Odd primer

[nosualc]

I just shot in a f-class tournament this weekend, and exactly one out of 100 fired cases had an odd primer appearance. I thought the collective wisdom of this site might be able to explain it. If I had to describe it, I would say it was the opposite of flattened; rather it is pushed in. It is not pierced.

(the case on the left. apologies for the poor photo, a phone can only do so much)

The case in question was for a 6BRX, and to my recollection did not shoot differently than any others. The other 99 cases look as the one on the right did (normal). The load (powder, case, bullets, seating depth, primer (federal), etc. etc) is identical to what I've been using for several years now (over 1800 firings, same bbl, same action), and although warm, has never exhibited pressure signs even on very warm days.

I'm not particularly worried about this and am willing to chalk it up to an anomaly, but I am curious. I thought maybe somebody had seen something similar.

-nosualc

 

[ridgeway]

Maybe run some CCi 450's out of it...harder cup on them.

 

[nosualc]

Maybe run some CCi 450's out of it...harder cup on them.

Good suggestion. If this was a frequent occurrence I'd consider that, but this combo has been very very good to me, and it would take a lot of trouble (I'm not even sure if this qualifies as a little trouble) to get me to change a major component.

-nosualc

 

[dkhunt14]

The Federal has the thinnest and softest cup. The toughest is the CCI BR4. In 1000 yard benchrest I have seen a lot of Federals blanked. It is by far the worst for it. If you shoot them long enough you will eventually blank them. I have also seen a fedw 450's blanked in Dashers. Not near as many but saw some. I have seen very few BR4's blanked and the ones that were was pushing shoulders back 5 thous. or more. Matt

 

[nosualc]

The primer is not pierced. This primer, or any of the others are not particularly flat. There has always had a little bit of cratering, but I've never read too much into this as I know Federal primers are a bit soft.

Matt, perhaps I don't understand what you mean by blanked...

More info: the action is a BAT action, and I bump my shoulders about .0015".

-nosualc

 

[Ggmac]

Just my thought , but did you dry fire it after shooting the round .
In other words was it hit twice by the firing pin . I think you can replicate it if you still have a fired case . Chamber it and dry fire , they usually look like your one in question . At least mine do .
Gary

 

[nosualc]

Just my thought , but did you dry fire it after shooting the round .
In other words was it hit twice by the firing pin . I think you can replicate it if you still have a fired case . Chamber it and dry fire , they usually look like your one in question . At least mine do .
Gary

These cases were shot during a match. I sure don't remember a click that should have gone bang (this would have gotten my attention for sure). I routinely dry fire during prep time, but this is only after removing a chamber flag.

Gary, that's some out of the box thinking there! I think it very unlikely, but for curiosity's sake I'll dry fire with another fired case and normal primer and see what it looks like.

-nosualc

 

[dkhunt14]

I just mean that Federal primers are the weakest. We can't even think about using them in a Dasher. I told a few guys over the years that were using them in a 6 BR that they were eventually going to pierce them. They would answer I shot hundreds and never did. Eventually they would come back and say they pierced them. Blanking is when you pierce them. I didn't say you did pierce one or that one. All I was trying to say is that we can't shoot them even in a 6 Br. Now we probably push the envelope on pressure but I have seen a lot of them pierced. It does look like it was double hit but maybe the cup was weak and just bent in. We just can't use Federal. They are just to thin. Matt

 

[Ggmac]

Please let me know if you can replicate it .
Gary

 

[tonedaddy]

I think Ggmac is correct, that is exactly how mine look if I hit it a second time after I fire it.

 

[gotcha]

Same here. I regularly use fired cases w/ 205M's for dry fire practice. Your pic is exactly what they look like. I put them aside & find the shoulders exhibit a bit more set back than once fired. Measure yours against once fired and see if they have more set back. Couldn't hurt.

 

['Freak]

If perhaps that primer is also still standing a touch high in the pocket could be that for some reason that one case grabbed hold to the chamber wall so the head never made it fully backed up against the bolt face?

 

[BoydAllen]

You may not remember it, but I would bet money that that case was dry fired. Bottom line, you don't have a problem.

 

[mr45man]

When you decap it, try to catch the parts. I,ll bet the center ,(the darkened part) will fall out and you will be able to see daylight through the cup .
Let us know how it goes.
John H.

 

[stgw77]

It looks like my dry firing practice cases...

 

[nosualc]

Just my thought , but did you dry fire it after shooting the round .
In other words was it hit twice by the firing pin . I think you can replicate it if you still have a fired case . Chamber it and dry fire , they usually look like your one in question . At least mine do .
Gary

These cases were shot during a match. I sure don't remember a click that should have gone bang (this would have gotten my attention for sure). I routinely dry fire during prep time, but this is only after removing a chamber flag.

Gary, that's some out of the box thinking there! I think it very unlikely, but for curiosity's sake I'll dry fire with another fired case and normal primer and see what it looks like.

Gary gets the prize (first in). I dry fired on one of the other cases, and it appears exactly the same as the case in question. I must have dry fired on it during prep. I'm not sure how the heck I did that, which is a little embarrassing, but it must be the case.

Thanks all, mystery solved.

-nosualc

 

[MGYSGT]

It looks like a primer that backed out during firing and then reseated against the bolt head.