What would cause this

[buzzyb]

I have a Christensen arms elr in 6.5 prc and I am getting these marks on my primers. I put a resized case and primer no powder or bullet in the chamber and the bolt is really stiff. Any ideas

 

[Bill K]

Could be a combination of a very tight head spacing and a rough bolt face, especially the firing pin hole area.

 

[D-4297]

It would appear from your photo , that there is excessive space between the diameter of your firing pin , and the diameter of your bolt where the firing pin goes through it ,

With regard to the stiff bolt closure , if it is noticeably stiffer , then I would suggest your shoulder bump isn't correct for the chamber . Measure a fired case or two with a Bump Gauge , and set your Die to move ( Bump ) the shoulder back by .002 - .003 from the measured , fired cases . That should be a good starting point to solve these issues .

 

[LHSmith]

Does it click on opening the bolt? Usually the brass is too big on the back end near the head from high pressure. Looks like some ejector marks and swiping on the headstamp. Unless you want to try to swage it back with a small base die or ring die, I would scrap it.

 

[LHSmith]

*Bolt click on opening= base area is too tight for chamber
* Tight bolt closing = shoulder needs to be pushed back

 

[MagnumManiac]

Your firing pin hole has burrs by the look of that.
Get a magnifying glass and take a close look at your bolt face.
Just like Remingtons beveled firing pin holes, it is difficult to see with the naked eye, so plenty of magnification is needed.
Taking a photo with your phone and zooming in also works.

Cheers.

 

[Mikemci]

Are your primers seated below the case head?
It looks like it isn't fully seated. Not sure how the bolt face could touch the primer, if it's below flush.

 

[dkhunt14]

Are you sure your primer seating isn't causing it? The swiping marks and hard bolt closure is not enough sizing. As another poster said if the primer is seated below the case head, the bolt should not touch the primer. Matt

 

[divingin]

Are your primers seated below the case head?
It looks like it isn't fully seated. Not sure how the bolt face could touch the primer, if it's below flush.

When the primer is ignited, the neck grabs the chamber, the primer is pushed back into the breechface. Increasing pressure stretches the case, reseating the primer. Not uncommon, I think.

 

[Uncle Ed]

I see a ejector mark on your case which could mean a hot load, or not enough shoulder bump.

What brand primer, I have seen CCI 400 primers look like yours, meaning a primer with a thin .020 cup.

 

[Buzz]

Look into the bolt click issues with 6.5PRC. Many people are having issues 2-3 firings in because dies are not sizing the back of the case enough. Not sure if that would explain the primer issue, but would explain the stiff bolt.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That load is hot AF! That and a weak firing pin spring has blown your primer back flat

 

[Buzz]

I understood it to be a fresh primer. The outer edges are still round and don’t look like they’ve seen any pressure.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Send your bolt to Greg Tannell and have him bush the firing pin hole. Problem solved.

 

[DirtySteve]

What is your load data???

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I understood it to be a fresh primer. The outer edges are still round and don’t look like they’ve seen any pressure.

You dont see the ole flattened firing pin dent and the smashed headstamps with ejector marks very often. That load takes the cake for being the hottest one on here in quite a few months. Could be oil in chamber but the pressure was astronomical

 

[shoot4fun]

I have a Christensen arms elr in 6.5 prc and I am getting these marks on my primers. I put a resized case and primer no powder or bullet in the chamber and the bolt is really stiff. Any ideas

I am with @Dusty Stevens on this one. If you are using a published load that is max for Hornady brass then it will most likely be well over pressure with ADG brass. The ADG has quite a bit less volume than Hornady.

 

[Buzz]

You dont see the ole flattened firing pin dent and the smashed headstamps with ejector marks very often. That load takes the cake for being the hottest one on here in quite a few months. Could be oil in chamber but the pressure was astronomical

From the OP: “I put a resized case and primer no powder or bullet in the chamber and the bolt is really stiff.”

Must be some hot primers.

 

[mtncwru]

You dont see the ole flattened firing pin dent and the smashed headstamps with ejector marks very often. That load takes the cake for being the hottest one on here in quite a few months. Could be oil in chamber but the pressure was astronomical

That was my first thought in seeing that brass, too. Is it me, or does it look like the base is bulged around the primer pocket, too?

 

[olddav]

Buzzyb
If you have no powder or bullet in the case, the bolt is hard to close and the brass and primer are marked up with just ejecting the round, I would say you need to bump the shoulder back. You might need to check the depth of the primer making sure it is seated below the base of the rim. I would also look at the bolt head just to be sure it doesn’t have an issue around the firing pin.