I just started loading 357 magnum and have been working on a good full power load using 158gr LSWC w/gas checks. On Saturday I loaded a few rounds with 16grs of 296, CCI small pistol primers, OAl of 1.540". Lee manual shows 14.5gr as max but Lyman Cast Handbook shows 18gr max. Last week I tried 25 rounds with 14.5grs and it seemed like a decent load, nothing special, no pressure signs so I decided to work up a bit. Long story short, I had 4 rounds fail, no primer pop, nothing but a click each time. I loaded one a few minutes later and tried it a second time, still no go. The primers were all from the same lot and all others were fine, I had loaded 250 9mm with these same primers the same day, all were fine. The other loads using 2400 powder were also fine. The revolver is only a month old, a Taurus 66. The 296 powder is old but was sealed and worked perfectly the past three range days. If the powder age was the problem at least the the primers should still pop. Any idea what the problem is, do I get rid of the powder or is the problem elsewhere? Could it be that the increased charge did not allow ignition due to compression? Anyone ever have this problem?
Misfires, anyone know why?
- Thread starter outdoorcaper
- Start date
Your Taurus work ok with factory ammo? Any indication of the primer being hit? The primers go bang without any powder. Just a sized, primed case.
Most likely the seating depth of the primers. They should be flush with or a wee bit below the case head.
"...loaded a few rounds..." Work up the load from the Starting load.
Most likely the seating depth of the primers. They should be flush with or a wee bit below the case head.
"...loaded a few rounds..." Work up the load from the Starting load.
It is not a powder problem. It is either a pistol problem or a reloading problem. Pistol may not be striking the primers fully (does it work with factory ammo?), especially if the same primers worked ok in other loads.
Loading may be a problem with seating too deeply, possibly coupled with a short firing pin strike.
Check the protrusion of the firing pin, or make sure that nothing is blocking the fall of the hammer (a safety of some sort?)
If you think it is the powder, then the check is to pull the bullet on one of the loads that did not go off and see if it is scorched or otherwise marked by the primer, or if the primer went off or not.
Loading may be a problem with seating too deeply, possibly coupled with a short firing pin strike.
Check the protrusion of the firing pin, or make sure that nothing is blocking the fall of the hammer (a safety of some sort?)
If you think it is the powder, then the check is to pull the bullet on one of the loads that did not go off and see if it is scorched or otherwise marked by the primer, or if the primer went off or not.
If the cartridge doesn't fire, you can not hear the primer go off, if it does go off.
If you don't believe me, load a cartridge without powder, just primer and bullet. Then tell me what you heard when you pulled the trigger. You will hear the firing pin hit, but no other sound. Remove the bullet and see how much soot the fired primer lift on the base of the bullet.
The primer may drive the bullet out of the case with a pistol. With most rifles the bullet will remain in the case, after the primer fires.
If you don't believe me, load a cartridge without powder, just primer and bullet. Then tell me what you heard when you pulled the trigger. You will hear the firing pin hit, but no other sound. Remove the bullet and see how much soot the fired primer lift on the base of the bullet.
The primer may drive the bullet out of the case with a pistol. With most rifles the bullet will remain in the case, after the primer fires.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
X2, the YFU factor. (You ####ed up)
Pull the bullets, there may be no powder in those cases.
Particularly if the cases are crimped, a small pistol primer mat not be up to moving the bullet on it's own
Wow, thanks for the quick replies. The Taurus has worked without a hitch on all other loads, both factory and handloads. The primer strikes also seem fine. I will pull the bullets and investigate further. When this happened I tossed the bad rounds over into the brush and forgot to retreive them when leaving, I will pick em up this week. I thought that I would hear the primer if it had fired but now I guess not. I was loading on my new Dillon 550, progessive loading is new to me so you may be right on the YFU factor. Thanks again guys.
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
Well, most likely that Tauruse's hammer spring got soft, they are known for that. Also CCI primers are the hardest of them all, try Federal primers and if that cures the problem then you will be in need of new hammer spring.
Facts - he is new to reloading. He has a progressive press. Rounds Fail to fire....
Then he tosses them away with out trying to determine cause of fail to fire ?
Yet expects CGN guys to determine cause....???
My money is on "no powder" in the case.
And you could have figured this out yourself son if you had been smart enough to keep them and pull the bullets instead of being lazy and expecting others to fix your problem.
Lesson learned?
Then he tosses them away with out trying to determine cause of fail to fire ?
Yet expects CGN guys to determine cause....???
My money is on "no powder" in the case.
And you could have figured this out yourself son if you had been smart enough to keep them and pull the bullets instead of being lazy and expecting others to fix your problem.
Lesson learned?
Use magnum primers for 296 if you so desire, but regular primers are completely reliable and adequate.
I have burned lots of W296, as well as H110, which they tell us is the same powder. I have used it in full load magnum revolvers, as well as in very light rifle loads, and never had a primer failure.
I have burned lots of W296, as well as H110, which they tell us is the same powder. I have used it in full load magnum revolvers, as well as in very light rifle loads, and never had a primer failure.
Reminds me of a similar problem I had. A kernal of corn in my Dillon stopped the powder flow.
No idea where it came from.
Has computer use blocked the use of brains and fingers to figure out "What happened?!!"
No idea where it came from.
Has computer use blocked the use of brains and fingers to figure out "What happened?!!"
Big Bubba, I'm not new to reloading, just new to 357. I tossed them to the side as required, safety thing. I work on Saturdays and shoot as long as I can, when I left I simply forgot them. I am shooting again tomorrow and will pull the bullets. I didn't expect CGN guys to fix my problem, I simply checked with some other more experienced folks who may have had a similar experience. So I guess you joined the forum one day, picked up a pistol and a press and knew everything, had no questions and spoke with nobody? Come on now, tell me why I wouldn't ask the question, we have to deal with enough antis without our own people posting replies to simple questions stating that we are lazy and stupid. That aside, thanks for the answer, you may be right on the powder, I just thought I would have heard the primer go off. This has never happened to me before which is why I asked.
Could be a gun problem but I bet a reloading one. When I first got my Dillon I was amazed at how fast I could load. Also amazing how many messed up rounds you can pump out before you realize there's a problem. make sure primers are feeding and cases have powder visually as you're loading. Slightly slower but no problems.
Outdoor
Sorry. Maybe I was a bit harsh. Apology offered.
And no, I had to learn by doing. Back when I started loading there were no PC and no internet. I made mistakes, lots of them, and learned from them. When loads when click instead of bang I pulled em apart to find out why. When they went "BOOOOM" I wondered why. But the problem always got solved, just like this one will.
The message was merely that I bet you could have solved this on your own if you had tried.
So is there powder in the cases or not?
Sorry. Maybe I was a bit harsh. Apology offered.
And no, I had to learn by doing. Back when I started loading there were no PC and no internet. I made mistakes, lots of them, and learned from them. When loads when click instead of bang I pulled em apart to find out why. When they went "BOOOOM" I wondered why. But the problem always got solved, just like this one will.
The message was merely that I bet you could have solved this on your own if you had tried.
So is there powder in the cases or not?
Primers (at least modern ones) don't usually get contaminated that easily. There have been a few people that, in recent years, have actually soaked primers in wd-40 (I know I know, it's not "oil") and/or other types of oil for anywhere from a couple days to 2 weeks weeks and still had them go pop. Not that I recommend soaking your hands in oil before a loading session
It's probably more likely that you missed the charge of powder OR you're having weak primer hits. My wife's .222 strikes too light to ignite Remington and CCI primers reliably but Federal and Winchester go bang no problem.
