring equip.

At the same time, a fellow loading from an old manual, old brass and powder from a lot he's had for years, using a load he's used for years, does not necessarily become unsafe, just because he "new" manual says so.  But, as you say a call is a good idea, if all of the above isn't true.

Just like my loads of BL(C)2 in my 338-06.  Charges are well below the stated levels, BUT velocities are well above.  Something doesn't add up and requires closer examination, hey, maybe even a call to Hodgdons, what a great idea I just had .

[safetysheriff]

First, Elmer Keith died in a nursing home after a stroke:

http://www.sixguns.com/bunkhouse/elmer_keith.htm

i suspect/guess you misunderstood something when i wrote how elmer "could" have killed himself.    it wasn't meant as how he "may have killed himself".    it was meant as, "elmer risked killing himself in this manner".   

i stand by the post, knowing that elmer had a stroke in his latter years and that he died some time later.

as i posted before, if it matters to you, i'm glad for his experiments that gave us the wonderful .44 magnum.   but i don't plan on sugar-coating the fact that he, like many of us, had done some Very Foolish things and that he was blessed to have survived it.    elmer's legend would have him bigger-than-life in some minds.   he doesn't deserve that, i don't think.   and i don't want our 'co-conspirators' who post on this forum to think that they can risk their life or limb without paying a penalty.   this hobby can be dangerous......as you know.

my only 'Hero' is seated on His Eternal Throne.

take care,

ss'