Primer Issue #1...Click-Bang

[LongRanger]

While working up loads for 7RemMag was getting over 5% hang fires using CCI BR2 primers. Recorded speed on one particular shot really got my attention as it was 800 fps slower than rest of shots.

Primers are from lot purchased this year. Don't have lot # at hand since am traveling out of state.

With no changes (same powder charge etc), on extensive tests using CCI 250, Fed 210m, Fed 215m, Wolf LR mag, and WW LR mag never had one hang fire.

Anybody else had this issue with BR2's?

Frank B.

 

[LHSmith]

Were primers fully seated? Sometimes a problem when the priming tool cam starts to wear.

 

[Klong]

Sounds like a seating issue, but if you tumble your brass in media, be sure there is nothing remaining in the primer hole. If you have any unfired rounds from this loading session, sit them on a flat surface, like formica, and if they wobble, the primers are not fully seated. If nothing here, check your firing pin hole on the bolt to be sure no chips of brass have blocked it.

 

[K22]

In my experience, CCI primers are somewhat harder to seat that others. Make sure your are fully seating them. As mentioned by other poster, sometimes tumbler media gets lodge in the flash hole, make sure it is clear.

With that said, I've used CCI primers in the past and never had a misfire or hangfire.

In fact, in forty years of reloading, the only misfire I had was with a Federal 205 match primer. When I remove the primer I discovered that they fail to add any primer compound!

Primers are extremely reliable - I would suspect some other cause unless the primers got contaminated or were subject to unusally high moisture atmosphere. Not ever sure the latter would affect them but read that it can.

 

[LongRanger]

Thanks, guys.

These BR2's and all other primers are FULLY seated to the bottom of the pocket with an RCBS bench mounted seater and I check them after priming to assure all are below the case head....every pocket, after firing, shows nice clean marks from anvil legs being flush with bottom pocket brass, with burnt powder between the legs.

I visually, and physically (by inserting a probe, tapping the case neck down on the bench,then blowing out with air) , check all flash holes for even the slighest residue before repriming.

Firing pin hole clean as a whistle.

I take them from the box just when use them, and if they have been contaminated or gotten wet to cause this it was before I opened the box. Visually, they all "look" the same and have no globs of explosive filling the entire cup.... like I have found on some Feds (which fired, nonetheless, with no discernible differences).

Believe me guys, with 60 years of reloading under my belt, I'm convinced this is a primer issue, not a reloading issue. It has happend on several occasions over a 5 months period and always with only the BR2's.

Anybody else?

Frank B.

 

[CaptainMal]

Based on what you wrote you experienced a problem multiple times.

The 7MM Rem Mag, depending on powder type and bullet, uses around 65 grains +- of powder. That's a lot and requires a long, hot primer flame for good powder ignition.

My guess, without looking up ignition characteristics of that primer, is it's just not up to and was designed for that much powder ignition. That's why you use MAGNUM primers.

Get around 50 grains of powder +- and magnum primers are often necessary for proper ignition. Get over 60 grains and they are most always needed.

Use magnum primers.

 

[LongRanger]

Thanks Captain Bad. You gave me an idea. Very close friend has been cleaning my clock with his 7RemMag with BR2's using a heavier load with never a hang fire. While other aspects of our rigs are different, the chambers were cut with the same reamer so I can partially eliminate that as a major difference in our results so I am going to borrow a box of his BR2's...from a lot at least 2 years old... and see if my issue continues.

For those interested, my 5 shot group sizes at 200y from the bench average just under 1/4 moa with the non magnum Fed 210ms, the Wolf magnum, and the BR2's (when not hanging). Just happen to have a lot more BR2's on hand ergo my interest in getting them to shoot.

Frank B.

 

[284driver]

I'm pretty sure the br2's are close to if not the lightest large rifle non mag primer. I would go with a magnum. you're lighting a lot of powder and when it gets colder the problem will become more prominent.

 

[oneflyer]

I've experienced this with BR2 recently. Never with the older ones {light blue} box. But I bought this bunch last year and experienced some hangfires with them.

 

[LongRanger]

You made my day, Oneflyer!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Was beginning to think I was a "lone" ranger on this topic.

Frank B.

 

[wapiti25]

I would clean the inside of your bolt and lightly lube everything. Check your firing pin spring. Swaping a 100 primers with your friend would be a good check.

 

[wapiti25]

What lot # are you using? This is for "oneflyer" and "LongRanger". LongRanger, what powder are you using? I had problems with Wolf large rifle primers with Norma 204 which is a double base powder. Double base powder needs more primer to light it. The ReLoader powders are double base. Cold weather can require more primer.

 

[tunered]

I had the same thing with the223 wsm I think your friend is lucking out with the br2s go to a hotter primer

 

[bozo699]

CaptianMAl is correct, the BR2 which is exactly the same primer as the 200 is not hot enough to reliably ignite a magnum case full of powder! that is why we have regular primers and Mag primers! If your shooting H-4831 in your 7 mag you might get away with the br2's I have used the Federal 210 match primers in my .300 WM with no issues but then again the Fed primer is a hotter primer. If the other primers you mentioned shoot 1/4 moa then I don't see the issue, buy what works! best of luck to you.
Wayne.

 

[LongRanger]

OK folks. Today I queried CCI to ask if the BR-2 could be causing the hang fires due to not being strong enuf and here is their response.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Frank,

Most likely....you should really be running a magnum primer like our #250 or a Federal 215. The BR-2 is a non-magnum primer mix like our #200.

Austin @ CCI/Speer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


So, congrats to those who pegged it right!

FWIW to those that asked. I've found equally accurate loads with the 180 SMK's with both H4350 and H4831sc but had the BR2 hang fire issue with both. Currently, am getting equally accurate results with Feds and Wolf with those powders.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Frank B.

 

[bozo699]

Glad you got it resolved Frank, best of luck to you.
Wayne.