Evening all. New guy here and I've been reloading 9mm, .223 and 300 AAC the past year. Last week, I made 20 mid-range loads to sight in my scope and the two on the right produced holes in the Remington No. 6 1/2 primers using 17.0gr IMR 4227. The other 18 loads were fine. Hand loads were made on a Lee single stage press, an the powder weighed on a balance beam scale, so I'm sure they weren't close to max load data, which is why I'm stumped to see these results. I shot them through a AR-15 w/16" 1:8 300 AAC Blackout barrel. Has anyone experienced something like this in your hand loads and should I back off a bit or change primmer brands? Do you think I've damaged the bolt at all?
300 AAC B.O. case over pressurized?
- Thread starter Mwaves
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Curator
Member
Fired primers don't look to be over pressure. Perhaps your firing pin protrusion is a bit on the long side. I have noticed that more and more reloaders are getting pierced primers and defective primers blowing out at the edge (duds too) using Winchester primers made in the last year. I suspect that the quality control has been let slide a bit to ratchet up production with the huge demand.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Remington 6 1/2 primers are not intended to be used is high-pressure or semi-auto firearms.
Read the fine print on the box.
Remington says:
Bottom line?
You got .22 Hornet primers!
rc
Read the fine print on the box.
Remington says:
Bottom line?
You got .22 Hornet primers!
rc
Conservidave
Member
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- 367
i've had a few Remington primers blow out on a recent workup in .223, and at the mid range loading. The rest were ok. I'd say just a few weak or bad ones got in there but it's always cause for concern.
gamestalker
member
Judging by the appearance of the primer flow, those don't really exhibit high pressure characteristics. However, the primer strike indentation looks rather excessive.
I would measure how far the FP is protruding, and then compare that to general specification.
I also noticed that the primers seem backed out quite a bit. It could actually be a low pressure situation at play here?
GS
I would measure how far the FP is protruding, and then compare that to general specification.
I also noticed that the primers seem backed out quite a bit. It could actually be a low pressure situation at play here?
GS
Thanks for you're observations and input guys. I've been evaluating my rifle and recipe with what you all said tonight.
I'll check out that BCM FP dimension for excessive protrusion, tomorrow. But if it is the pin, wouldn't all of my brass exhibit the same thing? Just asking for future knowledge. I should also tell you these were loaded with SMK 125gr #2121 bullets. IMR/Hodgdon official load data has "17.7C" as the max. I'm not ready to start compressed loads, but I did work this load up to 17.2gr and stopped because my rifle seemed more accurate with 17.0gr seated @2.250", uncrimmped. Is that a light load? I agree the primers seem to protrude a bit.
Rcmodel, you're absolutely right about the warning label. At first, I couldn't believe I missed seeing that on the package, but that's some real fine print I missed. This will be Change #1. I have CCI 400, 500 and Remington 7 1/2 on hand that I can use. What do ya'll like to use for 300 Blackout or 30 calibers? I seem to like CCI 400, but I usually get whats priced right.
Mwaves
I'll check out that BCM FP dimension for excessive protrusion, tomorrow. But if it is the pin, wouldn't all of my brass exhibit the same thing? Just asking for future knowledge. I should also tell you these were loaded with SMK 125gr #2121 bullets. IMR/Hodgdon official load data has "17.7C" as the max. I'm not ready to start compressed loads, but I did work this load up to 17.2gr and stopped because my rifle seemed more accurate with 17.0gr seated @2.250", uncrimmped. Is that a light load? I agree the primers seem to protrude a bit.
Rcmodel, you're absolutely right about the warning label. At first, I couldn't believe I missed seeing that on the package, but that's some real fine print I missed. This will be Change #1. I have CCI 400, 500 and Remington 7 1/2 on hand that I can use. What do ya'll like to use for 300 Blackout or 30 calibers? I seem to like CCI 400, but I usually get whats priced right.
Mwaves
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It doesn't matter.
As long as its a Sm Rifle primer designed for high pressure and the slam-bam of auto-loader feeding.
You will never in your wildest dream be able to tell any difference in accuracy between Sm Rifle primer brands in a .300 BO rifle.
rc
As long as its a Sm Rifle primer designed for high pressure and the slam-bam of auto-loader feeding.
You will never in your wildest dream be able to tell any difference in accuracy between Sm Rifle primer brands in a .300 BO rifle.
rc
mstreddy
Member
As usual, RC nailed it. Rem 6 1/2 primers are NOT meant for 223 or 300 Blackout. Read the warning on the side of the box/sleeve.
Any other small rifle primer will work.
As to what to do with the remaining Rem 6 1/2 primers -- I've successfully used them in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 38 Special loads. No pierced primers, no pressure issues.
Any other small rifle primer will work.
As to what to do with the remaining Rem 6 1/2 primers -- I've successfully used them in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 38 Special loads. No pierced primers, no pressure issues.
Just checked out out a few things we talked about. The primers checked out flush using calipers, not protruding. So I'm ruling that out. My firing pin protrusion measured 0.027" which is on the short side. Also, I cleaned the bolt carrier group and didn't find any damage, thankfully.
I'll switch to the right primers, which I feel is the main problem here and do some more shooting after I heal up from elbow surgery. So I won't know until mid June if there's improvements. Sounds like I need to pay more attention to the fine prints though. Thanks gentlemen! I can't wait to get back to the range again.
-Mwaves
I'll switch to the right primers, which I feel is the main problem here and do some more shooting after I heal up from elbow surgery. So I won't know until mid June if there's improvements. Sounds like I need to pay more attention to the fine prints though. Thanks gentlemen! I can't wait to get back to the range again.
-Mwaves
243winxb
Member
300 AAC Blackout
If forming your brass from 223 Rem., make sure the rounds loaded neck diameter is not larger than .334" This keeps the necks from getting pinched in the chamber & raising pressure. The cartridge operates at 55,000 PSI so i would use the Rem 7 1/2 over the CCI 400 primers. Or a magnum primer that has a thicker cup.
If forming your brass from 223 Rem., make sure the rounds loaded neck diameter is not larger than .334" This keeps the necks from getting pinched in the chamber & raising pressure. The cartridge operates at 55,000 PSI so i would use the Rem 7 1/2 over the CCI 400 primers. Or a magnum primer that has a thicker cup.
redbullitt
Member
I use the rem 6.5s in my bolt whisper all the time for light loads. The local shop does not know what to do with them, so they discount them pretty hard for me lol.
BUT they are most definitely low pressure primers. I believe they were intended for cartridges like the little 22 centerfires.
I use them in light red dot loads with cast bullets in my 357 brass and in light loaded 300 whisper in the bolt rifle.
FWIW they have done pretty well in subsonic 300 whisper loadings. 3.8g of red dot, rem 6.5 primer and a cast Plain base 175 bullet actually shot better than most anything else out of the rifle lol. Primer started to crater at about 4.3gs Red dot. I use a 247g cast bullet with a coke can plain base gas check, 6.8g lil gun as well and is does very well. Primer starts to crater at around 8.5g.
Other than cast bullets in the whisper I have used the rem 6.5 primers with 220 smks over 8.0g of little gun with good results. This is right on the edge of pressure signs for me. I prefer to use them with cast bullets...
So I guess what I am trying to say is that they are usable primers in some applications... eg low pressure loadings and NO SUPERSONIC LOADS. I would not use them in a semi auto type loading as the pressure needed to run the gun reliably could exceed what the primer can handle. I will happily take those 6.5 primers off your hands if you are anywhere near WV lol.
BUT they are most definitely low pressure primers. I believe they were intended for cartridges like the little 22 centerfires.
I use them in light red dot loads with cast bullets in my 357 brass and in light loaded 300 whisper in the bolt rifle.
FWIW they have done pretty well in subsonic 300 whisper loadings. 3.8g of red dot, rem 6.5 primer and a cast Plain base 175 bullet actually shot better than most anything else out of the rifle lol. Primer started to crater at about 4.3gs Red dot. I use a 247g cast bullet with a coke can plain base gas check, 6.8g lil gun as well and is does very well. Primer starts to crater at around 8.5g.
Other than cast bullets in the whisper I have used the rem 6.5 primers with 220 smks over 8.0g of little gun with good results. This is right on the edge of pressure signs for me. I prefer to use them with cast bullets...
So I guess what I am trying to say is that they are usable primers in some applications... eg low pressure loadings and NO SUPERSONIC LOADS. I would not use them in a semi auto type loading as the pressure needed to run the gun reliably could exceed what the primer can handle. I will happily take those 6.5 primers off your hands if you are anywhere near WV lol.
Swampman
Old Fart
Be careful with blanket statements.
A couple of years back I ordered 1000 Tula KV223 primers to try out in some .223 loads. While doing my work-up I got a couple of pierced primers before I'd gotten anywhere close to "book max" or even my own previous load using CCI #41's.
A little research turned up the fact that KVB223 primers are NOT actually meant for full power .223 loads. That role is filled by the KVB223M and KVB5.56M primers.
I ended up using the KVB223's in .30 Carbine loads where they performed flawlessly.
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