my loads and miss fires

[Evan03]

ive been loading off and on for a few years now. i may have loaded 200rds before this year. now in the last few months ive loaded and used up over 300 primers in difrent rifles.

ive had 3 miss fires while useing cci 215 primers ive had two in the 220 and one in my 25.

the first one i didnt think twice about figured i must have forgot the powder or something. even the second one i dint give much thought to.

the 3rd one is where my attention as all there. after missfired i ejected the shell and stuck in my pocket. i later pulled this same shell out to take a look. primer was dented and get this moister was bubbleing out bewteen the primer and primer pocket.

so apperantly moisture got in there. it was raining that day. rifle and ammo were in the in the elements all day. i think the primer being punched put the case under pressure and the moisture was bubbleing out like soap on bicicle innet tube.

the other missfires werent exposed to moisture before fireing.

my other thought was case lube. but i dont see that happing. after sizeing cases i clean the knecks out with a brush and cotton swaps. even if i didnt id have to have got alot of lube in the case to get enough on the primer to keep it from igniteing.

my technigue has not changed since i started loading its weird that id now start seeing missfires.

any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Evan

[Ol` Joe]

My first thought is tumbling media in the flash hole. I double check my brass after cleaning because of the amount I seem to find in mine. Make sure the flash hole is clear and the primer is fully seated. I only had one misfire in over thirty years of reloading and I never did figure out what went wrong with that round, but I suspect corncob was the culprit.
I can`t reply to the moisture as I`ve never seen that happen and I have had my ammo and myself soaked to the bone a few times.

["yote"]

Winchester primers and don't look back. They are THE most
consistant and reliable primer that I have found in over 20 yrs
of reloading. That includes 1000's of prarie dog rnds.

[Esox357]

Ditto what Yote said, I use nothing but winchester primers and win cases. Esox357

[Lone Star]

I'm happy that so many of you like the Winchester primers - but the reality is that all major brands work fine. In 35 years of reloading and over 25,000 rounds reloaded (using CCI, Federal, RP, and WW primers) I've had only two true misfires that I could not account for. To have a 1% failure rate tells me that the poster is doing something wrong.

The idea about tumbling media blocking the flash hole makes sense if the poster used it. The "moisture" comment is puzzling as most reloaded rounds are very waterproof - to get enough water into a case to trigger a misfire with water extruding from the case is hard to envision. It is possible that the primers were damaged when seated, by too much pressure, off-center seating, etc.

I just cannot blame the primer brand, particularly since it happened with what I personally know to be an outstanding primer, the F215. This one has a tough metal cup, and a weak firing pin strike could account for the misfires. But that doesn't explain it happening in two different rifles...... :confused:

PS - why is the poster even using F215s in the .220 Swift? Speer is the only current data I've seen recommending magnum primers, and the milder CCI-250s at that.

[Evan03]

dmaged primers dureing seating, i did recently switch to priming all my brass with a RCBS hand primer.

ill lightn my grip squeeze alittle and see if the missfires go away.

the moisture thing has me going to. i dont use tumbler or media of any sort. right now my case prepping is all hand work.

i did get some winchester primers last night. thats all i could find in this dang town. grrrrrr.

have any of you had problems with cci.

thanks for brining to attention that my priming technigue has changed. id completly spaced that little bit of info.

thanks a bunch for the replies

Evan

[Cossack]

You don't use tumbler and media, eh? Do you perhaps wash the cases? The obvious conclusion being that they didn't get dry before loading.

[RUMLUVER]

I have reloaded thousands of rounds with CCI, Federal, and Remington primers. I have used them in all sorts from small pistol to large rifle magnum and never had a problem with any. As of right now I never have had a misfire either. Currently I use Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers for all my Ultra Mag reloading and have had nothing but consistant and reliable ignition with them.

[Evan03]

nope no fluids on or near the cases other than case lube cases get theere knecks scrubbed out aswell as primer pockets. without the use of any media or cleaners.

miss fires have been common latly. had two in my 3006 shooting facotry rem core lokts. 2 rounds failed to fire. punched primers but i dont think they went off.

then my reloads.

i bought brick of win mag primers.

i figured what the heck why keep buying box of primers one at a time. figure i have primers for awhile.

and heck everything from 22/250 to 3006 can be considerd a magnum caliber. so the mag primers are going to work everywhere.

thanks guys. im still putn the blame on bad technigue useing the hand primer.

Evan

[Dan Morris]

Evan, I do not remember a primer problem with CCI or Reminton in over 40 years of stuffing brass!
Dan

[RUMLUVER]

I've read before that using magnum primers in lighter powder charges as in non magnum cases can lead to inconsistant ard eradic powder burning. Which leads to loss of accuracy. Just something I remembered reading and thought I'd share

[Evan03]

i switched to useing mag primer in the middle of loading for the 220. i noticed no decrease in acuracy. maybe noticed better acuracy but i was useing difrent primer and powder so no teln though the groups did shoot very tight that 40grs of h380 and the 55vmax in the 220.

figured what the hey id use the mag primers in the 2506 pushn the same powder and bullets as i was with the reg primers.

groups are printing very good.

so far i see no reason to change. guess youd have to shoot my rifle with my reloads to know. theres only so much chaberin i can do then it start to be just jabeering.

eitherway i see no advantage or dissadvantag to mag primers in either 220 or 2506.

and neither of these have mag printed after the caliber.

what if these same calibers were labeld 220mag 2506 rem mag

i thik then mag primers would be used left and right by almost all that reloaded for them.

Evan


ps

i thought the same as you. i skeptical and alittle lerry of switching to mag primers figured my acruacy would decrease or i might see pressure signs sooner.
found nothing of the like. but did find some very tight groups and no pressure signs at max loads.

[gumpokc]

I've used primarily CCI and Win (mostly CCI) since i started loading in '87.

I've had 2 misfires that were not a mechanical problem, both wer media in the flashhole.

You mentioned 2 factory misfires on your 30-06, check the length of the firing pin, make sure the tip has not een broken off, and check the firing spring for proper tension, if it isn't hitting hard enough it can dent without firing.

won't hurt to check your others for that either.

definate ID of the fluid leakage would help.

Good idea on the hand primer, they just need to be snug and seated well, doesn't need a beargrip, if seated too deep your firing pin can't hit it properly, again denting without firing.

One last thing, be careful using magnum primers with loadings listed in the manuals, unless the manual specifically states it was developed using a magnum primer. using a different type primer _will_ change the pressure curve on the load.

Not saying don't do it, just be careful, drop down and work backup, same as if you changed any other component.

[Evan03]

yup i always drop alittle below listed loads.



cant give positive id on the fluid discharge. i threw that shell thinkn it was building ppressure and could go at any second

[gumpokc]

not a bad idea, but that is just really weird.

[RUMLUVER]

Good advice on checking the firing pin condition and tension of the spring. It may not be the problem but there is no harm in checking.

[gumpokc]

Originally posted by RUMLUVER
Good advice on checking the firing pin condition and tension of the spring. It may not be the problem but there is no harm in checking.

Yeah i learned the hard way about checking the firing pins.

In desert storm, the tip of the firing pin on the coaxial m-240 brokeoff, and take it from me, it's a major PITA to swap bolts with the m-240 still in the mount, under combat conditions.

[RUMLUVER]

Those m-240's were fun to shoot ! Made for lots of destroyed targets!

[Rocky Raab]

One last suggestion for anyone having misfires.

Dust, debris and stuff does manage to get inside the bolt. Once in there, it can mix with oil and turn into a gunk. If that gunk builds up in the firing pin recess, it can serve as a "stop" and prevent the firing pin from extending properly. One of the more common things to find in there is a disk of primer cup that was created when a primer pierced. It'll be just a speck of brass, but it'll sure bind up a firing pin.

Solution: disassemble the bolt and clean it out really well with pressurized air or solvent (WEAR EYE PROTECTION!). I use a dry lube when I reassemble. Graphite or mica works well.

[RUMLUVER]

I have never had that problem myself but it is a good suggestion and food for thought. Thanks Rocky

[hofts]

quit reloading while in the bath tub!!!

just kidding ya.