Over Pressure Signs (Ring on primer) from Starting Load?

[Chilly807]

Not seeing any over pressure signs in the pics. Cratering of primers isnt usually a real good indicator. Watch for flattening primers, stiff bolt lift and if you have a plunge ejector, watch for signs of the plunger head being stamped on the brass. A shiny smear mark on the brass head is also a sign of pressures getting up there.

Good luck and happy shooting.

I was going to mention seeing no ejector marks, but the case heads are so "busy" with stampings that I couldn't really tell from the pic.. Federal primers can be deceiving. If you decide to try some, they're pretty soft. A moderate .243 load in my Tikka comes out with flat-ish primers if I use Federal.
I remember picking up fired .303 British brass at the range, with primers protruding a long way. I'd never seen anything like it. A friend of mine who loads. 303 commented it was probably excessive headspace.

 

[Lead hammer]

I use Federal primers, in my Savage they get flat easily but they get flat before ejector marks. Cratering is not a problem either. The OP's primers are still round so I also say not a pressure problem.

 

[awesomealvin]

Oh wow! You guys are amazing, thanks for helping a reloading noob!

To answer some of your questions

1. No there was no indent from the ejector on any of the case head
2. Yes all primers were seated flush with the case head (Pain to do with the RCBS press mounted primer arm thing)
3. Firing pin and bolt face is a bit "sloppy", this is my only centre fire rifle so I don't have much to compare it to. I can't really measure it, but there is definitely a bit of side-to-side movement. Perhaps about 0.5mm clearance. And no, looking at the bolt face, there isn't much of a chamfer at the firing pin hole.
4. Yes, I full length sized my brass with the Lee de-prime/full size die.
5. The case neck expanded around 0.010", and the shoulder expanded around 0.005".
6. No. Cratering did not happen with factor ammo. (see image below)
7. No. Bolt lift feels the same as factory ammo. Don't know about velocity, but at 100M the drop was identical to factory ammo.
8. Ok. I would look into my die's shoulder bump

So I feel a lot more relieve now. This may be another silly questions, but is there any danger in an under pressure load? Is the "smooshing" primer going to cause future problems? This load is very economical to shoot (Only 24gr of powder!) and is accurate enough for my application.

Can't thank you guys enough!

 

[Buckmastr]

I have the same thing happening in a 223 Rem as well. 28 gr cfe 223, 50 gr nosler bt, 3300 fps. Not a low pressure load...

I full length sized a bunch of Fiocchi brass with no regard to shoulder bump as it came from a bunch of different guns and was going to be used in the same without segregation. The reloaded cartridges were accurate in all I tried them in except certain rifles would have the primer back out of the pocket slightly as is yours. It didn't bother me. Likey long term hard on my brass taking right back to full length size every time but that's the price you pay if your using it in several different guns.
Next time you size your brass, only bump the shoulder a slight amount. Likely your primers will stay put as the pre-fire fit will better.

Good to hear your TC compass is shooting well!

 

[awesomealvin]

I have the same thing happening in a 223 Rem as well. 28 gr cfe 223, 50 gr nosler bt, 3300 fps. Not a low pressure load...

I full length sized a bunch of Fiocchi brass with no regard to shoulder bump as it came from a bunch of different guns and was going to be used in the same without segregation. The reloaded cartridges were accurate in all I tried them in except certain rifles would have the primer back out of the pocket slightly as is yours. It didn't bother me. Likey long term hard on my brass taking right back to full length size every time but that's the price you pay if your using it in several different guns.
Next time you size your brass, only bump the shoulder a slight amount. Likely your primers will stay put as the pre-fire fit will better.

Good to hear your TC compass is shooting well!

Yeah. I'm really enjoying the Compass so far, paid under $400 for it after a rebate but it feels like a $1000 rifle. Below is one of the two targets I shot with my reloads at 100M. My second target target shot around 0.8" group.

I'm pretty sure I'm just going to stick with this load recipe. Cheap accuracy was really what I was going for when I purchased this rifle.

 

[gerard]

Looks like under pressure to me. Time to add a bit more powder and see how the rifle really shoots.

 

[Northaways]

Primer would be flattened if over pressure. They’re not, nice and rounded which is good.

 

[bearhunter]

I would also say that you're full length resizing and pushing the shoulder of the case back to much.

I would full length resize for a semi auto but in a bolt action, partial resize and neck sizing only is the way to go.

TURF THE LIBERALS IN OCTOBER

LIBERALS REALLY LIKE POOR PEOPLE, they're making more of them every day

If you can't vote CPC, stay at home in protest

 

[bigedp51]

From the photos you took of the bolt face it looks like the hole in the bolt face is much larger than your firing pin diameter.

Look at it with a magnifying and double check, and if needed you can have the bolt bushed to fix the problem.

Primer Cratering Problem Fixed!!!
http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/post/primer-cratering-problem-fixed-1128961

Bush Firing Pin Hole & Turn Pin
https://www.gretanrifles.com/product-page/bush-firing-pin-hole-turn-pin

 

[yomomma]

Btw...overpressure

 

[nitro-express]

Previous 2 posts, show firing pin issues and Pressure signs.

There are enough replies, with good information, and I hope you are now on the right track.

I'll just add a few of my experiences.

> A CZ with a loose fitting firing pin, or oversize firing pin hole, that would make primers look like that, pressure didn't matter.
> A Ruger M77 II Lightweight, didn't like starting loads, needed a SR Mag primer, CCI 450. Increasing the charge changed that. But I still start with a mag primer.
> Several other 223's that make me believe they like top(ish) loads. My theory, long throats and chambers cut to lower pressure for military ammo.
> The Hornady Lock-N-Load headspace Comparator is a must have tool, as are the Redding Competition shell holder sets. However, I seldom bother with 223, it is such a forgiving round, tolerates a bunch of clearance, and gives so few problems (usually).
> any 223 I ever owned always liked good pressure. I use Hodgdon data, pick a charge 1/2 way between starting and max. and call it a day, (generally). I drop charges from the measure, into the case. Lest you think I'm some sort of Bubba, I do however weight sort my cases, uniform the flash holes, uniform the primer pockets, the whole 9 yards. Weighing the powder charges never seemed to get me anything (ball powders).
> Sometimes switching to a Rem 7 1/2 will get you a bit more accuracy.
> I don't fool much with OAL, getting the bullet close to the lands, mostly because the magazine didn't allow it. So I quit caring about that.

If you are in the zone, the 223 is so easy to load for. Outside the zone it will drive you nutz. Starting loads were my nemesis, especially with ball powder. Also had a MMR (Mossberg AR) that shot 6" > 15" patterns until I figured the turd out. Now it shoots just over a MOA, 5 shot groups, in about 15 seconds, with CFE 223 and Hornady bulk 55gr with cannelure.