Ever have one of those days where you get out of bed and soon start feeling like it's opposites day? Like what ever you thought you knew, is suddenly wrong? I'm having one of those days today and I'm reaching out to my shooting buddies for advise and hoping I'm not going completely off my rocker.
This is a story about two Fail to Fire rounds I shot yesterday while load developing my buddy's 6BR who's laid up right now and can't get to the range. As a side note, I should mention that I left the shooting range yesterday because it was storming so bad and I found myself walking out to the target with an umbrella while lightening was coming down all around, so now I'm worrying I was struck by lightening and didn't know it. That's how stupid I'm feeling.
The two rounds that FTF were new virgin Lapua brass with CCI450 primers that I'd installed for my buddy about 6 or 8 months ago. They were kept indoors all that time so I thought they'd be OK. And they were. All cases loaded and shot normally with the exception of these two.
Both rounds went "click" with no other indication on the range. Upon pulling down at the bench today I discovered I'd not charged them. The primers had fired, the bullets were sooted on the base, and primer pockets blackened as usual, and my first thought was this can't be! Primers alone will drive the bullet into the lands causing an obstructed barrel if not cleared. Or so I've read many times.
I still had one of the previously primed virgin cases left so I seated a bullet, chambered it and pulled the trigger.
Click.
I pulled it down, and same thing. Sooted bullet base, spent primer. Absolutely no indication of gas leak around the bullet or primer.
I seated a fresh CCI450 primer in another virgin case, seated a bullet and chambered it. Same result but this time I measured the CBTO before and after. No change. Case was slightly warm, but that's it. No gas escape noted.
The studies I've read and relied upon were mostly done with large rifle primers. Is there that much difference in primer strength? Or is it that the unseating of the bullet by the primer requires a powder charge to act as a piston transferring primer energy to the bullet, but the primer can't do it alone?
Any and all comments welcome, and thanks in advance for all your help.
Now, off to find that bottle of Tequila I stashed away for a special occasion.
This is a story about two Fail to Fire rounds I shot yesterday while load developing my buddy's 6BR who's laid up right now and can't get to the range. As a side note, I should mention that I left the shooting range yesterday because it was storming so bad and I found myself walking out to the target with an umbrella while lightening was coming down all around, so now I'm worrying I was struck by lightening and didn't know it. That's how stupid I'm feeling.
The two rounds that FTF were new virgin Lapua brass with CCI450 primers that I'd installed for my buddy about 6 or 8 months ago. They were kept indoors all that time so I thought they'd be OK. And they were. All cases loaded and shot normally with the exception of these two.
Both rounds went "click" with no other indication on the range. Upon pulling down at the bench today I discovered I'd not charged them. The primers had fired, the bullets were sooted on the base, and primer pockets blackened as usual, and my first thought was this can't be! Primers alone will drive the bullet into the lands causing an obstructed barrel if not cleared. Or so I've read many times.
I still had one of the previously primed virgin cases left so I seated a bullet, chambered it and pulled the trigger.
Click.
I pulled it down, and same thing. Sooted bullet base, spent primer. Absolutely no indication of gas leak around the bullet or primer.
I seated a fresh CCI450 primer in another virgin case, seated a bullet and chambered it. Same result but this time I measured the CBTO before and after. No change. Case was slightly warm, but that's it. No gas escape noted.
The studies I've read and relied upon were mostly done with large rifle primers. Is there that much difference in primer strength? Or is it that the unseating of the bullet by the primer requires a powder charge to act as a piston transferring primer energy to the bullet, but the primer can't do it alone?
Any and all comments welcome, and thanks in advance for all your help.
Now, off to find that bottle of Tequila I stashed away for a special occasion.
regretfully on one .45 and one .40 caliber pistol round. In each instance, the jacketed bullet nearly cleared the barrel. Any thoughts on why a rifle primer would not at least expel the bullet out of the case?
