primer problem ?

[rebs]

I am reloading 223 for my Tikka T3x rifle and some primers are not firing. I pulled the bullets and powder and found the primer had a darkish brownish look to the like they only partially went off. This is CCI BR 4 primers. Is it possible a primer doesn't fully ignite ? Does anyone have an idea what could be wrong ?

 

[Clancy]

Can you post a photo of one of them? Or text it to me and I’ll post it?

What are you seating the primers with, and what is the make and model?

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Do you "wet" clean your brass? How much do you set your shoulders back when reloading? Are you fully seating your primers? Most "primer problems" are not really primer problems.

More info please.

Frank

 

[rebs]

Do you "wet" clean your brass? How much do you set your shoulders back when reloading? Are you fully seating your primers? Most "primer problems" are not really primer problems.

More info please.

Frank

I dry tumble the cases and bump shoulder back 2 thousands and seat with a RCBS hand primer tool. They are seated all the way. When I pull the bullets and dump the powder a few kernels of powder look brownish as well. I will try to post pics of the primers later.

 

[rebs]

Picture posted

 

[markm87]

I've had this happen with primers before. Never did figure out what happened. 223 rem... note the greenish puke in the powder.

 

[Laurie]

note the greenish puke in the powder.

Assuming that's a Hodgdon / ADI powder, the yellowish / greenish colour is what it looks like without the anti-static / lubricating coating. (Usually graphite, but not with these powders - I assume graphite coating affects the temperature tolerance mechanism which is allegedly based on surface micropores.)

When the cartridge misfires and you get surface coating loss, I'd assume the primer ignited, either fully or maybe more likely partially, enough to burn or blast the coating off some kernels, but having failed to cause proper ignition and charge burn.

 

[markm87]

Could be. But the primer didn't appear to be "burnt". It looked like the compound spit into the propellant.

And I believe this is either H322 or XBR8208.

 

[Walt Krafft]

If you hit the primer a second or third time does it go off?

 

[rebs]

If you hit the primer a second or third time does it go off?

No it doesn't. I tried some Federal GMM primers and so far they all fired good.

 

[jdnphoto]

Had the same issue years ago. Changed firing pin spring and it fixed the problem.

 

[rebs]

Had the same issue years ago. Changed firing pin spring and it fixed the problem.

I replaced the entire firing pin assembly which included a new spring

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Do you do a visual on the flash holes to make sure no media is lodged in it?

Frank

 

[Florida Wally]

^^^ probably the culprit.

 

[DogBuster]

^^^ probably the culprit.

I'm bettin' too

My only problem with today's primers........

$100/brick is outta sight

I want the $35/brick back (that I'm still using)

 

[searcher]

You mention you bump the shoulder .002" after firing. Do you have a reference measurement for a case fully blown forward? Using light loads, sometimes cases don't blow the shoulders forward at all. Then, if one were to subsequently bump the shoulder back - it can get to point where solid, case-support is lacking in the chamber and the case slides forward on impact, not delivering a full strike. Most misfires happen for this reason - and not because of mechanical issues or faulty primers - so this is where I'd start my investigation. Good luck!

 

[DLT]

I replaced the entire firing pin assembly which included a new spring

I had a few cci small rifle magnums fail to go off. And so have several others

 

[rebs]

Do you do a visual on the flash holes to make sure no media is lodged in it?

Frank

yes I clean my cases first before recapping and sizing

 

[L.Sherm]

No it doesn't. I tried some Federal GMM primers and so far they all fired good.

The same thing happened with me about 15 years ago with BR4's in a 222 mag, I knocked out the BR4's and switched to a 7.5 and all went bang.
Haven't bought a BR4's since.

 

[moondog]

Following with interest. I'm having similar issues with a new lot of CCI BR2s. One no fire with similar looking powder after I pulled the bullet. 3 hang fires. This was out of 110 rounds fired this weekend. It's not the spring, it's new.