Opinion On These Fired .223 Primers

H4831 said:
I would say the primers shown are from quite a light load.
Cratering is usually caused by an over sized hole for the firing pin.
Loads shown as "maximum" in modern loading books should not be considered "hot." They are simply the load for normal loading of that cartridge, as shown by the firm that published the reloading chart in question.
Very often the loads shown in modern reloading charts, including Hodgdon's on line, as being "maximum," are in reality less than shown in old loading charts, and these loads were used extensively, in times past.
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Good info here too.

Funny how the maximum loads for so many cartridges just keeps going down and down and down...
 
"...27.0 grains of Varget..." You work up to that or just opt for the max load?
Given that you're seeing it with all ammo, I suspect your rifle has a tiny bit worn bolt face. You may want to contact the maker.
 
It would seem that XCRs have a countersunk firing pin hole. It is deliberately done. Have a look at your rifle's boltface, and you will see it. The "cratering" is not related to your load, but to the rifle.
 
sunray said:
"...27.0 grains of Varget..." You work up to that or just opt for the max load?
Given that you're seeing it with all ammo, I suspect your rifle has a tiny bit worn bolt face. You may want to contact the maker.
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I started at the minimum load and worked up to the max.

Admittedly, with my brass catcher on my rifle I was more concerned with my group size than I was in checking my brass for signs of over pressure loads.

Lesson learned.

On the bright side, my best groups seem to come from the 26.5 grain loadings.

My next range trip I will try 26.2, 26.3, 26.4, 26.5, 26.6, 26.7 to see if I can find "the one".

Thank you to everyone who replied to this thread, I learned a lot!

It is much appreciated.

Regards,

Chizzy
 
sunray said:
"...27.0 grains of Varget..." You work up to that or just opt for the max load?
Given that you're seeing it with all ammo, I suspect your rifle has a tiny bit worn bolt face. You may want to contact the maker.
Click to expand...

The "maker" thought that very idea was the fix for an oversize FP hole. Even after it made things worse. And he saw it made things worse. And customers called relentlessly to tell him it made things worse. Its now a standard procedure for the XCR. He believes it. He believes in it. I don't know how he got this far with the M96 and XCR with some of the things he does and the way he acts. Some kind of Christmas miracle. Great guy, that Alex Robinson LOL
 
Yeah this is an XCR issue. As previous posters have stated, they had some issues with the firing pin puncturing primers (heavy hammer spring to set off 7.62x39 is my guess) and stupidly decided they should bevel the firing pin hole. Use magnum or military primers and the effects will be minimized.
 
I don't think it is just an XCR issue......

I have been loading the same 60 grain Vmax and Varget combo, and that is what happens with 27 grains of Varget behind a 60 grain Vmax.

My Savage 10 PC actually started to show signs of cratering like that at 26.5 grains.

I drop down to 26 grains and no cratering at all.

Regardless I am finding better accuracy around 25-26 grains.
 
I shoot a few sub cals and primer issues come up very suddenly when the bore gets smaller. A load will show no pressure signs and then pierce primers in under 1/2 a grain increase. The Winchester primers that you are using are thin and soft. Not a good combo in a rifle that is known to be hard on primers. Read this article from James Calhoon on primers and maybe try something thicker and harder like CCI450 or Remington 7 1/2. http://www.jamescalhoon.com/primers_and_pressure.php
 
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