Kaboom!!!

[CoalTrain49]

Re those CCI mil-spec primers:

I had a GI carbine from Fulton Armory, very nice, looked new.

I bought a bunch of those CCI primers & loaded up a couple hundred with different bullet types in new carbine brass. Gauged the brass.

Maybe one out of ten lit up on the first try, several took two strikes, some would not fire at all.

After talks with Fulton & sending the gun back to be checked out, and then having my local guy check headspace, we concluded the primers do not work well in a GI M1 carbine, and I still have the leftovers sitting in the basement.

The gun functioned perfectly with commercial loads.

I would advise against the CCI mil-spec primers in an M1 Carbine.

Walt Kulek, after some discussions with him, thought the carbine's setup doesn't mate well with them.

Just an FYI, and not knocking CCI. Just saying they were a dismal failure in my gun.
Denis

Thanks for that information.

I purchased the 450's because there were no 400's available at the time.

I'm not sure if these are as hard as mil spec but I guess I will find out.

 

[rodregier]

The 450's aren't as hard as the milspec primers, but they're at the upper end of the commercial US-made primers for hardness. I gave up on the WSR's when the mfgr changed them in 1999 and dropped the plating. One of the touted features for the changed WSR's was "improved sensitivity". Which is exactly what I don't want!

I'm now using CCI 450's for my AR15 pattern reloading these days, having finally exhausted my stocks of the pre-2000 plated WSR's

BTW, 450's are recommended for .223 REM reloading (pressure), whereas the 400's are not.

https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=320346

EWP writes:

"- Cases that utilize small rifle primers and operate at moderate pressures(40,000 psi) should use CCI 400, Federal 200, Rem 6 1/2, or Win SR. Such cases include 22 CCM, 22 Hornet and the 218 Bee. These primers are also used in heavy handguns such as the 9mm., 357, etc. Other cases that use the small rifle primer can use the above primers only if moderate loads are used. Keep to the lower end of reloading recommendations.

- Cases that utilize Small Rifle primers and operate at higher pressures (.223 Rem, 55,000 psi) should use CCI 450, CCI BR4, Fed 205 and Rem 7 1/2.

- With large rifle primers all being the same thickness, choose a primer that makes the most accurate group, is the shiniest, cheapest or whatever, as they all have similar pressure capabilities.

Hope this clears up some primer confusion."

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

First off, very glad to hear that you had eye and ear protection at the time! For those that wear gloves at the range -- what kind?

 

[fallout mike]

For you knowledgeable guys, is it possible to replace the problem pieces of this gun with quality pieces? He doesn't really want it now. I may buy it if it can be made reliable. And if I can get past the mental part of it kabooming on me!

 

[DPris]

Depends.
No real aftermarket parts & the Universals were not mil-spec.
I'd let it go, not worth messing with.
Denis

 

[Jeremy2171]

Sell the usable pieces to other Universal owners then take the barreled receiver/broken stock to a gun buy back and get several hundred dollars for your "assault weapon"....







no really....

 

[BCRider]

I hate to say it but I'd second Jeremy's suggestion above. The later Universals with these issues were not compatible with most of the GI rifle parts from the earlier guns.

Note however that apparently the early Universals were fully GI compatible and did not have this OOB issue. So it is possible to find a GOOD Universal.

But with so many good M1 carbine brands I suspect I'd want to go with one that is a known good performer.

 

[DPris]

The Universal I had around 1980 was not GI compatible.
Denis

 

[pintler]

"I had heard the CCI mil-spec primers (in the correct large/small size) work well and are recommended for the AR16/M16 pattern, the M1 Garand and the M14/M1A pattern, but those could be very different with regard to the force transmitted by the hammer and/or the firing pin contour."

Just FWIW: I've used a few thousand the CCI 'milspec' primers for AR-15 and Mini-14 loads w/o problems.

 

[DPris]

Kulek & Fulton both suggested the carbine's setup just wasn't compatible with those primers.
Those ARE intended for 5.56 & other rifles.
Just not .30 Carbine.

Not saying don't use 'em in other US military platforms.
Denis