Anybody ever have any trouble with CCI #250 magnum primers FTF?

[thefitter]

Shot 15 rounds in Lapua brass and 4 FTF! Pulled the primers and they look fine.

Called CCI and was told that Lapua brass has a deeper primer pocket and that is why they did not ignite. Then I was told to seat them as deep as possible....? That makes absolutely no sense to me. What am I missing?

FWI it's not the FP spring.... all other primer makes and models work perfect.

Any brilliant ideas from the experts?

Thanks


Edit- I now realize that I have experienced this before. My first instance with this batch was when I mistakenly got them mixed in with my BR2s. In my first thread I concluded that I had mixed in the 7.62 primers but now I realize it was these because they are doing the same thing as before.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3796596.0

 

[K22]

If what they claim is true, then the primer is moving forward when the firing point strikes it thus causing the misfire. The primer must be seated flush against the primer pocket for proper ignition.

However I'd be very very careful not to exert excessive force in seating the primer. If you feel the primer seat fully and it still misfires then I'd look elsewhere for the problem (i.e headspace, firepin issues, contamination, etc). Before going into an involved process of checking you may want to try another brand of primers such as Federal - in my experience they tend to ignite easier than CCI even though the cup thickness is the same.

Primers failure is extremely rare in rifle cartridges that are loaded properly. I've only had one failure in 40 years of reloading. It was due to no priming compound in the primer - never saw this before or since - really strange but I guess if you do something long enough you'll see just about everything.

 

[NorCalMikie]

First thought is headspace. (case shoulder set back too far and case is being pushed forward by the firing pin)
Recock the bolt a few times and see if they'll go bang. Also. make the OAL of the round longer.
With the bullet jammed against the lands, the firing pin will is able to get a harder strike on the primer.
Once the case is fireformed to the chamber and, when resized and reloaded, the shoulder isn't pushed back too far, you should get a full hard strike on the primer. JMHO, Mike.

 

[KMart]

fitter
you stated that you had this same problem before. From your first batch of misfires a few months ago, to this instance of misfires, are you using different brass or a different rifle? Or is it in the same rifle or same brass?

 

[Steveb]

Very interesting and timely topic. I am having exactly the same FTF issues with BR2's in my match and other rifles.

1) I was loading in April to go hunting in Africa and started to experience FTF using a Ruger AWR in 300 SAUM. I thought I had a weak firing pin spring so replaced it and the problem went away. However, I took another rifle to go hunting and that rifle used Fed 215's.
2) In July I experienced a single FTF in my Rem XR100 match rifle in 300 SAUM. I changed the firing pin assembly and the issue went away.
3) I had a massive amount of FTF during a match in October using a Rem XR100 match rifle in a 308 Win. I thought I had set back the shoulders so measured all the brass and culled anything that might be short. Still had issues.
4) I had FTF in another Ruger AWR in 30-338 Win. This time every time I recocked to fire again I blanked the primers or blew them completely out of the case. My load actually was a testing load so the pressures were average to low based on actual case measurements.
5) A friend has had exactly the same issues in a 284 Win based on a Mauser action.
6) Another friend has had exactlythe same issues with BR4's in a 223.

Looking at the FTF cases, it looks like the primer shell is too hard and the firing pin springs aren't able to ignite the primer mixure. The firing pin dimples in the primer looks shallow as if they hadn't been hit hard enough.

My feeling it that CCI has changed something in the process and it isn't working well. All these primers were purchased last spring to summer.

I am going to stop using CCI until their issues get worked out.

Steve

 

[sdeal5]

Same experience here, Steve. Had to withdraw from a match in Oct. after I had broken into a new carton of BR2's. 2 diferent rifles---one a 284 Win. on a Stiller Python action, and the other a 7mm rsaum on a Pierce action. Had shot the same loads in both rifles many times w/ no probs whatsoever, and the FTF,s went away when I went back to another lot of BR2's, and would reoccur when I tried the questionable lot again. These primers were purchased about the same time as yours--sometime last summer. I've used BR2's, BR4's, and lots of 450's with never a problem before, and will continue to use CCI, just not that lot#---and will be sure to test fire out of every new box I open before taking them to a match.

 

[Steveb]

We have had issues with 2 different lots. I am not home and will not be able to post the lot numbers but it would be interesting to see which lot numbers are causing the issues. I can post on the weekend.

I have never had primer problems in a rifle so at first didn't even consider it. This is why I changed the firing pin springs. The only issues I have ever had were CCI used in highly modified and mainspring lightened revolvers years ago. The CCI's would misfire whereas Federal would not.

This sounds like it could be a widespread new issue.

Steve

 

[thefitter]

fitter
you stated that you had this same problem before. From your first batch of misfires a few months ago, to this instance of misfires, are you using different brass or a different rifle? Or is it in the same rifle or same brass?

Same rifle and same batch of brass. Not a head space issue on these cases because I pulled them and replaced the magnums with BR2 and they fired fine.

I can not find a lot number on either the 1000 count box or the 100 count sleeve. Can anyone tell me where it is hidden?

 

[LRPV]

Should be stamped into the cardboard on the top side of the 100 count sleeve right by the CCI in the upper right corner.

 

[Steveb]

Here are the BR2 lot numbers we are having trouble with.

M29R
B18Q

 

[Dans40X]

I knew there was a reason why I stopped using CCI primers!

 

[XTR]

My last batch of BR2s I've had several FTFs. I use W-W brass.

 

[Steveb]

Do you have a lot number? It is embossed into the top of the little 100 round pack.

Steve

 

[RDavies]

I have had issues with the BR2s, just one recent batch (in the last year or 2). I have never had any issues with 2 different lots of CCI250s firing off H1000.

 

[nastynatesfish]

I had a lot of issues with a batch of cci 200 in my 25-06. I use Norma brass and they are seated in the lands. I bought mew firing pin and it all but eliminated it.

 

[thefitter]

Do you have a lot number? It is embossed into the top of the little 100 round pack.

Steve

E22S

 

[Valar]

I had this problem with cci mag primers in my 204. I finally installed new firing pin and no trouble since. Knock on wood.

 

[thefitter]

Sent a note to CCI requesting an exchange, will see what happens.