Primer Problems

[squirrelsnpr]

I went to range today with great anticipation of excelent results. I loaded my first batch of new Lapua brass for my .223 with, BR-4s (recently purchased from Powder Valley) H-322 and BL-C(2). While shooting I expierence misfires/non fires in the ammo I loaded. Approximately 10% of the loaded ammo failed to fire. I'm assuming it was due to primers, b/c both powers expierenced the same issue. I am using a standard RCBS hand priming tool, and seating the primer by feel, very light crush. The rifle is a Savage short action, nothing special.

I have never expierenced this before and was wondering if anyone else had any idea what went wrong.
Thanks,
Mitch

PS - Those groups I was able to shoot were stellar . I love quality componets.

 

[spclark]

10% is a lot....

My first thought would be you're not seating the primers hard enough.

You've used this same priming tool with better success before?

Second thought is about headspace: you're using a go-gauge to set your headspace, right?

Too long & your new cases won't headspace properly. The FP will impact the primers but the case will move forward at the same time, which is NOT what you want to happen.

This problem doesn't manifest itself when you're using fired brass I'm guessing?

 

[Forum Boss]

The problem may be the trigger and not the ammo if you have a Savage Accutrigger. On some savages, if you don't pull the plastic insert STRAIGHT back, the safety interlock will engage as you pull further and you'll get click, no bang.

Did you check the ammo that did not fire for primer strikes? Did you try a second/third strike on the "bad" cases?

If you got primer strikes with no ignition, you may have a problem with occluded flash holes. In the Bulletin we've explained that some Lapua flash holes have a thin sliver of excess brass that covers part of the flash hole.

The other possible problems, as noted above, are excess headspace, or possible contamination of the primers.

 

[squirrelsnpr]

I have been using the primer tool from the start. This is the first time I have expeirenced this issue. As far as headspace, this is new/never fired Lapua brass. The only thing I did to it was run it through a Lee Collett die if the neck had a dent in it. I only used the Collett die to straighten the dented case mouthes.

The rifle is a pre-accutrigger. I did try to fire those that would not ignite 2,3, and 4 times. If I did not try to re-fire the "bad cases", the percentage would have been higher. I will look into the flash holes when I take the ammo apart.

 

[GermanS1]

New brass can be short on headspace which will create a misfire condition in some circumstances, as Steve mentioned. Size a few with no more than 0.002" shoulder setback and see how it goes. Also, seat the bullets to jam the rifling 0.010", even with brass that's a bit short on headspace this will take care of the problem by forcing the base of the brass against the bolt face.

 

[GrocMax]

Check firing pin protrusion, its pretty easy to adjust on the Savage bolt.

If you could post a nice close-up pic of the primer strikes on the failed ones it would help.

 

[NorCalMikie]

What German says. I'de think it's more a problem of new brass being on the short side and being pushed forward when the firing pin hits the primer. Load the bullets on the long side (jam) and see if it makes a difference. The fact that you retried the FTF and they went off says it's probably not the primers.
When you reload the brass,push out the FTF primers real easy and lay them aside. See if they burned?? Smack them with a hammer. My guess is after you reload the brass, you probably won't have a problem. They've been fireformed. Don't push the shoulders back more than .001 or .002 at the most. And make sure you "jam" the bullets.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Also, if you have a way to measure bump-back, measure a few new cases versus a few fired cases. That will tell you right quick if you have a headspace issue. Incidentally, I would not recommend those primers for fireforming; use a softer, more sensitive primer like Federal or Winchester, then go to the CCI BR primers with the fireformed brass.

 

[Turpentine]

Just last week, I had a guy that calls me a lot with his reloading questions call and say he had a couple of cases in his 28 Nosler not fire. I went by and checked out some of his loaded ammo and checked the cases that did not fire. Most of his cases had dents, his vent hole in his sizing die had case lube draining out. I knew what it was, but I disassembled the misfires and checked anyway. Verdict, powder/primer contamination from too much case lube. The same thing happened to me at the beginning of my loading career around 33 years ago using a lube pad and RCBS case lube. I just used way to much. Of course this may or may not be your issue as you said they are new cases that you ran through a Lee collet which definitely doesn’t point to excess lubrication.
Excessive headspace or primers not seated fully, possible. BR 2s are the only rifle primer I have ever had issues with. Could have been the primers, could have been me, but I got rid of the few I had and have had not issues since with their standard or number 41 primers. I still prefer federal though. Years ago I bought 3000 Noble Sport shot shell primers. I had around 10-12 FTF per 100. I posted this on a popular shotgun forum and received dozens of replies stating said users had used 10s of thousands of them without a single problem and was told it had to be something I was doing wrong or was just plain stupid. So I asked these guys if they would like some free primers. Well of course. Two or three of them got a thousand each. Within a month I get calls or run into these guys at the range. Each one of them reported the same or higher percentage of FTFs than I did. I have to say it was kind of satisfying.

 

[JMayo]

2010 thread ..

 

[Turpentine]

I’m bad about looking at dates. Sorry

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

I look at all my dates,,, before I ask them out!

Frank