Reloading 223. With 50 grain varmint grenade

No expert but it's probably not related to the bullet selection. Sounds like a strong firing pin spring or really soft primer cups. What type of rifle / what brand of primers are you using?
 
That's a lot of information to digest in one sitting. Let me think about it, and get back to you.........
 
No idea why your wrecking primers. Are they seated flush? Anyway I tried those bullets in a 1-12 twist. No good. They were sideways 20' from the muzzle. They need 1-10 twist or faster
 
The bullet has nothing to do with it. What primers, rifle, etc?
Keyholing isn't caused by the rifling twist. Key holing is caused by undersized bullets, oversized barrel and too low velocity. No mention of any required twist on Barnes' site. Little fellows are moving though. Slowest Start velocity is 2800.
 
To be clear the primer is pierced in or is the hole blown out?


100% the information needed to know.
Could be a broken/strong firing pin or soft primers or hot loads punching the primer open.
Post your load information as well if you are not 100% positive your load is not the issue.

bullet selection will only affect the load in this case if you did not alter the load to reflect the new bullet weight.
If your load has not altered and you increased bullet weight your pressures will jump.
 
I've loaded the same bullets in spear same grain same primer same powder no issues, I think it's because the varmint grenade is not composed of lead it is composed of aluminum and other alloys and has a longer seating depth so it compresses the load. Just a guess but I'm not shooting them anymore cause I don't want to foul up my firing pin
 
The bullet has nothing to do with it. What primers, rifle, etc?
Keyholing isn't caused by the rifling twist. Key holing is caused by undersized bullets, oversized barrel and too low velocity. No mention of any required twist on Barnes' site. Little fellows are moving though. Slowest Start velocity is 2800.

Whaaaa?
 
I've loaded the same bullets in spear same grain same primer same powder no issues, I think it's because the varmint grenade is not composed of lead it is composed of aluminum and other alloys and has a longer seating depth so it compresses the load. Just a guess but I'm not shooting them anymore cause I don't want to foul up my firing pin



So essentially you did not alter the load with a different bullet?
Seating oal can cause pressure spikes if the bullet is jammed into the lands. This can change dramatically regardless of total oal due to the ogive of the bullet.
Bullet composition is a non-issue As every bullet should be loaded differently to account for length, ogive and weight.

Just because the bullet is the same weight and shape does not make them the same dimensions. Rarely will you find 2 bullets of the same type from diff manufacturer to be exactly the same profiles.
.010 can be a big difference, let alone the natural .002-.005 variance from manufacturing.
 
So essentially you did not alter the load with a different bullet?
Seating oal can cause pressure spikes if the bullet is jammed into the lands. This can change dramatically regardless of total oal due to the ogive of the bullet.
Bullet composition is a non-issue As every bullet should be loaded differently to account for length, ogive and weight.

Just because the bullet is the same weight and shape does not make them the same dimensions. Rarely will you find 2 bullets of the same type from diff manufacturer to be exactly the same profiles.
.010 can be a big difference, let alone the natural .002-.005 variance from manufacturing.

+1 what he said
 
Too short protrusion and a worn out spring. Order a new spring and while changing it inspect the protrusion. Also inspect the end of the pin and clean up if needed, it may be cratered. What action is this?
 
Ive had quite a few CCI primers in small size that kept piercing the primers in my .223, was talking to a guy at my range and he said that is a common thing with CCI small rifle primers, he said change to federal, and look up online that there have been quite a few people with the same problem. Its just a thin primer cup and a new strong firing pin can pierce them, or one in a mil surp rifle like an ar15 where the mil surp primers are normally harder.
 
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