Bad primer batch?

Interesting. I just cracked open a box of 1000 Winchester large rifle primers that I would have bought around that time, and have had 3 or 4 out of maybe 200 leak around the primer. I thought it was something I did with not seating the primer properly or scratching the side of the primer pocket maybe. This is the first I've heard of any issues.
Kristian

Affected lot numbers

CAL401G
CFL486G
CLL555G
DAL594G
DFL717G
DHL766G
DNL 837G
DNL836G
EAL234G
GDL 225G
GEL 250G
DML834G WLR
EAL234G WLRM
CLL555G
CCL435G
EHL067G
DHL774G
DHL788G
DAL594G
CAL401G
GDL255G
GFL284G
DGL741G
FEL255G
DGL731G
DKL801G
HLL692G
DHL765G
DFL713G
DLL826G
DFL723G
DEL690G
CLL552G
DGL747G
CGL499G
HKL687G
 
Sounds like a similar issue I was having with Hornady superperformance ammo. The ammo would back spray hot gasses from the primer pocket onto the bolt face and damage it from repeated etching. Does Hornady load winchester primers? I always assumed it was over pressured ammo that was the culprit...

North
 
Sounds like a similar issue I was having with Hornady superperformance ammo. The ammo would back spray hot gasses from the primer pocket onto the bolt face and damage it from repeated etching. Does Hornady load winchester primers? I always assumed it was over pressured ammo that was the culprit...

North

Were you using a semi-auto? They consider it normal. I had issues with both Winchester and CCI primed Superformance. They told me I need an adjustable gas block. Even that didn't stop the issue so I just quit buying the stuff.
 
Were you using a semi-auto? They consider it normal. I had issues with both Winchester and CCI primed Superformance. They told me I need an adjustable gas block. Even that didn't stop the issue so I just quit buying the stuff.

No it was a bolt action savage. The engineer and tech crew I spoke with from hornady said savages have tighter bore tolerances which accounts to higher pressure spike when fired. They compensated me for it and it was only 17 rounds fired on the brand new rifle. The etching/pitting was rather deep only after that many rounds. Hate to see a few hundred..

North
 
A bad lot of primers would have many people reporting similar problems, while if this is only affecting the OP then it's more likely one box that had a hard life or one batch of reloads into wet brass or something like that.
 
Affected lot numbers

CAL401G
CFL486G
CLL555G
DAL594G
DFL717G
DHL766G
DNL 837G
DNL836G
EAL234G
GDL 225G
GEL 250G
DML834G WLR
EAL234G WLRM
CLL555G
CCL435G
EHL067G
DHL774G
DHL788G
DAL594G
CAL401G
GDL255G
GFL284G
DGL741G
FEL255G
DGL731G
DKL801G
HLL692G
DHL765G
DFL713G
DLL826G
DFL723G
DEL690G
CLL552G
DGL747G
CGL499G
HKL687G

Thanks, I'll have to check what lot mine are. It's happened with 3 different bolt action rifles with 3 different brands of brass.
Kristian
 
My Winchester primers aren't on the list of bad ones, so I'll keep using them. The production date according to the box flap is October 2011, so a bit older than the ones listed. I'll definitely keep an eye on things though, and thanks for the heads up, I'd never heard of any issues before. I'm glad they're not on the list, I've got almost 4000 left from that case.
Kristian
 
Affected lot numbers

CAL401G
CFL486G
CLL555G
DAL594G
DFL717G
DHL766G
DNL 837G
DNL836G
EAL234G
GDL 225G
GEL 250G
DML834G WLR
EAL234G WLRM
CLL555G
CCL435G
EHL067G
DHL774G
DHL788G
DAL594G
CAL401G
GDL255G
GFL284G
DGL741G
FEL255G
DGL731G
DKL801G
HLL692G
DHL765G
DFL713G
DLL826G
DFL723G
DEL690G
CLL552G
DGL747G
CGL499G
HKL687G

Thanks! I'll check that!
 
Correct nomenclature helps us to understand the problem at hand and then give our best thoughts. You did not have a "bullet" problem. It was the loaded round that did not work, sometimes.

A click-bang is a fairly common problem and usually means the primer is not up to the task of igniting the powder. It is an easy phenomenon to recreate, if you want to. Load a ball powder, "Start" load under a light bullet. with a standard CCI primer. The solution is a Winchester or a magnum primer, more powder, heavier bullet, more crimp.

The primer develops around 10,000 psi. That is enough to put a bullet into the rifling. As happened. Primers are ok.

The IMR powder is not known (to me) as a hard to ignite powder. You have a health dose of powder under a fairly heavy bullet. It should go Bang.

Is your bullet well clear of the rifling? If it is touching, that can cause ignition problems with a full length sized case.

I can only think of 2 likely causes:

-- Very, very light neck tension. Can you push the bullet into the case, by pushing against the bench? If not, your neck tension is adequate.

-- That leaves damp powder. The cases were not adequately dried.
 
Correct nomenclature helps us to understand the problem at hand and then give our best thoughts. You did not have a "bullet" problem. It was the loaded round that did not work, sometimes.

A click-bang is a fairly common problem and usually means the primer is not up to the task of igniting the powder. It is an easy phenomenon to recreate, if you want to. Load a ball powder, "Start" load under a light bullet. with a standard CCI primer. The solution is a Winchester or a magnum primer, more powder, heavier bullet, more crimp.

The primer develops around 10,000 psi. That is enough to put a bullet into the rifling. As happened. Primers are ok.

The IMR powder is not known (to me) as a hard to ignite powder. You have a health dose of powder under a fairly heavy bullet. It should go Bang.

Is your bullet well clear of the rifling? If it is touching, that can cause ignition problems with a full length sized case.

I can only think of 2 likely causes:

-- Very, very light neck tension. Can you push the bullet into the case, by pushing against the bench? If not, your neck tension is adequate.

-- That leaves damp powder. The cases were not adequately dried.

Reading all the comments leaves me to think that maybe that batch might have require some more time in the dryer...
I'll also re-check the crimp, maybe it wasn't enough as well.
 
All: it really seems that it was water... I cleaned a batch, and upon inspection, after nearly 3 hours in the dryer, I had cases that still had water or traces of water.

I did another run un the we tumbler, dried the case (blow air in each one, removing as much water as I could) and had another run in the dryer.
Result is clean brass, as usual, so I'll make another batch tonight and will shoot on Sunday.

I'll write the results here.

Thanks again everyone! :)
 
Interesting. I just cracked open a box of 1000 Winchester large rifle primers that I would have bought around that time, and have had 3 or 4 out of maybe 200 leak around the primer. I thought it was something I did with not seating the primer properly or scratching the side of the primer pocket maybe. This is the first I've heard of any issues.
Kristian

Look closely for pinholes in the primer rim, the leakage is likely through the primer , not around it. This was a widespread issue a few years back.
 
Look closely for pinholes in the primer rim, the leakage is likely through the primer , not around it. This was a widespread issue a few years back.

I had a look at a couple of the primers that leaked gas, and they both have pinholes right where you said they would. Lot # FKL148G. I've used around 1000 from the same box of 5000, hopefully I don't have more issues with them.
5c9GdypCJwkWCdNbe53pvHIBweSw2pX3jAXxvwdKlVlFNwCnU_LtSTV44CiYAmqc70FC76HNQ1ZbWKF-yzYZDldRx6CYNVdPKjcECRryNAA9XuL4ZsTBCJQxoy2FU0lLitE8FBCRjpA=w2400

Kristian
 
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