Pushed primers

B

bulls n bucks

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So I worked up a load for my Winchester 94 30-30 the load is 170 gr interlock with 34.8 get of leverevolution witch is almost 2 gr below max with CCI 200 primers and the primers are pushing out a little but not flattened when fired is this a sign of high pressure?
 
Range brass? How many times fired? In my experience the primer pockets start going way before you'll split a neck. If it's new brass I got nothing, but that would be my first diagnosis.
 
Hmm. That is a puzzle. I wouldn't suspect immediately, with that load and no flattening, it's excessive pressure. Does the bolt face look fine? Check the headspace, though if that's long it should cause flattening rather than allow them to pop out...
 
Usually a sign of a low pressure round or excessive headspace or both. A light load does not force the case head back against the bolt. So whatever your amount of case headspace is will be near to the amount the primer is pushed out. Most primers will unseat until they hit the bolt face but then when the case is expanded back against the bolt the primer will again be seated flush. The firing pin force will push the case forward against the shoulder then pressure will force the case to expand rearward. Even if your primer is seated below flush after firing they usually are flush. Two grains could be enough to cause low pressure?
 
There's no real signs of overpressure, so after checking the headspace start creeping the charge up. Make up a ladder load to test. If you're finding that the popped primers go away you've got it licked.

Otherwise I'm back to nothing.
 
I would suspect excessive headspace, or the cases shortened during sizing. When sizing, make sure the shoulders are not pushed back. If you have powdered graphite or something similar, coat the shoulder, size a case and see if the shoulder area is smudged, indicating shoulder contact and possible push back that probably isn't needed.
 
primers are pushing out a little but not flattened when fired is this a sign of high pressure?
Click to expand...

No, if the case head never made it back to the bolt face the case lock to the chamber but the case head never made it back to the bolt face. A question could be asked about how much the primer protruded from the case head.

There has always been a problem when offsetting the length of the chamber from the shoulder to the bolt face with a case, it has not been easier to off set the problem presented with thin case rims and case belts. And then we would have trouble finding a reloader that measures the thickness of the rim and belt.

F. Guffey
 
So I dug up some Remington factory round that I fired through this rifle and the primers look the same. So basically I'm just looking to know if this is safe cause it is probably my favorite rifle to carry during deer season
 
So I dug up some Remington factory round that I fired through this rifle and the primers look the same.
Click to expand...

A protruding primer is an indication of low pressure. Finding cases with thicker rims is not going to happen, reloading with cases that are longer from the shoulder to the case head is an option with some chambers but the 30/30 head spaces on the rim; now we are back to looking for cases with thicker rims or head spacing on the shoulder, not a good option because of the long tapered case.

And then? I have had the strong get dizzy and the weak pass out with unorthodox methods and or techniques, I am the fan of offsetting setting the length of the chamber with the length of the case.

F. Guffey
 
"...primer pockets start going way before you'll split a neck..." Other way around.
"...There's no real signs of overpressure..." Primers backing out is one of 'em. Something else of going on though. 36.3(C) is max for LVR and a 170.
"...check the head space on a lever rifle..." Proper headspace gauges like any rifle. And no bits of tape, chewing gum, string or any of the other daft stuff you see on-line works. Including head spacing on the shoulder.
You can rent 'em(Go and No-Go set) for 3 days for $7. If you go to a smithy and he doesn't have 'em it's likely he'll buy 'em charge you for 'em and you don't get to keep 'em.
https://www.reamerrentals.com/
To use 'em you slip the gauge under the extractor and gently close the bolt. The bolt should not close completely on the No-Go. It should on the Go. There's a 'Field' gauge too that is used if the bolt closes on the No-Go, but they're not easy to come by.
I'd be surprised if a Win 94 has bad headspace though.
 
I would also go with excessive headspace. Measure your fired case length , resize to that length & chamber that case , if it chambers fine at that length then see if that length gives you the same problem. Your probably oversizing your cases. Make sure your bottoming your primers.
 
It's possible the bolt is backing up before pressure has finished dropping in the barrel and leaving you with a space for the primer to expand into. Because the pressure has dropped, you don't get mushrooming.

Are you getting any lever rebound on firing (trying to open against your grasp)?

See if you can borrow a chronograph and see what your velocity looks like.
 
So I dug up some Remington factory round that I fired through this rifle and the primers look the same.
Click to expand...

Not uncommon in lever actions.
The chambers are a little "roomy" and the lockup is a bit "elastic" what with the breechblock against the locking bolt and the locking bolt against the shoulder in the rear of the receiver. I don't think it is anything to worry about. Yes, you can Guff it out or even Slamfirify and gain some brass life.
 
In the real world the chamber is go-gage length and the case is minimum length, that would mean Model 94 with a loose barrel would have a difference in length between minimum length and go-gage of .005", if the case head does not make it to the bolt face to seat the primer the primer will protrude.

How much? No one measures.

F. Guffey
 
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