I had a gas leak on a primer today, loading for a Sako A-1 bolt action, 22PPC USA. The load was as follows (4 rounds):
Sako 22PPC brass, full length sized
CCI 400 primer
25.5 grains H322
55 grain soft point, O.A.L. 2.015"
Velocity 5' from muzzle, 3243 fps, 3233 fps, 3235 fps, 3241 fps
I had been working up to this load, in 1/2 grain increments, starting at 24 grains. All my components are approximately 20 years old, stored continuously at room temp. The cases had been loaded 20 times prior to today, primer pockets were still tight. Case length is OK, necks are .004"-.005" smaller than chamber.
Bolt lift and extraction was normal. The bolt face had some black marks on it which required some rubbing with JB compound to remove. Unfortunately, there is now a tiny crater on the bolt face right around where the edge of the primer would be.
The primer was only very slightly more flattened than a new primer, with lots of radius on the corner. The primer was still tight and required normal pressure to remove from the case. The case was blackened all the way around the primer. The odd thing about this is after depriming the case and examining the primer closely, I noticed that there is a small hole right on the corner of the primer (the radiused part) with a partial crack extending down the side. When I first saw the primer had leaked, I automatically assumed the load was too hot, but after seeing the way the primer failed I now wonder if the primer may have been defective? (I have a pic, but I can't figure out how to post it).
Has anyone ever seen a primer fail like this before? I would appreciate some opinions . . . defective primer or just too much pressure?
Sako 22PPC brass, full length sized
CCI 400 primer
25.5 grains H322
55 grain soft point, O.A.L. 2.015"
Velocity 5' from muzzle, 3243 fps, 3233 fps, 3235 fps, 3241 fps
I had been working up to this load, in 1/2 grain increments, starting at 24 grains. All my components are approximately 20 years old, stored continuously at room temp. The cases had been loaded 20 times prior to today, primer pockets were still tight. Case length is OK, necks are .004"-.005" smaller than chamber.
Bolt lift and extraction was normal. The bolt face had some black marks on it which required some rubbing with JB compound to remove. Unfortunately, there is now a tiny crater on the bolt face right around where the edge of the primer would be.
The primer was only very slightly more flattened than a new primer, with lots of radius on the corner. The primer was still tight and required normal pressure to remove from the case. The case was blackened all the way around the primer. The odd thing about this is after depriming the case and examining the primer closely, I noticed that there is a small hole right on the corner of the primer (the radiused part) with a partial crack extending down the side. When I first saw the primer had leaked, I automatically assumed the load was too hot, but after seeing the way the primer failed I now wonder if the primer may have been defective? (I have a pic, but I can't figure out how to post it).
Has anyone ever seen a primer fail like this before? I would appreciate some opinions . . . defective primer or just too much pressure?
