Loads misfire

IMO: One does not require an expensive priming tool to properly install primers.

I have two RCBS auto primers with the round tray, I have 4 Lee auto primers with round lids and enough to build two more and I have the hand primer by Lee that sets one primer at a time, I have the bench type by Loch/Miller and I have one by Herter. I also have the RCBS bench mounted primer system, I can seat primers from the bottom and top of my Rock Checkers.

And I have arms this fit various presses.

I do not have a favorite, I have my 'go-to', that would be the Lee auto primer with round trays. I understand; most reloaders are driven to the curb with the large Federal primer trays. not me. I dissected the Federal sliding tray to drip 25 primers at a time, I did all of that before I knew reloaders were having problems.

And the first thing I learned about the Lee auto prime of the first order was not to double-clutch the thump operated handle.

F. Guffey
 
Forgive.....forgot: I also have the primer system that came with the RCBS Pro 2000 with plastic strips and the installer tray.

F. Guffey
 
Cleaning primer pockets is a waste of time and veffort. It simply isn't necessary.

Ammo loaded on progressive machines is just as reliable as any other, and there is no practical way to clean primer pockets on a progressive.

Cleaning pockets is like weighing individual powder charges. Sounds good in theory, but in the real world all that extra time and effort doesn't buy you anything.
 
FWIW; one of the best priming systems, especially for new reloaders is a ram prime. Lyman even recommends this system/tool in their 49th. For some with a quota or have little reloading time, individual primer feeding/case priming may be too "slow", but every primer is seated correctly with very little user thought...
 
As being a beginner, I do probably more than should but because I am new. I still lack a lot of experience and knowledge, as one mentioned one isn't born knowing everything. Want to make sure I have no hiccups. Eventually down the road I will change some steps... maybe I overthink on somethings as others might say (lol), but until really confident, not that I'm not and obtain more info/knowledge will probably continue to spend more time than I really should. Plus at the moment, I only do small batches compared to others.
 
i usually don't clean primer pockets or uniform flash holes. Every powder charge gets weighed.

Few times each year i load 100 carefully crafted rounds.

1. Cases are weighed.

2. The cases are trimmed.

3. Case necks are chamfered.

4. Primer pockets and flash holes are uniformed.

5. Powder charges are carefully weighed.

6. A bullet of known accuracy is used.

Doing this stuff results in .223/5.56mm loads that make 1/2 inch five shot groups at 100yards.

My normal reloads using Winchester or Sierra soft point 55 grain bullets usually make 3/4" to 1" five shot groups at 100 yards.

The hogs and coyotes never know the difference.
 
i usually don't clean primer pockets or uniform flash holes. Every powder charge gets weighed.

Again, I have the RCBS case prep center, I do not have an excuse for not cleaning the primer pocket or brushing the neck or putting a bevel on the inside and outside if the case neck.

And then there are those crimped primer pockets.

F. Guffey
 
Again: a shooter purchased a new rifle and new ammo. Out of the first box of ammo he had 5 fail to fire cartridges with 15 that fired out of 20.

The 5 that failed to fire were passed around to all shooters at the range with 30/06 rifles. There were 3, each rifle hat at least 2 chances to bust the primers. They called me; I told them to call Remington primers.

Instead the box of 5 failed to fire and 15 that fired came to me that afternoon. I measured the fired cases, I measured the 5 that failed to fire, the primers after having being hit with 4 pins 8 times were dented.

I pulled the 5 failed to fire cartridges down and measured the powder, bullets, cases and primers. I was impressed; the primers were not destroyed. I installed the primers back into the case they were removed from, I choose one of my M1917 rifles with killer firing pins, I chambered the case 'one at a time', pulled the trigger and busted each primer one at a time.

I would like to have been the second shooter with a 30/06 rifle; I believe the primers would have busted at the first attempt. As it was shooters left the range saying "Remington, bad ammo".

F. Guffey
 
Two possibilities:

Are you sure the primers have not been contaminated by handling them?

I had a similar problem priming .338 Win brass with an RCBS hand priming tool. The primers weren’t fully seating. After trying a couple of different primer rods in my tool, I discovered that my shell holder was out of spec and was positioning the brass too far away from the priming rod of my tool. I tried a different shell holder and the problem disappeared.

I now use an RCBS bench mounted priming tool and like it much better.
 
7gr. of Unique is a 44 Special load the Starting load out of Lyman for a 44 mag 240gr lead is 10 gr.of Unique Max is 11,7 .
 
rescinded
"I apologize in advanced... its for a Savage 12FV 223. "
I had incorrectly ASSumed the ammo was being used in a semi-auto.
 
Last edited:
Start Simple

High Primers: One poster has suggested running finger across case head to find high primer. I was told this stunt by a old time reloader. It works. I did have random misfires from a progressive press. The cup assembly had come loose and was jammed with ball powder. You can get nuts with exotic solutions. Right, try alternative means of seating primers. To me, the RCBS hand primer tool is a monstrosity. YMMV. Got two here in parts that can be had cheap! The bench mounted RCBS priming tools are great.
 
no powder in cartridge has nothing to do with primer firing if primer fired with no powder you would of have a squib
 
Bottom Gun, the primers were not touch by fingers if that is what you meant by contamination. Just counted what I needed and used the same box to cover the rest and poured it on the primer tray.
 
I thought I had the misfire issue corrected on my X7. Wrong. Yesterday, I finally made a successful stalk on 3 pronghorn. Got set to shoot-weak assed click. (Sidenote--no flinch!) Chambered another round and it went bang. Got a nice healthy doe drt. So both primer strikes were very shallow. WTH? In reading on the net about bolt cleaning a couple of "experts" advised NO LUBE on the firing pin assembly. When reassembling the bolt after a thorough cleaning last go round it was put back together un lubed. That misfire was the first problem since working on the thing a month or so back. This morning I test fired some primed empty cases. No fire. Long story short, finally lubed the firing pin spring and guide hole with WD40. Wiped off good, blew compressed air gently, reassembled and tested. 5 straight bangs. Going deer hunting next week and it damn well better go bang when I touch it off.

I will say, after browsing the Marlin forum, X7 bolts are a weakness in that firearm.
 
Back
Top