CCI Small rifle primers problems.

[masterblaster1]

I used the lee for years, still have a couple but I switched to rcbs auto prime and I uniform on the trim mate.
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[willbas]

It may be seating I just measured the next 50 I had ready to load and found two that were at .003 depth. I put them in my primer press and got the. down to .006 and I could feel them move.

 

[Brians356]

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.

Not a bad idea to detect gross variance as may be happening in this case. But when you seat by feel, there will be some slight depth variation even if the pockets are uniformed. The primers themselves are not exactly the same height as delivered.

 

[carlsbad]

Bill,
I just noticed this thread. I wouldn't re-engineer by reloading until I confirmed it wasn't a bad batch of primers. The manufacturers were all pushing like hell to catch up with demand for over a year now.

I can bring you 100 of my BR4s next time I see you at pala.

I think your strike looks strong. The denting vs cratering is mostly a function of not-going off. The cratering happens when the pressure inside flattens the primer against the bolt. Could also be a problem with the material in that batch of primers too.

I'm surprised nobody has brought up the age old debate of contamination. Oil can cause misfires. Some worry about finger oil. However, if you are lubricating your press in a way that oil could get on an occasional primer or you otherwise are getting any oil near your primers that might be an issue.

--Jerry

 

[CatShooter]

I'm surprised nobody has brought up the age old debate of contamination. Oil can cause misfires. Some worry about finger oil. However, if you are lubricating your press in a way that oil could get on an occasional primer or you otherwise are getting any oil near your primers that might be an issue.

--Jerry

Interesting series of tests, trying to kill primers - it ain't easy.



http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml

 

[wolley]

I am firmly convinced that like anything else, you can get a "bad batch" in anything. I have had bad, as in plenty of misfires, from every primer manufacturer there is. I just had one such batches as I was fireforming my .260A.I. from regular .260 brass. I have NOT had a misfire since. But there is no such thing as NEVER having a problem.. If all else is well with your bolt / firing pin, and you seated the primers properly, I would write it off as a bad batch..

So I'm guessing your problem with the Wolf primers was actually headspace related because you were fireforming brass?

 

[wolley]

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.

Don't waste money on the new version of the Lee Hand tool. It is a miserable pile of steaming dog poo.

 

[willbas]

I got the Forster Co-Ax bench primer tool and I like it. When you seat the primer by pushing down on the Handel you hit a stop then you apply a little more pressure and it moves just a little more. Then I check the seating depth .006. ;D

 

[ShootDots]

I am firmly convinced that like anything else, you can get a "bad batch" in anything. I have had bad, as in plenty of misfires, from every primer manufacturer there is. I just had one such batches as I was fireforming my .260A.I. from regular .260 brass. I have NOT had a misfire since. But there is no such thing as NEVER having a problem.. If all else is well with your bolt / firing pin, and you seated the primers properly, I would write it off as a bad batch..

So I'm guessing your problem with the Wolf primers was actually headspace related because you were fireforming brass?

No Wes.. I pulled the bullets, knocked out the primers, reprimed with Fed 210's loaded the same and they all shot perfectly.. I took another 100 pack out of the 1000 brick and loaded them in my Shehane>>> they all shot. I believe it was simply a bad batch of primers.

 

[jvw2008]

I think they may be caved in because the powder didn't ignite resulting in no pressure charge to flatten the primer surface back against the bolt face. As said before the fire pin strike looks plenty deep enough. I agree with ShootDots - bad batch of primers.

 

[willbas]

Picking up some Rem 7 1/2 BR this weekend

 

[Brians356]

Don't waste money on the new version of the Lee Hand tool. It is a miserable pile of steaming dog poo.

Thanks for the thoughtful, detailed report. That's all we need should need to know. :-X

 

[willbas]

It looks like it was a seating depth problem I have just fired off 110 rounds between last weekend and today no misfires. I am now squaring the primer pockets with a K&M small rifle primer pocket tool and using the Forster bench primer seating tool.

 

[Mega]

Pleased to hear that you may have found the solution to your problem for now. Lets hope it is a permanent solution.

 

[HFV]

I have CCI BR-4 primers and I am getting about 2 to 4 miss fires per 100 any idea on what my be causing this. I am seating them for now with my lee single stage press in to .308 Lapua Palma brass

If you are seating with your press, is there any chance you are crushing them or something? I've never seated with a press, so I'm just throwing an idea out there to see if it will stick...

I've seated 1000's w/rcbs press and never once had a problem.When I use auto primer, before charging I seat w/press (on cartridges w/tite or semi tite primer pockes.

 

[Brians356]

It looks like it was a seating depth problem I have just fired off 110 rounds between last weekend and today no misfires. I am now squaring the primer pockets with a K&M small rifle primer pocket tool and using the Forster bench primer seating tool.

Great! Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, but it just didn't seem likely to me those primers were defective, and erratic seating depth seemed to most likely culprit.

 

[waldo1979]

How are you cleaning your brass? I had a similar problem where i wasn't fully drying my brass and the slightest amount of moisture deactivated the primer.

I'm testing primers right now, for small rifle i'm looking at winchester and tula/wolf as strong contenders.

 

[Brians356]

How are you cleaning your brass? I had a similar problem where i wasn't fully drying my brass and the slightest amount of moisture deactivated the primer.

Ever tried to safely deactiver primers by soaking them in water? Good luck.

More likely any water trapped in the case would affect the powder charge rather than the primer itself. But I suppose I could be wrong. Did you actually prove the primers were deactivated by attempting to fire them?

 

[paulT]

Just noticed this thread i too have same issues with Br4 batch no. 40644
MRP 8230014 l have run the Br4s with my barnard s action with no problems before so guessing could be down to bad batch my firing pin and assembly checked out i uniform the pockets and use a sinclair hand seater which works A ok anyone else having issues with the Same Batch no. Of Br4s?

 

[JEFFPPC]

I had this same problem several yrs ago. Long story short it was not the primers. The primer tool I was using was worn to the point that the primers were not being seated deep enough even though it felt that they were. A new tool quickly solved the problem.