Can a primer fire twice?

T

Thorn

Inactive
I put an empty cartridge in a rifle to dry fire it a few times . The already used shell let out a bang as I pulled the trigger, bit of a surprise! Wasn't as loud as a new primer but still pretty loud. Calibre was 30-06 bolt action.

Has this happened to anyone else or did I get lucky? :eek:
 
I have never heard of such a happening. Could it be possible that you used a case that had been reprimed or a new case that came with the primer already installed?
 
I have seen it happen

in 30-06 military ammo and also with the fuses on concussion grenades. They are "spent" but you can rarely find on the will provide a second small detonation. Once had a concussion grenade go off with a used fue in it-VERY EMBARASSING!!!!!
 
never reprimed

The empty cartridge had a used primer ( complete with a firing pin indentation ) and had never been reprimed. I suppose it is possible that the cartridge was a misfire then someone pulled the bullet and powder .... 35 years later I decided to use that particular empty for dry firing then BANG and left me wondering how that happened.
 
I agree that it probably is a primer that was struck by the firing pin but did not fire. The bullet may have been pulled later and then hitting the primer again set it off. I have several cartridges in the collection with firing pin dents; it is possible some might go the second time if I tried them.

Not a hangfire, just a long time before trying the round again.

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top