Thread: Chronograph advice

Originally Posted by dannyb

^^^^^^this^^^^^^^
I like a lot of others when I first started reloading thought I was doing great things because I could get better Velocities than book max without getting pressure signs, In reality in some cases I was flirting with disaster as velocity is a very good indication of pressure and a sign often overlooked.
just cause you don't get a sticky bolt or ejector stamp doesn't mean you aren't close to or over pressure.

A friend with a 6.5-06 worked up to the old ADI book max of AR2213 (a little faster than AR2213SC) powder with the 140 grain projectile. Absolutely no pressure signs at all but not one case would hold a primer ever again. Current ADI/ Hodgdon book max is 50 grains for the 143 grain ELDX. Book velocity is 2,763 but in a different rifle of same calibre the 140 grain Hornady soft point barely reaches 2,700 fps and it took 52 grains to reach 2,780 fps. Cases last well with that load in Winchester cases, Without a chronograph I would not have known where to start.
Regards Grandpamac.