SAAMI uses a 24" barrel for Grendel. They state a max pressure velocity of 2,580 fps for a 123 grain bullet. The specs are for ammo manufacturers and are designed for reliability as well as safety, along with other factors. I get 2,570 fps from Hornady Black 123 HPBTs from an 18" barrel. It seems to me that at least one manufacturer is loading at least one load beyond 52,000 psi average pressures.
There's a thread in the reloading forum about pressure signs for Grendel. The consensus holds that SAAMI max pressure of 52,000 psi will be exceeded for Grendel before traditional pressure signs like flattened primers will appear. I'm sure that's true. However, it raises the question of whether safety or reliability is the main driver behind the SAAMI spec for Grendel. In other words, was 52,000 psi chosen primarily to protect bolt life or prevent catastrophic bolt failure?
The last SAAMI update came in 2015.
There's a thread in the reloading forum about pressure signs for Grendel. The consensus holds that SAAMI max pressure of 52,000 psi will be exceeded for Grendel before traditional pressure signs like flattened primers will appear. I'm sure that's true. However, it raises the question of whether safety or reliability is the main driver behind the SAAMI spec for Grendel. In other words, was 52,000 psi chosen primarily to protect bolt life or prevent catastrophic bolt failure?
The last SAAMI update came in 2015.