300 WSM not firing

[mtorrey53]

I've been reloading for quite some time. Not a lot just enough to hunt and such. I have ran into a problem that I've never had before. I loaded some 300wsm. I left them a little long (over mag length) so I had to load them by hand. I attempted to shoot 6 rounds. None of them fired. The primer had what appeared to be good firing pin marks but not ignition. I used some older primers. About 3 years old. I thought that was my problem. I got home. Pulled all the bullets. Then I decided to see if the primers were good. I shot all six in my rifle with just the primer. No powder or bullet. They all fired. Any idea what it could have been?

 

[crystalgayleguy]

firing pin might be to long or gummed up

 

[Mowgli Terry]

What you described is a classic symptom primers not fully seated. Misfire on the first attempt and fire on the second. Run a finger across the case head on newly seated primer. It's possible to find the high primer this way without ceremony or voodoo reloading.

 

[Rick Richard]

Perhaps firing pin spring problem.

 

[stratton2885]

I'd say fire pin/spring also. Pull it and clean the spring, it'll go bang!

 

[jjmp]

Do you cut your primer pockets with a match prep carbide primer pocket hand tool ,this insures that the primers three legs are in full contact with the bottom of the primer pocket . Ideally primers should be below flush as stated above , reloading manuals show pictures and tell how much ,but you can't over cut because there's a built in shoulder on the tool ,some can be chucked up in a drill some not . I never touch my primers with my fingers never , a hand primer is better then priming on the reloading press . Cheers

 

[mtorrey53]

It's new Winchester brass. I didn't prep the primer pockets. I didn't even think about it. This is my first time using new brass. I'll do that. I bet that and them not fully seated is gonna be my problem. I took the bolt apart and cleaned it just to eliminate that being a problem. Thanks for all the help. I'll let y'all know what happens.

 

[Rick Richard]

I mentioned the firing pin spring because this happened to me before. The primers will have what appears to be a good hit, but in fact it just does not have enough force to go boom with a weakened spring. Good luck.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Please explain how firing pin and spring works half the time? Primer problem. Get to the simplest answer that covers the most aspects of the problem.

OK:The firing pin pushes, seats enough, the primer so round goes off the second time.

 

[Gater]

I've been reloading for quite some time. Not a lot just enough to hunt and such. I have ran into a problem that I've never had before. I loaded some 300wsm. I left them a little long (over mag length) so I had to load them by hand. I attempted to shoot 6 rounds. None of them fired. The primer had what appeared to be good firing pin marks but not ignition. I used some older primers. About 3 years old. I thought that was my problem. I got home. Pulled all the bullets. Then I decided to see if the primers were good. I shot all six in my rifle with just the primer. No powder or bullet. They all fired. Any idea what it could have been?

Was the primer seated all the way ?

 

[DSheetz]

What was the temp. outside when you were at the range ? The firing pin may be a little gummy from the cold depending on the lube used or the primer may not be seated all the way to the proper depth .

 

[mtorrey53]

What was the temp. outside when you were at the range ? The firing pin may be a little gummy from the cold depending on the lube used or the primer may not be seated all the way to the proper depth .

It was about 50*. Wasn't cold at all. I think the problem was me. I didn't prep the primer pockets therefor I don't think I had them seated all the way.

 

[emp1953]

Was it a new rifle? or one that has been setting in the safe for a few years? I had an issue where it wouldn't go bang. A new rifle. Called my gunsmith, read him the serial number and he got back to me saying the rifle was 4 years old when I bought it. He suggested that I pull the bolt and soak it for a week in a coffee can of kerosene, then spray it out with carb cleaner then lube it lightly with a quality gun oil. I did it and it goes bang every time now. I've seen the incorrectly seated primers cause your problem too. I use a Lee hand primer and when I'm done with a case I brush my thumb over the base. Over the years I have developed a feel for what a properly seated primer feels like. A primer not correctly seated will absorb the energy of the firing pin by moving deeper in the primer pocket thus not detonating. After that the primer is now seated and will likely fire normally if shot again. I also saw an instance where a guy at the range decided to save some money and used large pistol primers instead of large rifle primers. Even though they will fit, they usually won't fire because they will seat deeper in the pocket.

 

[epoletna]

Yep, your primers were not fully seated. I've seen the problem several times. Don't worry about dressing the pockets or three-year old primers -- just make sure you're seating them fully.

Are you using a hand tool to put the primers in, or doing it on a reloading press?