Loads misfire

Yes definitely, what Ben refers to is the RCBS Automatic Bench Priming Tool to replace the hand tool. Available from Midway USA, their product number 457599, but a little expensive as most reloading tools are. But this should be a must tool for priming and has primer tubes for both large and small primes. It takes RCBS type shell holders for the various calibers. That will take care of the priming problems.

And make it a point to retry the misfires as mentioned earlier. My bet is that they will fire on the second firing pin strike since the primers are now probably well seated.
 
I pulled one of the bullets and yes it did have powder.

So here are some pictures of the non fired brass...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/69.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/70.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/71.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/72.jpg

Here are the fired brass...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/73.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/74.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/75.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/76.jpg

Here are when I use the hand priming tool...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/77.jpg

If I go all the way...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/78.jpg

then I get this...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/79.jpg (between 3 and R/bottom right)
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/80.jpg (bottom left)
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/81.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/82.jpg
So I don't push all the way. I'll try and feel when it gives some resistance then I just give it another push.

The 4 misfires...
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/83.jpg
http://www.mentegraphics.com/pictures/84.jpg
 
Some of those primers do not look level to the case head. Some have indentations that should not be there. Different primer heights, too.
 
In my experience, a dirty primer pocket can keep the primer from fully seating.
Love my pin tumbler.
 
IMO: One does not require an expensive priming tool to properly install primers.

Every year i reload thousands of rifle rounds. My priming is accomplished using an RCBS Jr. press. Recently had my first misfire in many years. The round was a .300 Win Mag and the primer was a Winchester large rifle magnum. Tried to fire several times to no avail.

Those primers were purchased during the "Clinton will outlaw our re-loading supplies" crisis. Thankfully there are not many left.
 
I had the same problem when I first started loading 223 on my progressive press. If I remember correctly, they always fired on the second try. Now I am more careful when seating primers. No misfires in a long long time.
 
I know I can't close the tool all the way... as you can see the end result to the bottom of the brass. Then would have to just feel when priming to try and not dent those brass hopefully to not get any misfires again.

Unless I test using the actual press... if no misfires then I'll have a winner.
 
Try to fire one of the bad/FTF rounds you pulled, primer only. Disregard "below flush measurements" and appearance, just push primers all the way into the pocket. Look at how a primer works, if the anvil is not solidly seated , it jes won't work...
 
Those "(" shaped dimples on the fully seated primers is Normal. You were not pushing too hard or too far. The other "not all the way" priming photo is how you get ammo that goes not go off.
My Rcbs hand primer made those marks. If I was concerned at all I would spin the case 180 degrees and seat again.
 
You don't need another tool , the hand priming tool will work just fine.
I've used the old Lee hand primer for decades. Just pay attention to the seating pressure, feel it go in and keep pressure until it stops , spin the case 180 degrees and give the handle a little extra squeeze to make sure its bottomed out. I don't know why the spin helps but it does .
Clean the pockets before seating primers....easier to feel them go in .
Practice and experience will get you there, nobody is born knowing everything .
I see a lot of people spending money unneeded thinking another tool will fix the problem.
You're doing fine , a little experience and you going to have this by the tail on a downhill drag .
Gary
 
Last edited:
mikld wrote:
Ninety percent of FTF with new reloaders is improperly seated primers.
Click to expand...

I concur.

Even properly seated primers with ZERO powder would have still launched the bullet. The fact the OP got nothing strongly suggests primers that were improperly seated. Try reseating the primers using the press (rather than whatever primer seating method you were using - if you were using the press, then realize that you pretty much can't ignite a primer using the primer seating stem on the press). Then try the cartridges again.

If they fire - or mostly fire - then I would recommend you go back to your reloading manual and STUDY the part at the front on "How to Reload" because it is clear you did not adequately study it up to this point.
 
Several posters have stated an improperly seated primer could be your problem. Dirty primer pockets could be one cause. That's why I like a second round of wet tumbling with SS pins after resizing/depriming. Really gets the primer pockets clean.
I use a Lee hand priming tool, and I will set my cases on my work bench after priming. Wobbly cases get a second pass to ensure the primer is seated correctly.
I have only had one FTF in my short 4 years of handloading. It was a 30-30 round that fired fine on the second try.
 
I do check thoroughly to see if primer pockets are clean... I have the small primer pocket brush I picked up a long time ago for less than $2... a store was going out of business. Well, that is what I use as their other ways of cleaning. I am confident I cleaned them well.

Just have to keep getting use to the priming tool and paying close attention as some have mentioned.
 
After 200 rounds of my handloads or so my Marlin X7 had a misfire. On the 2nd try it fired. Thought that was odd, but since it was one round of several I did nothing. Next time out with that rifle, 2 misfires. Read up on the causes and came to the conclusion the primers were not seated properly. I had used an RCBS hand primer for years with no problems, but since I now had a problem, I reinstalled the primer seater on my RCBS Rockchucker. Same result. Misfires on a hunting rifle ain't ok. So, bought a large rifle primer pocket uniformer and trued the primer pockets. After priming I measured the recess depth and all were recessed deeper than .003 inches. Went shooting, one misfire. So, I stopped by a gun shop, and the gunsmith advised me to disassemble the bolt, clean the entire bolt thoroughly, reassemble, test. The firing pin was sticky and had some kind of gunk on it. Sprayed it all down with Shooters Choice Quick Scrub and used the air compressor to blow all the stuff off. In reassembling, the firing pin consists of a rod maybe 1/8 " in diameter, with a threaded hole in one end which the actual firing pin is screwed into. The firing pin was loose. After tightening it, put it all back together, and after 30 rounds not a single misfire. Maybe its fixed. Moral of the story is, keep looking till you find the problem.
 
Thanks Colorado, unfortunately I am not confident to even try and disassemble the bolt. If there is a possibility that it could be, that would suck as I keep track of the rounds fired for this rifle and I'm only at 226. But then again, would imagine that round count has nothing to do with it rather just for me to know.
 
My guess is the primers are not fully seated. Clean primer pockets are a necessity. Tumbling to get those clean primer pockets, not so much. I have reloaded for well over 20 years. Literally tens upon tens of thousands of rounds, I shoot pistols competitively. I have never owned a tumbler. Never. I have a $3 hand held primer pocket scraper made by Lee. Give each decapped piece of brass a quick twist in the primer pocket, wipe off the "big chunks" of dirt and grime, and reload them. A hole in the X ring doesn't care if it came from a bright and shinny piece of brass, and neither do I. I do understand the personal pride in making reloads that look as good or better than factory brass, but that's not my thing.
 
Here is a link to instructions for bolt disassembly on your rifle.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/6mmbr/vpost?id=2313711

There are good youtube videos as well. If you aren't comfortable doing that yourself, a gunsmith can do the job in a few minutes. I was reluctant to work on my Marlin, but the gunsmith told me to go to youtube. I took my time and it was fairly simple. And cheap! Besides, as long as you keep all the parts together, a smith can put it back together.
 
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