In some guns with chambers that are cut on the tight side you could be well past max and not see any signs of excess, especially if you were using a tough or magnum primer. Even these loads can "still fall out of the chamber" and have "no cratered primers." It can get tricky.
A method I use is: I use a chronograph, not just to see how fast bullets go, but, to read that I've reached the optimum efficiency of the combo I'm using. As I start low and work up my charges at .5g-1g at a time I will notice that the velocity increases will plateau, I get to a point that velocities are erratic and not really increasing all that much any more. That is the max load. If I increase charge weight past this all I'm really doing is increasing pressure. Ya I might get a measly 100fps, every now and then, but it's not consistant. Optimum accuracy, depending on powder, should be just before the charge weight where velocities start to plateau. Once I reach optimum accuracy, or see it going away, I stop there. I heard a good statement once, "If the bullet left the barrel, that is a sign of high pressure.'' How true, have you ever tried to push a .257" bullet down the bore by hand? it's not easy.
Be safe, have fun.
Swampthing
