Charlesr:
Sure looks like mild load.
It kind of puts you in the 20 question mode. Is it the cases, the load, or the rifle.
1. Have you fired factory loaded ammo with the same negative results.
2. How many times have the cases been reloaded?
3. Did you ream out the primer pockets or could they be oversized for other reasons.
4. What is the history of the cases?
5. Are the cases the proper length?
6. Does the bolt stick after firing?
7. Have you miked the case head of the fired rounds for expansion?
8. Is the rifle clean of storage grease in the barrel?
9. The orginal 8x57 had a grove diameter of .318. It was later changed to take a .323 diameter bullet. This change was made in 1905 but I have read of .318 barrels showing up in later rifles. This is a real outside shot.
10. Have you pulled the bullet from one of your reloads and re-weighed the powder charge?
Years ago I was given a bunch of once fired .243 cases. The owner was a back door relative who did not reload. I was never around him when he fired the rifle. He discribed gas leaks and other problems. On examination the rifle seemed to have a very sloppy action. If I recall correctly it was a Mossberg Model 800. He had decided to retire it. I knew that I was not interested in it. I was foolish enough to take all that free once fired brass. I loaded 20 cases and started having problems with cracked cases. A closer examination of the cases showed that they had stretched to the limit in that Mossberg. I pulled the bullets from the remaining loads. I then crushed all the brass with pliers so the next reloader would not try them.
Even when I buy new bulk brass I resize it, and trim the necks. I then size the brass. At times I use military brass and have to clean the crimp out of the primer pocket. Care needs to be taken not to remove to much material. If a new primer goes in to easy, dump the case.
