hang fires w/ wolf primers

[wapiti25]

I bought Wolf Primers last summer and have had hang fires. This happend with large rifle, large rifle mag, and small rifle mag. four rifles, three powders. The primers were all in fired cases for the rifles. The primers were seated using Lee and Hornady priming tools. The guns don't have a problem with US primers. any one else experience this?

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Been using Wolf primers for over a year now. Over one thousand rounds fired not one problem? ???

 

[groupshooter22]

You need to seat the wolf primers just a hair deeper or harder. The first time I used them I had some too. Just adjusted how hard I seated them and not a problem since.

 

[Steve Blair]

Groupshooter is correct. The cups are hard and they may seem to be seated while a few thousandths short. Seat them firmly and they should work fine. I obtain my lowest ES/SD with Wolf primers and most powders.

 

[wapiti25]

Thanks for the feedback, I will try loads with harder seating as soon as the rains pass.
Thanks, Wapiti25

 

[Steve Blair]

Are you a Californian? I am in San Diego and things are a little damp, just now.

 

[gme]

In a word yes, we've shot 1000's of them, the wolf primers because of the very hard cup is prone to hang fire, we've had a few that didn't go off at all, we've even seen a few "mystery shots" where a very low 6:00 shot appears out of nowhere and you go right back to center x, you do need to seat them firmly, and they need a solid strike, if your rifle has a weak FP spring or marginal protrusion that will be a problem, one problem we don't have is blanking.
Gary Eliseo

 

[wapiti25]

yes to sleepygator, im in the high desert. I just recieved an order for new springs. I had just installed a stronger spring in a 17 enfield 6.5-06 and had the last hang fires experienced (2). I'm working with some of the newer slow powders in that caliber. In the mid 80's I was shooting the national match course with the 6.5-06 and was told that the small calibers could not be competitive, It is interesting how things have changed. I did get the silver at the state match in my class the first year.

 

[Gerry Nordmann]

I bought Wolf Primers last summer and have had hang fires. This happend with large rifle, large rifle mag, and small rifle mag. four rifles, three powders. The primers were all in fired cases for the rifles. The primers were seated using Lee and Hornady priming tools. The guns don't have a problem with US primers. any one else experience this?

---------------------------------------------
I had some miss fires when I first started using Wolf, and
I was using my Lee priming tool. Then I read about the
need to crush seat them, so I started using my Lee Press
to seat them. And, I haven't had one miss fire since.

 

[cmillard]

ive shot about a thousand of the wolf srm so far and have not had a single problem. they are a fine primer. i do, as others said, seat them deeply.

 

[wapiti25]

just came back from a gravel pit and cranked off four rounds seated hard and they shot fine I think they sounded better. I hunt with a muzzeloader so I listen to how the shot sounds.
now I have to dry the gun.
Thanks to all for the help. Wapiti25

 

[norpacmiami]

I've been using Russian primers from the start, that meaning to include all different "brands" since inception, KVBs white box, PMC, and now Wolf. They are all the same.

A common "issue", if you wish to call it that, is the apparent requirement for complete attention in performing a "perfect" seat. No horsing around here. The primer needs to be seated in properly, and always equally. Leave one sticking out just a tad, and it may cost you a point (or two). On the other hand, sit them all properly, standardize, and you will enjoy the outcome of your added efforts.

For a competitior, there are two schools of thought, one being no time to fool around with unknowns, and the other being it is all very well worth the extra effort. You will be the one to choose.

A friend of mine (JP) and I obtained a good amount (50,000+)of these primers when they first arrived, and immediately found the need for a new and proper seating technique. Most important, and I dare to invite all to see it my way, first, it opened our eyes in understanding what a deficient job most reloaders perform during this step of the process, and second, rationalizing the existence, of a minute posibility, of extracting even better performance from any existing primer.

I believe that many reloaders have taken this step for granted for many a long year, mostly due to the forgiving characteristics of existing primers, and therefore been able to "survive" it. The Russian primer will penalize you, hard and harsh.

I have been experimenting for a year now with several primer lots from different manufacturers, and have noticed that there is little difference in SDs when primers are seated with same zealousnes.

At the end, several calibers are more appreciative than others, ie: 6BR vs .223, where the six will return an even smaller group, compared to the .223 when using a Wolf vs Winchester WSR. Go figure.

At the end, I decided that the extra effort pays dividends, and taking in consideration the company I find myself in, where dropping one point can place you on the second page list, and just one X difference can cost you first place, hmmm........

Just my 0.02

Andy

 

[wapiti25]

I have had more hang fires with the wolf primers but it appears that the wolf primers have a problem with Norma 204 powder. The most recent shooting was in a 7mm remington mag factory rifle using N204 with 120 &139 bullets. I then loaded the same wolf LR Mag using 3100 powder and they shot fine. I also shot the same loads with CCI250's (N204) and they shot good. I had previously had hang fires in two other rifles using the N204, I feel that N204 and wolf LR & LR mag primers are not compatible. The one difference between N204 and some of the other powders that I have used is N294 is double base similar to RL-19 and I think both are made by Bofers.

 

[wwbrown]

I use wolf primers almost exclusively and have shot about 3,000 of them in the last 6 months. When I first started using them I used my Lee primer and after that broke, after seating about 125 Wolf SRM I went out and bought a K&M hand primer and use that now. Granted the K&M is not as fast it gets a very positive seating and as long as you wear a latex glove on the hand that handles the primers no body oils get on the primers.

Long story short, no misfires and they work great for me.

wade

 

[reverend]

Two of my rifles failed to fire with wolf primers. I changed the firing pin springs to strike harder, all of the rounds ignited. The spring was the only thing I changed. Even the rounds that had been struck and had not ignited did with the stronger springs.

John

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Started using the Large Wolf primers in my 6MM Remington this week. Again no problem and looking like the groups tightened up a bit. Going to re test the groups next week.