Blocked primer flash hole

[Riesel]

Shooting a 30-06 for load testing. Using Winchester Mag Primers and 208? grain Speer bullets with H4350 powder.
Halfway thru testing and have a massive primer failure with lots of gas back at shooter. Plenty Scary. Bolt opens OK but no cartridge attached. Cartridge stuck in chamber and we use rod to tap case out, was easy enough.
We checked the case and found the following: Flash hole blocked by what appears to be the front part of primer, primer has disappeared. Rim ripped off from forward thrust and cartridge was pushed and reformed going into lands. Cartridge case still full of powder, thankfully. I have shot many thousands of rounds and never seen this. The two remaining test loads shot fine.
Anybody have this happen to them? Also, does anyone on this forum drill a gas escape hole in the bottom (when closed) to vent gases to a magazine incase of ruptured primer or other calamity. Thinking about doing that to my R700 bolts.
Looking forward to your opinions
Riesel

 

[Ggmac]

Shooting a 30-06 for load testing. Using Winchester Mag Primers and 208? grain Speer bullets with H4350 powder.
Halfway thru testing and have a massive primer failure with lots of gas back at shooter. Plenty Scary. Bolt opens OK but no cartridge attached. Cartridge stuck in chamber and we use rod to tap case out, was easy enough.
We checked the case and found the following: Flash hole blocked by what appears to be the front part of primer, primer has disappeared. Rim ripped off from forward thrust and cartridge was pushed and reformed going into lands. Cartridge case still full of powder, thankfully. I have shot many thousands of rounds and never seen this. The two remaining test loads shot fine.
Anybody have this happen to them? Also, does anyone on this forum drill a gas escape hole in the bottom (when closed) to vent gases to a magazine incase of ruptured primer or other calamity. Thinking about doing that to my R700 bolts.
Looking forward to your opinions
Riesel

No not me , but the military did testing of some sort that had an undrilled flash hole and the case was pushed into the chamber and the side walls were buckled.
I will try to find a picture. It was a 30-06 case . Amazing pressure is created with no where to go

 

[Ggmac]

Found it . Phil Sharpe , complete guide to handloading , 1941

 

[Ggmac]

Shooting a 30-06 for load testing. Using Winchester Mag Primers and 208? grain Speer bullets with H4350 powder.
Halfway thru testing and have a massive primer failure with lots of gas back at shooter. Plenty Scary. Bolt opens OK but no cartridge attached. Cartridge stuck in chamber and we use rod to tap case out, was easy enough.
We checked the case and found the following: Flash hole blocked by what appears to be the front part of primer, primer has disappeared. Rim ripped off from forward thrust and cartridge was pushed and reformed going into lands. Cartridge case still full of powder, thankfully. I have shot many thousands of rounds and never seen this. The two remaining test loads shot fine.
Anybody have this happen to them? Also, does anyone on this forum drill a gas escape hole in the bottom (when closed) to vent gases to a magazine incase of ruptured primer or other calamity. Thinking about doing that to my R700 bolts.
Looking forward to your opinions
Riesel

I would check your firing pin and spring .

 

[rwj]

Surely good news that no injuries occurred! I’ve not had a similar experience nor drilled holes for pressure relief. Curious to know if the piece blocking the case flash hole appeared to be the primer anvil? Are there any pics to post?

 

[divingin]

Also, does anyone on this forum drill a gas escape hole in the bottom (when closed) to vent gases to a magazine incase of ruptured primer or other calamity. Thinking about doing that to my R700 bolts.

Glad you're OK.

Doesn't the R700 already have a vent hole on the side of the action that vents gas between the bolt and action body?