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Primers

BSPPC said:
Only misfires I've ever had were when I seated primers upside down……..
In the 70's we never touched primers, we used tweezers to handle them. I quit that nonsense in the 80's.
I bought a S&W 29-2 recently and bought a box of Winchester factory 44 Mag shells. I had several misfires out of that box. It looks like light primer strikes to me.
Click to expand...
I have done dozens of Trigger jobs on S&W 19s & 29s. Just buy a new spring and make sure that it close to original spring tension. They are easy to change out. I put several very light springs in on some 29s and never misfire, but HAIR Trigger after cocked.
 
I always took several rifles when culling in my younger days. During the late 70's, I had a Sako .243 with handloads, a Weatherby Mark V with handloads and a Winchester Model 70 with factory loads, all Remington primers.

All 3 rifles has missfires on that trip. I returned home and tossed everything Remington in the garbage and have never had another since.

I did however, have exoloding primers from those Winchester brass cased primers a few years back. I got lucky and bolt faces were not scored but I also ditched the newer Winchester primers. Used bucket loads of the old Winchester 120's and never had a problem.

These days I use Federal and CCI. No issues with either.
 
As a PS: the only firearms plant in the US that I know had a formal Quality Management System (QMS) was Barrett and that is because it is required by the US government and independantly audited by them through their vendor auditing division. (DCMA)

There may be others, but they don't seem to advertise ISO 9001 certification if the do have it.
 
I have been reloading for 63 years now. I have had a few miss fires. My son has had problems at time. I figure it's him. I have had a few that didn't go bang. What the cause was I don't really know. Rifle reload in hunting I have never had a problem. I have had a few with shotgun reload. Missed something. The only problem I have is pushing the unfire primer back out of the case. That worriers me some. Never had one go off, but have read here about problems. Seem it was more in Priming the case to start with. I have several different types of priming tools. I kind of feel that the placing the primer in the case wasn't completed correctly, and got jam and set it off, and all the other after than in the tube. I know I am extremely as I add a new primer into the primer holder, making sure it's sitting correctly to place the primer in the case. I am careful to apply the same pressure in sitting the primer.
 
As primers get 40 years old, there can be failures to fire. I have seen it in Fed 210s that were stored in an out door shed, non heated and insulated.

I have had bad lots of Rem 7 1/2s and Winchester small rifle, fresh straight from the factory. Some Win Large rifle are made small where they allow gas leakage, buring the bolt face.
 
I have yet to have a primer not go off without a specific reason. Some didn't go off due to lite strikes or improper seating, usually by someone else, deformed cases or something like that. My own reloads I have never had problems with, especially those that are specifically for self or home defense.

I have no problem handling primers but I make sure my hands are clean & dry when it comes time to prime cases. No sweaty fingers, oily fingers or greasy fingers allowed! Primers I find on the floor (unless I just dropped them) get used for practice ammo.

I have used Winchester, CCI, and Federal primers for the most part and a few times got Remington if the others weren't handy. I've never had a problem with any brand and I've reloaded well over 1 million rounds (I had a commercial reloading operation using 2 Dillon 1000... which should hint at how long ago it was!) and never had problems with any of the major brand names. I know others who say they have but I've never personally experienced it.
Cheers,
crkckr
 
I forgot to mention earlier, check the tension screw (front of frame ) if it is backed out,tighten it. Some people will back it out to get a lighter trigger pull. If it is tight and you still have light strikes in a pinch,I have put a small primer cup on the end of the screw for a shim. Not the right way to do it,but temporary fix. Also you will have a lighter strike double action than single action,because the hammer fall is shorter. The primer cup trick won't work on a round butt frame.

The springs in a Smith are a delicate balance. A backed off mainspring will lighten the trigger,but reduce reliability. A lighter trigger return spring will lighten the trigger pull also, but slows down double action shooting because it takes longer for the trigger to return home. When everything is right you can keep up with Jerry Miculek.
 
Old Rooster said:
Mike Matteson said: "The only problem I have is pushing the unfired primer back out of the case. That worriers me some".
I hear ya brother as I had to do the same.
Thats when you make sure you have safety glasses and hearing protection!
Click to expand...
That funny. I never give much though about safety glasses nor ear protection during those times. About to finish up my reloading shack in Montana. I will have to put in a set eye and hearing protection there.
 
I've popped many live primers out over the years, usually due to loose primer pockets in .223 cases. I've never had one go off, since they usually come out easy, but I've pushed a few out of normal cases as well. I use a die and pin punch from a Lee "basher" kit, a rubber hammer and *always* wear eye and ear pro when doing so! Tap gently many times and the primer almost always comes out intact without any damage, to be used again (but always in practice ammo. I've never had one not go off but don't want the first time to be when I'm relying on the ammo!)

BTW, if you're cheap like me, loose primer pockets can be fixed by setting the case on a 1/4" ball bearing & using a neck diameter punch, set the case squarely on the ball bearing and whacking the punch a few times, until the primer fit is normal. I've fixed many primer pockets this way in many different calibers with great success. Any case that is repaired like this goes into the practice round bucket, although I've never had trouble with them after their repair.
Cheers,
crkckr
 
crkckr said:
I've popped many live primers out over the years, usually due to loose primer pockets in .223 cases. I've never had one go off, since they usually come out easy, but I've pushed a few out of normal cases as well. I use a die and pin punch from a Lee "basher" kit, a rubber hammer and *always* wear eye and ear pro when doing so! Tap gently many times and the primer almost always comes out intact without any damage, to be used again (but always in practice ammo. I've never had one not go off but don't want the first time to be when I'm relying on the ammo!)

BTW, if you're cheap like me, loose primer pockets can be fixed by setting the case on a 1/4" ball bearing & using a neck diameter punch, set the case squarely on the ball bearing and whacking the punch a few times, until the primer fit is normal. I've fixed many primer pockets this way in many different calibers with great success. Any case that is repaired like this goes into the practice round bucket, although I've never had trouble with them after their repair.
Cheers,
crkckr
Click to expand...
I have read about using a ball bearing to close in the primer pocket. A great many years ago, I switch from FL sizing to neck sizing my belted mag rifles. Stop the spliting of the case at the base, but would lose the case to primer pocket getting to big. I am going to try that. It was my understanding that a 3/8 to 1/2 bearing was being used. The 1/4" makes more sences to me. Thanks for the added info.
 
Mike Matteson said:
That funny. I never give much though about safety glasses nor ear protection during those times. About to finish up my reloading shack in Montana. I will have to put in a set eye and hearing protection there.
Click to expand...
I know you miss California/Northern Mexico and dictator Newscum. No replies please. Don't want to derail ahead 😉
 

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