• 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.

Miss-Fire powder turned Yellow

IMG_3106.JPG IMG_3105.JPG IMG_3108.JPG About 3 weeks ago I loaded up some 6dasher with 8208XBR and some Berger Column bullets. CCI BR-4 primers. Charge weight was 33grain. The 3rd round was a Mis-Fire. I was working up loads so the remaining rounds were different charge weights but they all fired as intended. Now here today I decided to pull that bullet and decap this and the rest of my brass get it cleaned and prepped for reload. Weird part is the powder was packed tight and wouldn't move. Had to push an Allen wrench in a ways and most of the powder came out but many small chunks had to be broken apart. Check out the pics and I am sure one of you fellas can explain.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3105.JPG
    IMG_3105.JPG
    385.8 KB · Views: 60
Last edited:
I demilled some Varget loads that were loaded about 4 years ago and it was yellow as well. The yard didn't know the difference and loved it.
 
Last edited:
If you look at the primer it is clear the anvil wasn't pushed foward. Looks like too much head space weak fireing pin spring or not enough fireing pin leingth. Larry
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20170303-214543.png
    Screenshot_20170303-214543.png
    133.3 KB · Views: 31
  • Screenshot_20170303-214957.png
    Screenshot_20170303-214957.png
    98.8 KB · Views: 29
The black stuff was burned off - that yellowish green is the normal colour of smokeless powder. The black stuff is deterrent that slows the early stages of burning. I can't understand why it went out "(
So you are saying the deterrent was burnt off the surface of the extruded powder but the powder underneath did not burn?
 
Whenever I saw this it was weak hits from firing pin. Causes were from either primer nor seated deep enough, firing pin weak, firing pin light weight or too much heads pace. It was always CCI BR4 primers and it was because the cups are thicker and harder. The yellow powder was always the burnt stuff and it was caked back at the primer hole. Usually when this happened there was also hang fires or delayed ignition also. Matt
 
Thanks for the input. I will measure the firing pin Protrusion and see what it's at, I have fired about 250 rounds thru the action hopefully the firing spring has more life than that. I was not aware the actual powder is green/yellow color. I knew there was burn rate modifier coatings on it but assumed it was still black underneath. So thanks for the lessons. I appreciate the assistance.
 
The black stuff was burned off - that yellowish green is the normal colour of smokeless powder. The black stuff is deterrent that slows the early stages of burning. I can't understand why it went out "(
I would think just the opposite. The yellow look the same as uburnt powder I get loading .38spl with win231 which is position sensitive becouse of the small charge in such a large case. I find it on the gun all the time..yellow at the bottom black or grey on top. Primer just didnt light it off like Larry said.
 
The Brits used to load their cannon shells with a picric acid explosive. After Jutland the compartments of the German ships where these shells exploded were colored bright yellow.
 
SAM_2162.jpg


Brown? Closer to yellow/gold with my eyes.

Sepia?
Amber?
Beige?
Russet?
Khaki?

How bout French Fry?
 
Last edited:
So, it looks like the primer went off fine and the powder did not ignite. the powder is yellow and clumped together like a rock. i ran into this problem often when wet tumbling my brass. the citric acid in most soaps will contaminate and cause the powder to clump and become inert. Since switching to dry tumbling, ive never had this problem again. how are you cleaning your cases?

ps. based on your pics you have the exact same problem. notice how only part of your powder is yellow. thats the stuff at the bottom of the case that absorbed the soap residue and created a barrier preventing ignition
 
So, it looks like the primer went off fine and the powder did not ignite. the powder is yellow and clumped together like a rock. i ran into this problem often when wet tumbling my brass. the citric acid in most soaps will contaminate and cause the powder to clump and become inert. Since switching to dry tumbling, ive never had this problem again. how are you cleaning your cases?

ps. based on your pics you have the exact same problem. notice how only part of your powder is yellow. thats the stuff at the bottom of the case that absorbed the soap residue and created a barrier preventing ignition

I use Dry corncob type media in a vibratory drum.
 
are you adding anything to the corn cobb media or on your cases???


Yeah some RCBS brass polish additive but I have been using it for years it never had caused problems. I didn't add any fresh on this batch.

I could have had grease/oil on fingers, or hundreds of other things not sure I will ever know unless it repeats.
 
Yeah some RCBS brass polish additive but I have been using it for years it never had caused problems. I didn't add any fresh on this batch.

I could have had grease/oil on fingers, or hundreds of other things not sure I will ever know unless it repeats.

I bet it was a piece of corn cob stuck in the flash hole.
 

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
164,674
Messages
2,182,383
Members
78,474
Latest member
jason367
Back
Top