CCI Small rifle primers problems.

[searcher]

I'd look again at the headspace.

 

[GPat]

I recently (Wednesday) had the same issue with a batch of CCI BR-4s. I checked the headpspace on the brass and zero issues there. Rifle is a Hall that I've just installed a new FP spring in so ignition is not an issue either.

I hate to say it, but I'm glad someone else had some issues too. Misery loves company

Pat

 

[243winxb]

Try a different brand/lot of primers first. Replace firing pin spring and clean channel. Check amount of firing pin protrusion. If all is good, bad primers.

 

[Ggmac]

Primer is caved because no pressure to push back against bolt face ,or trying to hit it again . It obviously has a GOOD hit . I just mark it up to bad ones that missed final inspection , improper storage , etc. Mine were from being stored in an unaircondtioned warehouse for a few months ( south florida ) . The individual cards of 100 were stuck to each other . The vendor I bought them from made good . I now use the remainder for practice .
Gary

 

[Brians356]

I've fired many BR-4 in my 223 Rem R-700, never had a misfire. I feel CCI's quality control is at least as good as any other primer manufacturer. I doubt very much there is anything wrong with those primers. It's also my hunch you don't have a gross headspace problem, or firing pin problem, in that rifle.

What's left is improper seating. I seat with the older Lee AutoPrime, which requires both thumbs and some strength to fully seat the BR-4s. I can feel the anvil bottom out, then I give it a slight crush for good measure. With the Lee AutoPrime, the cam is designed so that that final crush really only imparts a miniscule cup movement. If I feel this crush, the cup is always seated well below the plane of case head.

 

[willbas]

I am using my lee press to seat the primers and all are just below the base of the brass and fit my l.E. Wilson case gauge. Getting Primer here in Southern California is a pain.

 

[Brians356]

I am using my lee press to seat the primers and all are just below the base of the brass

They almost certainly need to be a bit more than just below the base. Six to eight thousandths looks and feels fairly recessed. As bigedp51 mentioned, you may not be pre-loading the anvils in every instance.

 

[L.Sherm]

I don't think it's a coincidence that other people have problems with BR4's too. I don't hear of other people having problems near as much with other primers. My consensus is if it's not a bad primer then they are way to finicky how they have got to be seated, I'm no BR shooter just shoot alot of sage rats and that's the last thing I want to do is start blanking primers out in the field let alone if I were at a match. But each to his own.

 

[Brians356]

I don't think it's a coincidence that other people have problems with BR4's too. I don't hear of other people having problems near as much with other primers. My consensus is if it's not a bad primer then they are way to finicky how they have got to be seated, I'm no BR shooter just shoot alot of sage rats and that's the last thing I want to do is start blanking primers out in the field let alone if I were at a match. But each to his own.

As someone mentioned, the BR-4 cups may be a bit less malleable. (I know for a fact their #34s and #41s for military autoloaders are stiffer.) So they may tend to feel bottomed out before they really are. So it could be the BR-4s are less forgiving of irregular primer seating technique. My main point heretofore has been the importance of being able to feel the anvil bottom out, and feel a bit of crush (anvil pre-load) being applied. I've never used a Lee press for anything, certainly not primer seating, so I cannot comment, but I have used an RCBS Rockchucker, and found it wanting for the purpose.

 

[thefitter]

I've also had problems with BR4's. Talked to CCI & they told me it was the way I was seating them. Never had that problem with Winchesters or CCI 450's. I will no longer use them in any matches.

Similar experience but with BR 2 and the military's, not to sound to harsh but the "techs" at CCI are consummate douch bags.

I never develop new loads using CCI and when I run out I will not be buying more. Not because I got a bad batch but because of the attitude of their employees.

 

[willbas]

now for big bag of worms any suggestions on different brands. :

 

[6BRinNZ]

now for big bag of worms any suggestions on different brands. :

I'll watch this with interest as in .308 Palma brass which I think you are using (since you said it was in a .308) the most common primers seem to be CCI450 and the CCI BRs.

 

[willbas]

now for big bag of worms any suggestions on different brands. :

I'll watch this with interest as in .308 Palma brass which I think you are using (since you said it was in a .308) the most common primers seem to be CCI450 and the CCI BRs.

IT is CCI BR-4 is the one I am having problems with

 

[Mega]

I would invest a small amount of money and buy a "Primer Pocket Uniformer" and a "Hand Primer Tool" like those available from K&M Precision. Uniform all your primer pockets to the depth set by the uniformer, great for cleaning out the crud from fired primers. Then seat your primers by hand making sure the primer tool does not reach the end of it's travel before the primer is seated to it's correct depth and below the case head.

It's pretty hard to damage a primer with the K&M tool, especially BR4's. Very soft primers I would keep an eye on to make sure you are not flattening the face.

I gave up using a press to seat primers many years ago as it simply did not provide the feel to ensure the primer was seated correctly. In 40 odd years the only failure I had with a primer was due to the firing pin/spring on a brand new rifle being full of grease from the manufacturer, cleaned out and lightly oiled solved the problem forever.

At a range once one shooter had a dozen misfires and came to ask advice. On examining the misfired rounds every primer was proud of the cartridge base. He was using a 21st Century Hand Primer Tool BUT had set the tool to run out of travel too short and it wasn't seating the primer correctly. Tool adjusted to seat to it's proper depth ended his misfire problem.

 

[Brians356]

now for big bag of worms any suggestions on different brands. :

Winchester, Federal, Remington - you can't go far wrong with any of them. But you may find that your preferred seating technique may not travel well. So I respectfully suggest you don't go out and buy a brick of something - just get a flat of 100. And don't discard those BR-4s just yet. 8)

 

[Brians356]

I would invest a small amount of money and buy a "Primer Pocket Uniformer" and a "Hand Primer Tool" like those available from K&M Precision.

"Yes!" on the pocket uniformer. As for ponying up for the K&M seater, not so much. A fine tool, no doubt, but bang for the buck the Lee AutoPrime simply cannot be beat. Not the most expensive, in fact downright cheap, but it offers the feel and has never failed me, or anyone I know who uses one, when operated properly.

 

[6BRinNZ]

now for big bag of worms any suggestions on different brands. :

I'll watch this with interest as in .308 Palma brass which I think you are using (since you said it was in a .308) the most common primers seem to be CCI450 and the CCI BRs.

IT is CCI BR-4 is the one I am having problems with

Yeah I know - which is why I posted what I did - i.e. you might find another primer brand but it won't work as well...I assume its not real cold where you are.

Good luck

 

[willbas]

I will be ordering a pocket uniformer. on the hand primer I just got the Forster Co-Ax® Primer Seater. That is sort of like a hand primer but work on the bench.

 

[Mega]

By looking at the photos provided, I think your main problem is incorrectly seated primers mainly not seated deep enough rather than crushing a primer.

I did say "like a K&M Seater". There are many hand primer seaters which in my view provide the feel required to ensure a primer is seated correctly, the feel to indicate loose primer pockets as well as tight which a Reloading Press does not.

Which ever you use I would be measuring the depth of the primer as seated to ensure they are all uniform and see if your problem goes away.

 

[Greyfox]

I've been shooting CCI BR 4s since 2005. In that space of time I've shot more than 30,000 in benchrest competition and practice. I've shot 30 BR, 6BR, 6PPC, 220 Beggs, 6 Beggs, 222 and a few others. I have never had a misfire or blanked primer with a CCI BR4 or #41 (pd loads). Not saying it couldn't happen, everybody makes mistakes. But I would elsewhere for my problem if I were you. Just sayin....

Rick