Does anyone know at what pressure sticky bolt lift occurs?

Bolt thrust is higher.
Keep the chamber free of oil, and be sure that your bolt head is for magnums (heavy duty lugs).

Doesn't that just about include most modern rifles? My Savage .223, back in the 1990s used the same action as the 7Mag. They merely used a smaller front in the bolt. Weatherby uses magnum actions for everything. Pierce uses "heavy lugs". What Remington 700 doesn't use their magnum action?
 
I have no idea about the differences of action bolts to cartridges.
Bolt thrust and SAAMI max pressures are proofed higher with magnums. A double whammy. So personally, I would like assurance that my bolt lugs would not be flexing a lot at max loads.

But it could very well be that all bolts are strong enough, I don't know.
The factory company I would trust to follow is Savage. Whatever they do, it's right.
I did have a WSM savage action once, and it had a larger tenon than a 223 action. I would be surprised if the bolt head was the same thickness as a 223 bolt head. Just didn't notice at the time & it was stolen before my use..
 
Last edited:
I have know idea about the differences of action bolts to cartridges.
Bolt thrust and SAAMI max pressures are proofed higher with magnums. A double whammy. So personally, I would like assurance that my bolt lugs would not be flexing a lot at max loads.

But it could very well be that all bolts are strong enough, I don't know.
The factory company I would trust to follow is Savage. Whatever they do, it's right.
I did have a WSM savage action once, and it had a larger tenon than a 223 action. I would be surprised if the bolt head was the same thickness as a 223 bolt head. Just didn't notice at the time & it was stolen before my use..
Standard (eg 30-06) Savage bolt lugs are 0.442". Magnum is 0.500". Ultra magnum (WSM, RUM, Nosler, etc.) is 0.550".

I'm pretty sure Savage .223 bolt heads use the same lug length as standard, but not positive.
 
Standard (eg 30-06) Savage bolt lugs are 0.442". Magnum is 0.500". Ultra magnum (WSM, RUM, Nosler, etc.) is 0.550".

I'm pretty sure Savage .223 bolt heads use the same lug length as standard, but not positive.
Older post but a very interesting one.

If I were to build a 30-06 on a 50bmg action, it could probably safely contain extremely high chamber pressure.
(Assuming there was an appropriate fantasy powder to use).

So what would be the visible signs of overpressure ?
Not even knowing or caring what the actual pressure was that was causing this visible sign, maybe it's 100,000psi.

In theory, if you had a tight enough chamber that would not allow any brass expansion, what possible visual sign
of overpressure could even exist ? (Now I know such a tight chamber has other disadvantages, just posing it as an example)

I guess my point is that a strong enough action would be perfectly safe under much higher pressure than SAAMI.

***********

This begs the question: Which actions are inherently stronger, able to withstand more pressure ?
Mauser ?
Rem 700 ?
Sako ?
Weatherby ?
Defiance ?
Etc.
 
Last edited:
Chamber pressure for sticky bolt lift should be different for different cartridge case
They are. SAAMI lists proof load PSI.
Screenshot_20240826-195142.jpg

Old Post Warning.
 
The truth here is, that different brands of brass become elastic at different pressure, which is what causes sticky bolt lift.
Sticky extraction is different again, and clickers are different again.
A few of my rifles never click, get sticky extraction or sticky bolt lift, but at around 70,000psi, measured using the Pressure Trace II, they all exhibit primer cratering, next step above this pressure level, say 80,000psi, they will start to get ejector marks. I actually never push my rifles to the point of sticky bolt lift, this level is beyond the elastic point of the brass and is unpredictable and unsafe.
I pushed both Norma and Lapua cases to Proof load levels, 95,000psi-100,000psi and the cases were ruined with expanded primer pockets.

Cheers.
 
I sure everyone else has chimed in already but sticky bolt lift for me had always happened after I had ejector swipes. So to me sticky bolt lift is way over pressure. I've ran a gun with very very light ejection swipes and it was just slightly over max book charge. I don't do these things anymore. You load can change so fast with temp it's just not reliable. I found the most reliable, accurate charges around it at 75% to 90% of book max. Maybe even lower and about high as 95% book max. There definitely a given sweet spot for every rifle and brass combo. I used to run my 300 RUM maxed out with a 220 ELDX on some RL26. It shot good till I hit about 65 degrees. Now I'm looking at a much milder load that will still have some HP but nothing that recking the brass after a few reloads.
 
With the cost and availability of brass as it is today, I started to back off on some of my hunting loads a couple of grains from my previous max charges. In some cases I lost a little accuracy and in some I gained - but not by much in either case. My barrels will probably be a little happier too.
 
Lately I've just been looking at max velocities listed and try not to exceed that. Nosler data for one tends to be on the warm side. Hogdon is usually lower. If you notice they also list the pressure at max. That is because they pressure test all their data. The bullet companies don't always. At least that is what a friend who is a ballastician for one of the major bullet companies told me.
 
I sure everyone else has chimed in already but sticky bolt lift for me had always happened after I had ejector swipes. So to me sticky bolt lift is way over pressure. I've ran a gun with very very light ejection swipes and it was just slightly over max book charge. I don't do these things anymore. You load can change so fast with temp it's just not reliable. I found the most reliable, accurate charges around it at 75% to 90% of book max. Maybe even lower and about high as 95% book max. There definitely a given sweet spot for every rifle and brass combo. I used to run my 300 RUM maxed out with a 220 ELDX on some RL26. It shot good till I hit about 65 degrees. Now I'm looking at a much milder load that will still have some HP but nothing that recking the brass after a few reloads.

Quote: I used to run my 300 RUM maxed out with a 220 ELDX on some RL26. It shot good till I hit about 65 degrees


You just clearly stated the reason that "all" of my load development is done at 90+ F, giving several hours for the rifle and cartridges for the rifle and cartridges to reach ambient. The rifle and cartridges "are not" placed in direct sunlight!

The loads are the tested again at temperatures resembling those expected on a hunt. If necessary, it can be re-zero'd at this time!

I do push my loads to pretty high pressures, and am subject to shooting my rifle at anytime during the year……I don't want or need unwelcome surprises. memtb
 
Top