What the heck!!

[wlsnmike]

I sold one of my rifles to a friend the other day, it's a custom 308 on tac 30. I have had it for 3 years and it has never missed a lick. I'm helping him get into reloading with my equipment till he figures out what he wants. Took it out shooting this weekend and he had 6 of 50 that didn't fire. We used one of my loads with same br2 primers I've used same lapua brass. Where should I start how do I figure out what happened? Did he seat primers to hard,to little,bolt need cleaning????? I have not pulled a bolt apart yet,is it pretty easy?

 

[Immike]

The bolt is a good place to start. Is the dent light in the primer?

 

[nonliberal]

Since he is new to reloading he could have sized the case too much so the round moves forward in the chamber instead of igniting the primer. It will show as a light primer strike.
Throw in a few of your loads or factory rounds and see if it don't do better.

 

[260Ravage]

Would he be fingering or hand feeding his primers? Years ago my son had that habit and he had misfires. then he finally beleive his ol'man. Never a misfire since.

 

[mac86951]

far out there, but its possible primers aren't fully seated? I've seen "dud" rounds where the firing pin pushed the primer that last 0.001 or 0.002 with what looked like a good strike, but the rounds fired on the second try. As previously posted, check for light primer marks, and case size. I've also seen a primer fail to eject the bullet when no powder was in the case. Better for that to happen than leave the bullet lodged in the throat.

-Mac

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

I sold one of my rifles to a friend the other day, it's a custom 308 on tac 30. I have had it for 3 years and it has never missed a lick. I'm helping him get into reloading with my equipment till he figures out what he wants. Took it out shooting this weekend and he had 6 of 50 that didn't fire. We used one of my loads with same br2 primers I've used same lapua brass. Where should I start how do I figure out what happened? Did he seat primers to hard,to little,bolt need cleaning????? I have not pulled a bolt apart yet,is it pretty easy?

First check the firing pin and the spring and clean everything. Also check the trigger system and clean it.
The firing pin should come out between 0,047" and 0,063" of the bolt face.

Load a case with a primer only [no bullet!] and test how deep the firing pin indents the primer and compare to other guns. [EDITOR: Never load a case with a primer only and a bullet -- there may be enough energy to push the bullet into the rifling, and that will cause you a world of grief.]

And then check the headspace of the brass and when the headspace is ok, change the firing pin spring.

 

[timeout]

I'm betting that your friend pushed the shoulder of the case too far back. Take one of the cases that did fire and measure from base of the case to the shoulder with this: http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/sinclair-bump-gage-insert-ppc-br-s-17-fireball-30--sku749011484-35265-74252.aspx The case measurement on those that did not go bang should be only .001" - .002" shorter. Another way to check the case dimension is with one of these by L.E. Wilson Co. http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/measuring-tools/case-gauges-headspace-tools/wilson-case-gauge-prod33287.aspxrter.

 

[wlsnmike]

I full length sized them with redding dies that I have always used. but he primed them. 260ravage Im not sure what you mean he used rcbs hand primer. Thanks for the help

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I am bettin no powder..

 

[mac86951]

I am bettin no powder..

Yup, sounds like it for sure now. Pull the bullets and look in there...

-Mac

 

[Jim G]

Looking at the design of the CCI BR primers, they are a little easier to crush than other brands. I had a similar experience when first using the BR primers. They should only have about .002 preload.