Bad primer batch?

BlazerOne

BlazerOne

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi!

I've been reloading 308 for a while and the following happened to me for the first time, during my latest range day:

1) Out of 40 bullets, I had 5 non-firing.
2) For some of the good ones, I was able to ear the "clic" of the firing pin, then the detonation (a fraction of second, but still...).
3) The last round of the 40 did this: I heard the clic, thought it was a non-firing, waited 60 seconds than open the bolt. Rifle was full of powder that had turn kinda yellowish and the bullet was stuck about 3 inches into the barrel.

What happened? Bad primer batch? I've always used the following recipe: CI large no200, IMR 8208 XBR, 39.4gr (2400 fps), Hornady ELD MATCH 178gr.
Or did I do something wrong in any steps?

Brass was reused for the 3rd time, cleaned using a rotative tumbler, dried with a brass drier, measured, trimmed, etc.
Powder is weighted for each single bullet (I use a trickler and an electronic scale to get exactly the right powder measure).

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Winchester's issue was with large rifle standard and magnum primers in the blue box. Damaged bolt faces were common.They replaced or refunded primers and paid for bolts.That was a couple years ago.
 
I had a similar issue years ago. I narrowed it down to some dampness in the brass. As I wet tumbled. Now I dry in the oven and leave overnight.
 
Bad primer batches do happen. A couple years ago a friend had a tray of 100 Dominion (Russian) small pistol primers and nearly 100% of them failed to detonate even after multiple strikes. We shot thousands of rounds using Dominion primers and never an issue except for that one single tray of 100. The bad primers all had anvils and visually looked fine. No idea why they didn't work.
 
did you get a different batch of powder lately or perhaps storage has changed? I had the hang fires issues in a 6.5 CM with varget in cold temps and small rifle primed brass that was directly related to case fill. that may not be all that applicable in this situation being that your using LR primed brass but case fill density may still be an issue if things are off with your powder and primers.

this issue could be related to the batch of primers but I'm sure other things could still come in to play such as powder and case fill, neck tension, etc. it's just odd that your recipe hasn't changed but suddenly having issues.

Johnnys reloading bench has a video on hang fires. From what I have learned personally and same as JRBs video, if the primer worked properly you'll find clumps and discoloured powder in the case in the cartridge that didn't fire.
 
I'm thinking that this might be related to primer seating. How do your primers look once seated and how do they feel when seated? What are you using for a priming tool?
 
Hum, wet cases ... possible. I use a Frankford platinum series brass dryer. Maybe that particular batch (or at least some of the cases) weren't dry enough.

To answer the primer seating question: they all seemed well in place (I inspect each bullet at every steps). Ready your comments about other brands all make sense to me, but with CCI primers?
I was pretty sure that this brand was top of the line. Of course, they can have effective products like any other company, but still, a whole batch...?

I'm supposed to go shooting this weekend and I'll try another series of bullet. I'll let you guys know.

As usual: thank you very much for the knowledge and experience sharing! :)
 
I would toss the primers. I had some primers that were stored in less than ideal conditions. I used them in one cartridge with no problem. In another cartridge with a different powder, the primer would fire and push the bullet into the barrel but not light the powder. I switched to a different primer and the same powder and no problem after that.
 
I had similar issues in my lee enfield rifles in winter using imr 4064. Switched to magnum primers and problem solved. I’m certain it was the cold.
 
silver 55 said:
I would toss the primers. I had some primers that were stored in less than ideal conditions. I used them in one cartridge with no problem. In another cartridge with a different powder, the primer would fire and push the bullet into the barrel but not light the powder. I switched to a different primer and the same powder and no problem after that.
Click to expand...

Your own post indicates the primers were OK because they worked with another powder in another cartridge. Primers and powders go hand in hand.
 
Dogleg said:
Naa; that was Winchester primers splitting and blowing pin-holes and eroding bolt faces.
Click to expand...

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
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom