Primer fails to ignite on first strike

[Snapshot]

Thanks to Tom & crew for a great match at Listowel today.

In addition to allowing myself to be psyched out by the new target, I experienced a new (to me) malfunction – on about 10 of ~100 rounds (apparently randomly) the primer was dented but failed to ignite, but each round fired with a second strike.

I was shooting Winchester 55 gr FMJ (.223) out of my Savage 10FPL. I can't recall any failures to ignite with either this rifle or this ammunition in the past, but I've never used either under these conditions.

The temperature was around -7°C with intermittent blowing snow, so both the action and the ammunition were cold and wet.

Any thoughts on what would cause the failure to ignite on the first strike, and how to prevent this in the future?

I was speculating excessively viscous lube in the bolt – all I have used is MilTec but I'm not sure what was in there from the factory, and I can't figure out how to disassemble the bolt to check it.

Snapshot

 

[Mystic Precision]

There is a big allen bolt that holds the bolt together. Remove that and the parts come out very easily. Degrease and regrease using a low temp synthetic or a dry teflon type lube.

Cold can have that affect on many gun oils gumming up the works.

Jerry

 

[Snapshot]

Thanks Jerry - I'll take it apart and see.

Are we talking about something SuperLube grease (PTFE)? I also found several variations of dry teflon lube, Finish Line, World Klass, etc. that seem intended for chains and similar applications.

Snapshot

 

[Mystic Precision]

I use superlube oil for the internal workings and grease for the friction parts.

I am sure any low viscosity low operating temp oil will work.

Jerry