NAS3 Shell Shock .308 Pressure Test Input

[AM_Hunter]

I'm messing around with the NAS3 cases for my .308 to see how much more FPS I can squeeze out of it. Did a pressure test yesterday running 168gr Barnes TTSX out of a 21" barrel. My old load was 44gr of Varget out of Hornady brass, I was getting about 2670 FPS.

I did a ladder test from 44.5 - 49gr of Varget. Below is a picture of the brass. I don't notice any pressure signs and didn't have a difficult bolt lift either. Do you guys see any signs of pressure? Velocities for each shot are below, as is the order (I believe) of impacts and my POA. With increasing velocity it seemed to shift up and right.

Should I load up 10 at 49gr and see how it shoots? And maybe another one at 49.5 and 50gr to test for more pressure? Appreciate the input!

Velocities:

1 - 44.5gr 2614.0
2 - 45gr 2652.0
3 - 45.5gr 2685.0
4 - 46gr 2705.0
5 - 46.5gr 2732.0
6 - 47gr 2754.0
7 - 47.5gr 2786.0
8 - 48gr 2805.0
9 - 48.5gr 2828.0
10 - 49gr 2856.0

 

[AM_Hunter]

Here are some close ups of shots 9 and 10

 

[Mike D Texas]

You should be seeing way higher velocities than that. Varget is holding you back. Try H4895 or MR-2000. I’m seeing well over 3000fps with 168ABLR in a 20” Tikka with both of those powders.

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Are these cases reloadable or single use?

 

[AM_Hunter]

You should be seeing way higher velocities than that. Varget is holding you back. Try H4895 or MR-2000. I’m seeing well over 3000fps with 168ABLR in a 20” Tikka with both of those powders.

Ill have to dabble with those powders, what powder and grainage did you say you were using for your loads again? Also any input on signs of pressure based on the photos? I may try going up in powder with varget as well.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Are these cases reloadable or single use?

I believe theyre only reloadable with a special die, I currently bought them as single use but ill keep the spent cases until we find out more about reloading them

 

[Mike D Texas]

Are these cases reloadable or single use?

I’ve successfully reloaded them and fired a test case 3-4 times. The bolt close was stiff but doable.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I’ll have to dabble with those powders, what powder and grainage did you say you were using for your loads again? Also any input on signs of pressure based on the photos? I may try going up in powder with varget as well.

Mid 50 grain 55-56 grains of 2000-MR. Was seeing velocities in excess of 3050fps.

The only pressure sign you may see is primer flattening or cratering around the firing pin. I don’t see that on your cases.

 

[naked wombats]

I’ve successfully reloaded them and fired a test case 3-4 times. The bolt close was stiff but doable

Any tricks to doing so? Which lube are you using? I've heard they like to get stuck. 3k fps with 160gr sounds pretty ok

 

[AM_Hunter]

I’ve successfully reloaded them and fired a test case 3-4 times. The bolt close was stiff but doable.

Are you doing anything special to resize them? I tried neck sizing only on one of the fired cases since the shoulder expanded to basically what my normal brass is and even with some sizing lube in the neck it was getting hard to press. I didn't want to go overboard and end up with a stuck case.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Mid 50 grain 55-56 grains of 2000-MR. Was seeing velocities in excess of 3050fps.

The only pressure sign you may see is primer flattening or cratering around the firing pin. I don’t see that on your cases.

I just loaded a 49.5gr and 50gr test. The 50 grain was about half way up the neck... im running out of space. If I can find a bottle of the H4895 I may try it. But if I can get over 2900 fps without pressure Ill probably be happy

 

[Mike D Texas]

Any tricks to doing so? Which lube are you using? I've heard they like to get stuck. 3k fps with 160gr sounds pretty ok

I used a Redding neck bushing die for the neck and a Redding body die for the body. I use imperial case wax for case lube. I set final neck diameter with a TiN coated expander mandrel.