High Pressure Solutions

[Sureshot406]

Hi all. Long-time creeper, first-time poster.

I have an Aero M5 .308Win with a 20" barrel. All parts stock except for the stock & trigger. I am starting load development after finally getting my hands on some LR primers, and I am encountering pressure signs (extractor marks) on starting powder loads. Even with the starting load, I will get extractor marks even when the load is too light to cycle the gun properly (i.e. no lock back on last shot, failing to chamber the next round from the mag). Needless to say, vexxing.

A little background on my loads and results:

• 175g SMK - 41.5g of IMR4064 (listed starting load from Hodgdon) = no lock back, light extractor marks on 2 out of 5 test rounds
• 175 SMK - 41.7g of IMR 4064 (bumped 0.2g higher to see if I could get good function) = Sub MOA accuracy, lock back on last shot, but failed to strip 1 of 5 rounds off the mag; extractor marks on all rounds, two of which were particular deep and sharp.
• Anything I tested higher than this showed OBVIOUS signs of overpressure, so they're not even worth mentioning. At 42g+ I started getting DEEP extractor marks, flattened primers, even a couple of blown primers.

I have been digging into this for some time, and I see many people recommending a JP Enterprise High Pressure bolt. I've also heard an adjustable gas block might do the trick. I have been eyeing an Aero adjustable block that's going for $54. The JP HP bolt is $200+ 😬. I get it, buy once, cry once, and I'd like to grab one eventually, but right now the gas block seems like a more economical solution.

Do y'all think the adjustable gas block will be valuable in solving this problem? Should I just opt for the HP bolt instead? Am I even on the right track with this solution? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Edited March 23, 2023 by Sureshot406
Forgot to mention the over-pressure signs encountered at higher loads

[98Z5V]

15 hours ago, Sureshot406 said:

Do y'all think the adjustable gas block will be valuable in solving this problem? Should I just opt for the HP bolt instead? Am I even on the right track with this solution?

Nope.   To all 3 questions.

Give up the deails on the gun build.  Complete Recoil System specs and complete Gas System specs.  That's where the issue lies. 

This level of information, right here - read this:

 

 

Here's why all that information makes a difference.  This explains what the purpose of drafting that one up there ^^^ was.  Because of this information, below, we need that information, above, in order to diagnose a gun over the internet, just from written words:

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by 98Z5V