• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Misfires at the range today.

CJ6

Silver $$ Contributor
At our normal Friday shoot this morning, one of our group had several misfires (4) with factory Winchester 223 ammo.
He's contacted Winchester with the lot number but hasn't heard back yet.
The ammo was tried in 2 separate 223 rifles that were there. SOLID primer strikes from both but no ignition.
This was WHITE BOX ammo. I'll get the lot number as soon as I can.
He had 4 FTFs out of 17 rounds. I have never seen this many misfires in my life from factory ammo.
 
It would be worth checking headspace on both rifles, but the problem is likely short brass. The person with the problem can probably doesn’t reload, but can lay a fired case and a problem case side by side and see a difference in case body length. If someone can measure the problem brass, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is .010” short of minimum spec base the shoulder.
 
It would be worth checking headspace on both rifles, but the problem is likely "short brass".
;) ;) ;) If the shooter doesn't or isn't in the position to reload, he's stuck shooting factory loaded ammo.
Might find someone with a bullet puller (hammer) and lengthen the OAL to a jam and see if the rounds go BANG, THAT should tell you a lot!! Not ALL factory loaded ammo is the same.
A jam into the lands holds the case head against the bolt head. ;)
 
I rarely shoot fmj/AR ammo, is an occasional ftf to be expected regardless of brand? Is it because of lighten trigger springs that many use in their AR's ?
I will occasionally buy factory ammo if it’s a new offering, like when a new bullet is introduced. It’s often available as a cartridge before a component. What I have found is rounds that won’t fire after multiple tries in a bolt action, fire easily in an AR. Even with the same reamer used by the same person and headspace gauge.

What’s really interesting is that most AR’s will have less firing pin protrusion than most bolt actions, at least the ones I’ve measured and found specs for. About the only thing I can’t really measure is driving force of the firing pin.

Remember that bolt actions are spring driven, AR’s are hammer driven. If you have a lightened hammer, you need a heavier spring, not lighter. Just like a bullet, heavy moving slow, generally has more energy than light moving fast. The springs and hammers need to be tuned together. A mil spec spring and hammer is certainly over kill for most people, but most people don’t shoot groundhogs in Antarctica after pouring a bucket of sand in the action. Not too many designs have a place you can hammer the action closed, forward assist, and expect the firing pin to do its job. Not exactly a precision tool.
 
It would be worth checking headspace on both rifles, but the problem is likely short brass. The person with the problem can probably doesn’t reload, but can lay a fired case and a problem case side by side and see a difference in case body length. If someone can measure the problem brass, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is .010” short of minimum spec base the shoulder.
Something to check.

Also primers were brass colored.
 
I run rem 7.5, CCI 450 or Fed AR match primers in my AR loads. Don't recall having/using Win srp. I have Timmney triggers(3.5 drop in) and lighter hammer springs in lowers, no ftf and I run more bolt clearance (especially in the winter) 0.003-0.0045.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DLT

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
166,817
Messages
2,223,520
Members
79,917
Latest member
Joe The Licensed Plumber
Back
Top