Campro/ginex primers hard to set off?
- Thread starter fightinghamster
- Start date
- Location
- Newfoundland
More data at the range today, 48 rounds fired in DA only, only 2 failed to fire, both fired in DA the second time, I’ll be ordering some federal primers to try in the future but I’m not giving up the ginex just yet as they work fine in all my other firearms
Any "tuned" or high round count revolver will likely need something sensitive, like Federal. I recently swapped the mainspring in my 66 back to factory just so I could set off less sensitive primers like Ginex, S&B, Dominion, RWS etc. With the modified mainspring my 66 was a "Federal only" gun but I'm running out of them and I don't want to pay the premium price for those primers.
P.S. Usually when a primer goes off after a 2nd strike it means that the primer wasn't fully seated during the 1st strike.
P.S. Usually when a primer goes off after a 2nd strike it means that the primer wasn't fully seated during the 1st strike.
- Location
- Newfoundland
I’ll have to double check next time I hand prime for it but it’s an old gun and it wouldn’t surprise me if the springs worn out a little, I only get to the range maybe 4 times a year because it’s a 2hr drive one way so I don’t mind paying the premium for federal for just this gun
mactroneng
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I just loaded a ladder test of 45 ACP with Ginex LPP... Way harder to push in than the Ginex SPP I've used for 9mm. I had a hard enough time getting them flush with the cartridge based, nevermind slightly below flush.
We'll see how it goes but given that my local source has CCI also available, I'm thinking the extra $15/brick is worth it when stock exists. I'll use up what I have though.
We'll see how it goes but given that my local source has CCI also available, I'm thinking the extra $15/brick is worth it when stock exists. I'll use up what I have though.
I notice that misfires are quite common now in pistol matches and a comment about "Ginex" is often made as an explanation. I have had that experience, too.
There are two ways to get a primer to fail.
1. Weak hammer/striker spring or too hard primer cup for the spring.
2. Primer not activated. It has to be compressed into the bottom of the primer cavity to put the anvil in position.
I suspect that most failures are of the latter type. I prime by hand and notice it takes a lot more force to seat the Ginex primers. Primers that are not seated below flush are prone to misfire and this is common with the Ginex. I suspect they are a bit fatter than CCI and Federal.
I have also noticed (when using CCI) that the S&B cases are difficult to prime. I think the primer pocket is under-sized. So a Ginex in a S&B case would be a disaster.. I cull them before priming cases with Ginexx.
If you use Ginex, try real hard to seat them below flush, so that the anvil is properly compressed.
There are two ways to get a primer to fail.
1. Weak hammer/striker spring or too hard primer cup for the spring.
2. Primer not activated. It has to be compressed into the bottom of the primer cavity to put the anvil in position.
I suspect that most failures are of the latter type. I prime by hand and notice it takes a lot more force to seat the Ginex primers. Primers that are not seated below flush are prone to misfire and this is common with the Ginex. I suspect they are a bit fatter than CCI and Federal.
I have also noticed (when using CCI) that the S&B cases are difficult to prime. I think the primer pocket is under-sized. So a Ginex in a S&B case would be a disaster.. I cull them before priming cases with Ginexx.
If you use Ginex, try real hard to seat them below flush, so that the anvil is properly compressed.
mactroneng
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Well my load development was fine with the Ginex LPP, but I'm still leery of doing a full batch due to how much effort I put in on the progressive press just to prime 20 rounds... I may hand prime all these ones...
Loading for almost 60 years. Never had the issue before; scorched/unburnt powder.
Last batch of Ginex was hand primed with RCBS hand primer and really squeezed.
I'm thinking the primers didn't flash hot enough.
Shot 100 .45 Colt and 50 Cowboy Specials using CCI' with no issue.
Pal shot 50+ .357 with CCI primers, CFE Pistol and around 30 loaded with Titegroup. No issues.
Last batch of Ginex was hand primed with RCBS hand primer and really squeezed.
I'm thinking the primers didn't flash hot enough.
Shot 100 .45 Colt and 50 Cowboy Specials using CCI' with no issue.
Pal shot 50+ .357 with CCI primers, CFE Pistol and around 30 loaded with Titegroup. No issues.
It can take more spark to light cowboy/PPC/bunnyf*rt loads when the dab of powder is hiding in the wrong part of the case, so that might be part of it. But I've heard of the very occasional Ginex misfire from IPSC shooters too.
Wondering if it's possible to have a partial or late burn, if the tiny powder charge is spread out and the crimp is weak and the bullet starts on its way before the full pressure is behind it?
I've had something like that before with a good (Federal #100) primer on a minimal load.
Why not list the load? I've loaded thousands of .38 special rounds with Ginex primers using various powders (W231/HP-38, WST, Unique, Bullseye, Titegroup, Clays, etc.) and haven't had a single issue. CFE is a slow powder and your load is probably very light. If every other primer in the world worked, wouldn't that likely point to a defective batch of Ginex primers? Especially since no one else seems to be stuffing their barrels full of bullets with squibs. I just think that if this was a common problem I would have heard about it between this forum and the Brian Enos forum which I frequent. Are these primers perfect? No, they're hard to seat fully, but other than that, I haven't noticed any appreciable difference between them and all the other brands (Federal's being the exception because they're ultra sensitive).
I was referring more to a late/partial burn that leaves the scorched/unburnt powder that CLK was describing, and which I've seen too, and likewise had a squib, and which might come from the bullet starting out and dropping pressure before all the powder has had a chance to properly ignite. This seems to be linked to tiny powder charges in too much case volume (calibres designed for black powder...) rather than IPSC power factor in a semiauto cartridge that was designed for smokeless and is decently full.
This is distinct from a proper hangfire that leaves any perceptible delay between hammerfall and firing. That was apparently more of a thing before good primers.
So the tap-rack-bang drill in IPSC may be less of a hazard than the Cowboy equivalent!
Ginex small pistol don’t flash hot enough for some loads. I’ve had same problem as you using them in 357 Magnum, with CFE pistol too.
I’ll use the Ginex in 9mm and 45 ACP but once the powder charge increases to a point they don’t seem reliable.
Load was 6.6 gr CFE Pistol under a 158 gr LRNFPBB bullet. Cases all had a good tight crimp in the crimp ring.
Last of the CFE is now gone and Titegroup is going in the hopper with CCI's in the handprimer.
Last of the CFE is now gone and Titegroup is going in the hopper with CCI's in the handprimer.
