Hangfires in 6.5x55

Andy

Andy

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I've found a high incidents of hangfire with the same 6.5x55 load in two different guns. It happens with near max loads of H4350, and goes away if I drop a couple of grains. It's not the powder, and it's not the guns, it seems to be that powder load in that cartridge.

Anyone else experience anything similar?
 
By hangfire, I mean that there is a delay of perhaps 1/4 second after the trigger is pulled before the rounds fires. It seems to fire normally other than the delay.
 
Is it a compressed load?

In any case, I'd start by looking at the primers. Are they seated OK? (Slightly below flush). Maybe try Magnum primers - although I've not heard of H4350 being difficult to ignite
 
great practice for flinter shooting. LOL. As usual I have no advice of merit but I would definelty second Prosper's suggestion to back off and work back up with magnum primers. What kind of Crimp are you using? Knowing your penchant for ballistic perfection I assume you are shooting a heavy bullet?
 
That's a 'proper' hangfire, and the only thing I can really think of is partially contaminated primers, or something sticking in the bolt after extraction.

Are those loads showing any signs of high pressure?
 
Silverado said:
That's a 'proper' hangfire, and the only thing I can really think of is partially contaminated primers, or something sticking in the bolt after extraction.

Are those loads showing any signs of high pressure?
Click to expand...

- primers are good

- not a bolt issue. Other loads don't hangfire, and that load hangfires in two different guns

- no "signs" of high pressure, in fact I was two grains below listed max (41.0 grs with a 140gr bullet)


I am more interested in an explanation rather than a solution. To me, substituting a magnum primer is a solution akin to using more force if you find it difficult to chamber a round.

I have heard that small bore/large capacity loads have an increased tendency to hangfire with extruded powders, but no possible explanation as to why.
 
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Andy:
Check your sizing die to ensure you aren't setting the shoulder back a bit and causing a headspsace problem that permits a soft firing pin strike due to the case moving forward a bit tbefore the shoulder seats against the chamber. If you're certain the cases/primers and powder aren't contaminated it seems possible the brass is out of spec either as delivered or as resized.

Also examine the firing pin indent on the cases you have fired. If they are a bit shallow you may want to check the firing pin protrusion from the bolt face and also dissemble the bolt and check the spring. Some primer cups are made of harder material than others and may show this problem if your firing pin strike is either weak or slightly short,
 
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