Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 55 Blaser with .338 | 185gr | Peregrine VRG-3 bullet and 92 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52 and Hodgdon LEVERevolution.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 2841 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 2851 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,417 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,114 psi | 88% | 2877 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 2986 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,738 psi | 89% | 2894 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2913 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,907 psi | 78% | 2884 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,129 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 2907 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 2867 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2963 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2858 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 2890 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,580 psi | 62% | 2612 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 2917 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,171 psi | 55% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,795 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,491 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2861 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,665 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,737 psi | 88% | 2854 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,840 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2825 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,158 psi | 88% | 2904 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 2930 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2874 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,823 psi | 85% | 2792 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,316 psi | 55% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2982 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,417 psi | 84% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,462 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,343 psi | 82% | 2838 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,737 psi | 88% | 2854 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2802 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 2904 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2851 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,040 psi | 85% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2881 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,634 psi | 84% | 2818 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 2841 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2654 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,589 psi | 81% | 2779 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2713 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,244 psi | 87% | 2887 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2858 fps | 99.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 61% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,777 psi | 80% | 2782 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,067 psi | 80% | 2789 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,568 psi | 67% | 2612 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 49% | 2405 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,825 psi | 59% | 2552 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 46% | 2379 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,065 psi | 75% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,442 psi | 76% | 2631 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,623 psi | 60% | 2559 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,285 psi | 82% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,191 psi | 66% | 2615 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 75% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 60% | 2526 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,824 psi | 57% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 69% | 2717 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 59.7 gr | 88% | 41,771 psi | 67% | 2736 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,505 psi | 57% | 2516 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,099 psi | 56% | 2526 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 70% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,582 psi | 65% | 2641 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2641 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,006 psi | 74% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,901 psi | 67% | 2664 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,098 psi | 55% | 2516 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,581 psi | 63% | 2536 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,085 psi | 56% | 2533 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,510 psi | 67% | 2717 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 68% | 2648 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,105 psi | 69% | 2664 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,685 psi | 70% | 2690 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,895 psi | 83% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 57% | 2513 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,230 psi | 58% | 2562 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 54.5 gr | 82% | 33,736 psi | 54% | 2523 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,251 psi | 40% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 59% | 2526 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 55% | 2530 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,683 psi | 65% | 2598 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,875 psi | 72% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,492 psi | 59% | 2566 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,202 psi | 60% | 2526 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 2776 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 66% | 2608 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 53% | 2480 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 2513 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,996 psi | 53% | 2444 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,360 psi | 55% | 2464 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,447 psi | 55% | 2484 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 2582 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,769 psi | 64% | 2648 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,646 psi | 78% | 2740 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,696 psi | 62% | 2592 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,640 psi | 65% | 2575 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,280 psi | 41% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,930 psi | 67% | 2621 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,140 psi | 82% | 2789 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 56.5 gr | 86% | 39,421 psi | 63% | 2684 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,589 psi | 49% | 2474 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 61% | 2526 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,648 psi | 52% | 2415 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,185 psi | 55% | 2513 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 2776 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 53% | 2480 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,996 psi | 53% | 2444 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 71% | 2638 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,358 psi | 82% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,920 psi | 75% | 2723 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,653 psi | 62% | 2628 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 72% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,195 psi | 74% | 2707 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,638 psi | 62% | 2579 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 58% | 2451 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 47% | 2310 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2602 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,650 psi | 57% | 2448 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,246 psi | 60% | 2539 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,549 psi | 57% | 2526 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,837 psi | 53% | 2543 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,242 psi | 82% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,452 psi | 66% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,477 psi | 58% | 2457 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,473 psi | 50% | 2421 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,547 psi | 52% | 2421 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,778 psi | 51% | 2418 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 59% | 2520 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 50% | 2398 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2546 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 57% | 2552 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,157 psi | 56% | 2523 fps | 95.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 116 powders for 8.5 x 55 Blaser loaded with the .338 | 185gr | Peregrine VRG-3. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,986 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,713 fps to 2,986 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 116 of the 116 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 185.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:16.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, Accurate 4350, ADI AR 2208 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 55 Blaser with the .338 | 185gr | Peregrine VRG-3 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2700, Bofors RP7, Hodgdon H414 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.