So I have experienced my first pierced primer in my bolt gun, as well as cratered primers. I am shooting a Remington 700 in 223. I loaded some 75 grain hornady A-max over 24.5 grains of Varget. Hornady brass. CCI small rifle primers. Loaded to book OAL and below max charge. I experienced no sticky bolt and no extractor marks. Since this is a first for me, am I safe to assume that I need to back off on powder despite the lack of a sticky bolt? Thanks for the input.
Pierced a Primer
- Thread starter laker415
- Start date
Just one pierced primer, but the rest were cratered badly. It wasn't until I pierced one that I checked the previous rounds. I had worked up to this load prior and hadn't noticed any issues. I wanted to chrono the load but of course my battery was dead in the magnetospeed
.223 Remington (Berger Bullets Data)
Warning!#Notes:#Case trim length: 1.750; COAL: 2.260"; barrel length: 24"; NOTE: An 80.5 grain Berger Match Fullbore Target bullet can also be used for the 80 grain data. WARNING - Approach maximum loads with caution. (Berger Bullets Reloading Manual 1st Edition)
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 Berger Match VLD Target Hodgdon Varget 20.5 2527
Remarks:#start load
75 Berger Match VLD Target Hodgdon Varget 22.7 2791
.223 Remington (Hodgdon Data)
Warning!#Notes:#Case: Winchester; barrel length: 24"; twist: 1:12"; trim length: 1.750"; primer: Winchester SR, Small Rifle; bullet diam.: .224". NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 JLK VLD Hodgdon Varget 22.5 2693
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.250"; 40,600 cup
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.250"; 48,400 cup
.223 Remington in an AR-15 with a 1-in-7 Inch Twist
Warning!#Notes:#A DPMS with a 20-inch barrel was used to test fire all loads. Bullet diameter was .224 inch. Nosler Custom cases and Federal 205 GM (Small Rifle Bench Rest) primers used throughout. Maximum case length: 1.760 inches; trim-to case length: 1.750 inches. The SAAMI maximum pressure: 52,000 CUP. Read entire article at loaddata.com under Load Development.
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 23 2541
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 23.5 2584
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 24 2633
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 24.5 2705
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 25 2741
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
Warning!#Notes:#Case trim length: 1.750; COAL: 2.260"; barrel length: 24"; NOTE: An 80.5 grain Berger Match Fullbore Target bullet can also be used for the 80 grain data. WARNING - Approach maximum loads with caution. (Berger Bullets Reloading Manual 1st Edition)
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 Berger Match VLD Target Hodgdon Varget 20.5 2527
Remarks:#start load
75 Berger Match VLD Target Hodgdon Varget 22.7 2791
.223 Remington (Hodgdon Data)
Warning!#Notes:#Case: Winchester; barrel length: 24"; twist: 1:12"; trim length: 1.750"; primer: Winchester SR, Small Rifle; bullet diam.: .224". NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 JLK VLD Hodgdon Varget 22.5 2693
Remarks:#start load; COL: 2.250"; 40,600 cup
Remarks:#max load; compressed; COL: 2.250"; 48,400 cup
.223 Remington in an AR-15 with a 1-in-7 Inch Twist
Warning!#Notes:#A DPMS with a 20-inch barrel was used to test fire all loads. Bullet diameter was .224 inch. Nosler Custom cases and Federal 205 GM (Small Rifle Bench Rest) primers used throughout. Maximum case length: 1.760 inches; trim-to case length: 1.750 inches. The SAAMI maximum pressure: 52,000 CUP. Read entire article at loaddata.com under Load Development.
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) Favorite?
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 23 2541
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 23.5 2584
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 24 2633
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 24.5 2705
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
75 Hornady A-Max Match Hodgdon Varget 25 2741
Remarks:#overall loaded length (inches): 2.390
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I'm at work at the moment without my notes, but most likely half a grain above the minimum charge. I guess I'm just new to overpressure and was expecting a hard extraction as a sign before a pierced primer, etc.
This was my first one....ever...in this gun. I have worked up various loads with powder and bullet combos and have never experienced this or have seen primers that looked the way they did.
Everybody always #####es about this happening to winchester primers
What is the twist rate of your Remington .223, the 1in9 twist barrels would have a longer throat than the 1in12 twist barrels.Meaning the load data would be higher for the longer throats.
NOTE, my 223 Savage bolt action with a 1in9 twist has a longer throat than my AR15 rifles.
Does your bolt face have a beveled firing pin hole like below.
Switch to thicker primers and use a primer with a cup thickness of .025, the thinner cups of .020 can cause the problems you are having.
NOTE, my 223 Savage bolt action with a 1in9 twist has a longer throat than my AR15 rifles.
Does your bolt face have a beveled firing pin hole like below.
Switch to thicker primers and use a primer with a cup thickness of .025, the thinner cups of .020 can cause the problems you are having.
