Problem with primers coming out.

[Tarleton_Texan]

The load that I am using is 26 grains of Varget, 69 grain Sierra Match King, CCI small rifle primers and F C .223 brass in a Savage model 12 fv.

I shot the load yesterday and had 3 of 25 primers come out when I fired the round. All my charges were weighed so none of them were hot compared to the others. The brass I am using is old and was given to me so I have no idea how many times it has been shot. Could a loose primer pocket be the source of the problem or is it possibly overpressured?

 

[PREMOD70]

I'd drop back to 24.0 grains of Varget (Hodgdon's suggested starting load) and see if the problem when away.

 

[cmillard]

i have had the same problem with FC brass. come to find out, this brass is heavy! the internal volume is low so there can be pressure spikes. this was the heaviest brass i have ever shot

 

[Tarleton_Texan]

I see well should I track down some Lake City brass and back off my charge 0.5-1.0 grains?

 

[fdshuster]

Just checked my Hodgdon loading manual & confirmed that your charge of 26 grs. of varget is a maximum, compressed load. You might want to consider backing off to 24.5 or 25 maximum. Also, did you notice less resistance when seating the primers? I do prefer & use Lapua brass for my bolt-action 223's, Lake City & Winchester for the AR-15's.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The only brass that I have ever blown primers out of has been FC in a .308. Frank is right about the load, you should back off and change brass. Just my .02.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I would suspect loose primer pockets, because I used LC brass with 26.4 gr Varget and 55 gr V-Max and no problem, also I would look at the bolt face, it might be dished so there is free space for primers to move.. Federal brass is famous for loose primer pockets, its to soft, I used them on my 270 WIN and couldn't get 3 reloads out of them because of the loose primers, at the same time it was Savage bolt... Either way get yourself LC brass or Lapua brass, can't get wrong with either.

 

[Tarleton_Texan]

I will back off the load down and try it. I did not feel a difference when seating the primers but I will pay attention to the resistance when seating them from now on. I just had close to 300 pieces of the FC brass (free) and would hope it would work. I guess if it was great stuff people wouldn't give it away.

Thanks for the help everybody.

 

[Preacher]

Never ever a good idea to shoot some one else' s brass in your rifle.............

 

[Tarleton_Texan]

I thought it was okay if you full length sized it. Why is it not a good idea too?

 

[jonbearman]

You dont know how much punishment it has taken.If it is real once fired lake city or even some of the other military brass is generally ok.You have to work up till you seal the breech and necks come out cleanish after each shot.Too hot in any rifle is just plain lunacy. Make it shoot great and leave it alone.You want more power pick a hotter caliber like .308. I love the idea of shooting the .223 fairly light and just having a nice day of little to no recoil.

 

[fdshuster]

Like Jon said, you have no idea of the history of that brass. It could have been oversized any number of times & you're setting yourself up for case head seperation(s). High quality 223 brass is too cheap to be using "free" brass. The same reason I will never pickup & use range brass.

 

[CJ6]

Side NOTE Pickup brass adds CHING @ the salvage yard

 

[DaveWhite]

Another opportunity to paraphrase Glenn Zidecker, "only highpower shooters would dumpster dive to feed their $2k match-quality weapons..."

My appologies to all of the cross-the-course gurus who don't!

 

[markm87]

Some of the Old FC .223 brass has very thin case webs. Even Mild loads only get you one firing before the primer pocket is ridiculously loose.

Current FC brass is much better. LC brass should do alright too.

 

[Tarleton_Texan]

That makes sense I never thought of it that way. I will invest in some quality brass and work on my powder charge.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.

 

[Tozguy]

I shot the load yesterday and had 3 of 25 primers come out when I fired the round. All my charges were weighed so none of them were hot compared to the others. The brass I am using is old and was given to me so I have no idea how many times it has been shot. Could a loose primer pocket be the source of the problem or is it possibly overpressured?

When you say the primers come out do you mean they fall out or stick out from the base. The reason I ask is that some of my old once fired military 223 brass would push primers out sometimes over .005'' even using over maximum loads and jammed bullets. Gave up trying to fireform them because the brass would not cooperate. Been wondering why ever since. New Lapua brass fireformed like they should.

 

[Jim Buck]

I load alot of Lake City for my AR, as well as everything else. I only use pickup and surplus for my semi-autos. If you are going to load for your Bolt Action find a good brass, you are fire forming to your chamber and if you neck size it will last forever, full length size as needed. If you are working on precision shooting and loads for a bolt spend a little money and get a good brass.

Tarleton 1997