Weird primer strikes

[Texas Solo]

6 Dasher. New Alpha brass, CCI400 primers. (can't find any 450's)
31.3 Varget, Berger 105 Hybrids.

2nd time this has happened. Today, the first 3 rounds had a heavy primer strike, but all normal after that. No pressure signs & load is accurate at 300yds ( less than 1/2 moa)

The case on the right is in question. It looks like a complete puncture, but it isn't.

Powder charges are consistent, under 10 ES & SD. Seating depths are consistent as is neck tension.

This has me baffled.

 

[Dave Way]

450’s if you want to try them.

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

Dave.

 

[Loudenboomer]

The thicker 450 cups will help

 

[CJ6]

Check the firing pin protrusion and check the primer seating depth.

 

[Texas Solo]

450’s if you want to try them.

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

Dave.

Thanks. But with regular shipping + hazmat, order = $141...for $90 of primers. Not doing that. I'll wait for some 450's to come local.

 

[Mulligan]

That is what I see with 400’s

Never an issue with ANY other primer.

CW

 

[Texas Solo]

Check the firing pin protrusion and check the primer seating depth.

Seating depth is good. I don't see how FP protusion could be intermittent.
It only happens on the first few rounds.

 

[Texas Solo]

That is what I see with 400’s

Never an issue with ANY other primer.

CW

Thanks. Now I'm sure it's a primer issue, not rifle or load.

 

[Webster]

6 Dasher. New Alpha brass, CCI400 primers. (can't find any 450's)
31.3 Varget, Berger 105 Hybrids.

2nd time this has happened. Today, the first 3 rounds had a heavy primer strike, but all normal after that. No pressure signs & load is accurate at 300yds ( less than 1/2 moa)

The case on the right is in question. It looks like a complete puncture, but it isn't.

Powder charges are consistent, under 10 ES & SD. Seating depths are consistent as is neck tension.

This has me baffled.View attachment 1547270View attachment 1547269

Looks like pressure to me. The cups on the bottom image are flat, no tounded edges. Simple to shoot a lighter load and see if the edges are somewhat rounded. I don't see ejector hole swipe marks which I would expect???

 

[Texas Solo]

That's just the camera angle. Primers are NOT flat. Top image and bottom right are the same case.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

That is NOT pressuire and it's NOT too much pin protrusion.
What it is 90% of the time is poor fit of the firing pin in the fp hole and bushing the bolt face IS the cure.

Yes, there are other rarer causes. One is low spring pressure. Another is the WRONG primer, being too soft or too thin.

But this is super common, especially on Remington bolts. There's literally a small cottage industry built around properly fixing this exact issue.

There are a couple of other RARE causes but it's a pretty safe bet you need to have the pin turned down and the bolt face bushed to correct the clearance issue THERE. Again, probably a 90% cure and yes, a harder primer such as a 450 can mask the underlying issue a bit or a lot because the stronger primer cup doesn't flow into that clearance enough to blank the primer. So yes, the condition has a name too. Pretty simple job. Not sure what people are charging these days but I'll take a swag at it and say $125 and you can tune your rifle to shoot to its potential with the primer that shoots best rather than one that doesn't(yet) blank.

Just post about fi

 

[Old Navy]

That is NOT pressuire and it's NOT too much pin protrusion.
What it is 90% of the time is poor pit of the firing pin in the fp hole and bushing the bolt face IS the cure.

Yes, there are other rarer causes. One is low spring pressure. Another is the WRONG primer, being too soft or too thin.

But this is super common, especially on Remington bolts. There's literally a small cottage industry built around properly fixing this exact issue.

There are a couple of other RARE causes but it's a pretty safe bet you need to have the pin turned down and the bolt face bushed to correct the clearance issue THERE. Again, probably a 90% cure and yes, a harder primer such as a 450 can mask the underlying issue a bit or a lot because the stronger primer cup doesn't flow into that clearance enough to blank the primer. So yes, the condition has a name too. Pretty simple job. Not sure what people are charging these days but I'll take a swag at it and say $125 and you can tune your rifle to shoot to its potential with the primer that shoots best rather than one that doesn't(yet) blank.

Just post about fi

I have had four done. Cured every one. One Savage Model 12 BR did that at 650 round count.

 

[CJ6]

Just a quick question. Why would it be just the first few primers and not randomly or consistanly through the course of fire? This has me puzzled.

 

[Old Navy]

Here is what your primers will look like if you don't repair it. Before and after. The primer above is a CCI-450.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Just a quick question. Why would it be just the first few primers and not randomly or consistanly through the course of fire? This has me puzzled.

Lots of possibilities and it's hard to say that maybe the first few rounds created just enough more pressure for it to show up vs the others but I'd still bet on the cure being to bush it. There are numerous potential causes that could be the difference if you're right on the edge of needing it bushed. There's a very fine line between cratered and blanked, too. One thing is sure too...every time it blanks a primer, it will slowly erode the area around the edge of the fp hole and the fp tip. Both of which will make the problem worse with time. Bottom line, this should NOT happen before showing much more clear pressure signs unless the fp tip to hole clearance needs to be fixed. None of his primers show truly excessive pressure from what I can see and even then, a properly fitted fp/hole should not crater before bolt lift gets hard and ejector marks begin to show up. Also, if a tougher primer masks the issue...it also tells you where the problem lies.

 

[perazziguy]

I had the bolt for my Savage bushed and have tested some loads in my 6 br with 4064 and CCI 400's. No ill effects on the primers. The top end is fairly stout.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I had the bolt for my Savage bushed and have tested some loads in my 6 br with 4064 and CCI 400's. No ill effects on the primers. The top end is fairly stout.

Savages have a similar issue but not exactly the same. When I true up a Savage bolt head, they are almost always a little concove around the fp hole for just a bit. Make them flat, cratering stops..generally speaking.

 

[tommeboy]

CCI sr 400 is only good to 45K psi. They were made for 30 carbine and 22 hornet. STOP using them.

 

[JSH]

Yup I used 400’s for years, no issue. I have had issues with 204,22BR and 223. I had guys say OMG pressure pressure, bull butter. I swapped primers and everything is fine.

I will blame it on the vid and our current administration in Washington.

 

[KMart]

^^^^^^^^ Agreed.
If your bolt face and firing pin have been overhauled and given the proper clearances, the CCI 400's will give you no problems