.30-06 212gr ELDX- Pressure concern?

[Undertow]

I’m trying to help my brother ensure he is safe on pressure for his hunting loads he is developing.

He is within a hair of the max load, and has very minimal of any pressure signs on the brass ( to my eyes at least). However in a conversation with) Hornady they feel his velocity increase over book value (roughly 85 FPS) indicates a pressure concern. I feel this is within tolerance for firearm and brass / component differences. Based on the below data and pics, what do you think?

Rifle: Proof Elevation 30-06 ( Origin LA)
Brass : Lapua , once fired
Bullet: 212gr Hornady ELD-X
Primer: CCI Large Rifle
Powder: 53.0 gr H4350
.020” off lands

 

[mtang45]

I don't see anything in your fired cases that would raise a pressure concern in my opinion. Nothing in the primer and no marks on the brass

 

[pabrousseau]

Take a single case or two and load and shoot several times. If the pressure is too high case head expansion will show up after a number of firings.

 

[Undertow]

Take a single case or two and load and shoot several times. If the pressure is too high case head expansion will show up after a number of firings.

He is going to give this a try, thank you. It’s funny how we have been reloading all these years and never ran into velocities much higher than the book.

 

[mtang45]

He is going to give this a try, thank you. It’s funny how we have been reloading all these years and never ran into velocities much higher than the book.

Having velocities significantly off from a publishers "book" value is not unusual. It happens all the time. Actually I am surprised that Hornady would have a concern while the load weight was still within the recommended min and max.