45 Colt...Yikes!

[Scott S]

Hello all! I just finished up trying my new out of the box Uberti El Patron with my 45 Colt reloads and pierced a couple of primers. These loads were with 5.8 grains of Trail Boss topped with a 250 grain lead bullet with Remington 2 1/2 large pistol primers. I've made these for years for my Ruger Blackhawks with no issues. I'm at a loss. What do you guys think?

 

[LeftyTSGC]

Not sure, I shoot 5.6gn TB with the same 250gn bullet. I use either CCI or WLP primers. but still that shouldn't of pierced them. 5.8 is at the Max but that is still a good pressure for TB. How long is the firing pin on that revolver? maybe there is something not aligned correctly with the hammer and pin. Is that a fixed pin or is it on a spring?

leftytsgc

 

[Hanshi]

I'd check the firing pin tip. Sometimes there can be a burr or sharp point there that needs to be polished off.

 

[Scott S]

My new Uberti has the firing pin "spring loaded" on the hammer. I'll have to look at the spec. for the depth of the pin.

 

[magyars4]

I'm guessing firing pin as well. Seem to recall that the Remington primers take a lite strike...so maybe try a different pri Dr?

 

[jimboecv]

Check firing pin on both pieces and see the difference. Might try shooting the same batch of reloads through the Blackhawk, too. See how it feels since you've been shooting that same load for awhile, could be something unrelated.

 

[Scott S]

I'm guessing firing pin as well. Seem to recall that the Remington primers take a lite strike...so maybe try a different pri Dr?

I was thinking about going to a large pistol magnum primer.

 

[hossfly]

I doubt it's the charge but I'd back off two or three tenths just to see. I'm not really sure what to make of that.

 

[mrawesome22-250]

Looks like the firing pin is going much too deep.

 

[FROGO207]

That firing pin is really whailing that primer hard. Might be the depth alone or the shape/profile of the end. How do those compare to the strikes from the Blackhawk? Do you have any of those you have not decapped yet? I would get things squared away rather than just getting a tougher primer.

 

[Captcurt]

You might try a harder primer too. I'm not familiar with the Remington's but CCI is one of the hardest, or so I have been told.

 

[MEHavey]

Before you do anything else:

- How far does firing pin protrude from the breech face when trigger pulled/hammer down ?

Measure and let us know.....


.

 

[Scott S]

I'm getting about .038 protruding from the breech face. About the same as my Blackhawks, (maybe .035). The primer strikes are much more consistent with my Rugers, the Uberti has only fifty rounds through it.

 

[nevadabob]

I'd shoot some thru your Blackhawk and compare with the Uberti. If they look the same, it could be the primers were made out of spec and have a thin face.

 

[MEHavey]

I'm getting about .038 protruding from the breech face.

That's not excessive at all. Pulling the hammer all the way back, do you
have room to get a fine stone in there to simply smooth the pin contours? **
(not shorten it.)

** (I'm seeing squared-off edges at the bottom of the primer indentations)

 

[DocRock]

5.8 grs TB with a 250 grs bullet is max load. TB behaves badly when compressed, delivering pressure spikes. No chance this is a compressed load?

 

[Scott S]

I think the main variable here is the new hog leg. This load has been fine in my Rugers for years. I think I will back off the powder charge a little for safety and try to round the edges a little on the Uberti. I'm thinking about going to magnum primers and save the ones I have for my 45acp loads. Thanks everyone for your help so far.

 

[Scott S]

It might have been compressed. Round in question seemed to have a little more "bark".

 

[Rule3]

With a new gun it is usually a good idea to shoot some "factory" rounds through it. Yes, they are not cheap like 9mm, but that way you determine if it is the gun or Your ammo. If it pierces factory loads you can be sure it is the gun. Then you can contact the manufacture who will ask what ammo you used.

 

[Scott S]

Just picked up some HSM factory ammo to try. Range report coming soon.

 

[blue32]

I've only put CCI 500s through my Uberti and it gives the primers a good whack but I've never pierced one. I bet a different brand would solve it. If not that then likely a spring issue.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I was thinking about going to a large pistol magnum primer.

Going to a magnum primer will not solve your problem. Might even make it worse. The magnum primer uses a faster burning fuel in a shell that is likely the same. As others have said, polish the end of the firing pin.

 

[Riomouse911]

If the load is a max load for the powder I agree with the earlier post to back off a bit and work up. What works 100% in the Ruger, a strong gun, may be excessive vin the Uberti, a not-as-strong gun that will probably have different tolerances in the chambers, etc.

Hopefully you’ll figure out the pierced primer issue soon, that’s never fun.

Stay safe.

 

[Scott S]

I think you're right about the magnum primers. Going to run some factory loads through it. If it still is piercing primers it will be Uberti's problem although I suspect it's my reloads. We will find out!

 

[berettaprofessor]

Assuming your load is accurate, it should have been fine. I use 6.0 Trailboss behind a 230. But I'm using CCI primers....so I'm guessing either soft primers, load weight is off, or firing pin issues.