Primer cratering

[WANTASHOOT]

I have read alot in this forum about the different primers and which ones use softer or harder metals in the cup. I was wondering about a specific load I have for my 250 savage.

From what I have gathered Remington 7.5 Br primers have a pretty hard cup but not the hardest. I am shooting 36 grains of varget with an 87gr Speer bullet with Remington 7.5Br primers. Temperatures are as low as 80 degrees ranging up to over 100 degrees. The elevations are from 1500' up to 7000'. I am shooting this round in a Ruger M77MKii just a plain old rifle no custom work of any kind.

I am getting cratered primers. Is my load hot or is my firing pin hole to large. The craters in my primers are the same no matter the temp or elevation.

Sorry for being long winded but trying to give all the information on the first try.

 

[Ackman]

You're not shooting 7-1/2's in a .250 Savage. The 7-1/2BR is a small primer and that case takes a large one. It also sounds like an awfully hot load.

 

[22Mag]

WANTASHOOT
The cratered primers sound "Hot" but what do the primers look like on the Same or close weight factory loads?? It may just be your firing pin hole.
I am sure other's will have more ideas for you.

22 Mag

 

[WANTASHOOT]

Sorry your right they are 9-1/2's not the 7-1/2's.

You asked what a similar factory round looked like after firing. Well they havent loaded the 87grain bullets in factory ammo in a while. I wish they did though that would be a good way to determine if its my load or gun.

 

[eaglesnester]

I had cratered primers in my 308 Norma mag which was a converted Enfield P-17. with reloads using CCI250 primers and 1.5gr over min powder charge. I did not have cratered primers when shooting the same gr wt bullet and type when using factory loads. I also had incipient case head separation just above the belt after only 2 re loadings. I took the rifle to the gunsmith and he put a go no go in the chamber. The rifle would not chamber on the go or no go. This is strange because the rifle would chamber factory rounds and it would chamber reloads that were full length re sized or neck sized only. He slugged the chamber and found that the shoulders were wrong and that the belt had no place to seat. He reamed the chamber shoulders a bit and fixed the belt shoulder in the chamber. I have not got the rifle back yet as he wants to test fire some factory rounds and my 1.5gr over min reloads and measure the brass and have a boo at the case shoulders after fire forming the brass. In any case if you are getting cratered primers it could be a serious gun problem, have the rifle checked by a gunsmith. Your face and eyes ante worth it.
Cheers & Tighter Groups: Eaglesnester