204 Ruger Primer issues?

30Gibbs

30Gibbs

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Has anyone had any problems with primers with the 204? I have shot a box of factory 32gr Honady bullets through my gun and have had no problems. But when I shot some 39gr sierra blitzKings today that I reloaded with H335 and CCI 400 small rifle primers I got what looks like a puddle or piercing as low as 25gr and it got worse as I went up. No other visual signs of pressure.
I read an article about the small rifle primers by James Calhoon and he said that piercing is common with some calibers. I was wondering if anyone has encountered this with the 204?
Here is a link to the article, its kinda interesting
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.html
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I haven`t shot any factory ammo and only reload useing Rem 7 1/2 primers. No preassure signs useing 26.4gr Benchmark powder and 35gr Berger Match bullets. They are flying 3860fps.

Garnet
 
Look's to me like the firing pin has excessive clearance around it and is allowing the primer to flow around the firing pin and into the bolt.

Some people have gone to the expense of having a gunsmith install a bushing in the bolt face to tightening the clearance.

That's my guess..
 
I was kinda wondering if that were possible as well Rockchucker. Maybe I just have to give the magnum primers a chance and see if there is a difference.
 
It is my understanding sleeving the firing pin is often necessary. The has been articles in small calibre news about this.
 
The factory loads have to be hotter than the minimum loads for the 39gr Sierra bullets. Everyone seems to believe that the remington primers are the better ones to use. Is this correct? I have always used cci without any problems, mind you I have never reloaded a hot small rifle cartridge like the 204.I have only reloaded for the 22Hornet in the small rifle category.
If that does'nt work I will have to look into getting the pin hole bushed.
I will let you know if the mag primer works out!!
Thanks for all the posts
 
i am getting almost the same look from my primers, i was using 28.35 gr of h335 and federal 205m primers,the primers looked like yours right from my starting load of 26 gr to the 28.35 gr. max(1 tenth/grain incriments).also looked the same using 3031 and 4064,so it doesnt seem to be a powder issue,i have been seating the bullets 10thou off the rifling.like yourself,there was no other pressure signs.i just figgured it was a firing pin problem,with a new rifle.i never tried the factory ammo and used winchester brass, the rifle is a cz 527varmint.the 26 gr load averaged 3448 fps and the 28.35 g average was 4175 fps. the comment about the firing pin clearance seems like a good place too start though,this is what seems to be happening on my primers also..
 
That's firing pin clearance. You have nothing to lose by trying a different primer but the real cure is bushing the firing pin hole. I had to get one done this fall, the job runs about $80.

Hi Albert!
Dogleg
 
I've had my 204 out to the range maybe 6 times. Use Win. small rifle primers and no signs of what you have shown us. Only quirk has been R15 smoking the cases due to a lack of obturation to the chamber. Switched to Varget and H4895 no problems at all along with some fine accuracy to boot.
Regarding the bushing of your firing pin, looks like that may not be your problem especially if factory ammo fired primers look normal. No sense in reading in more problems than what there may actually be.
Just my 2 cents worth!
 
Well fellas I have good news!! Just by changing to Federal 205m Primers I no longer have cratering on my 204. I shot it yesterday and there are no signs of cratering. Thanks for all the info.:D
 
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