Bad primers on CCI Blazers?

[ChuckB]

Hey there. I've been pretty satisfied with Blazer ammo in my centerfire handguns, at least until now. The last several boxes of brass-case 9mm produced a number of FTF's per box in my Glock 19. I then ran two boxes through my Beretta 92- same thing. In casual shooting, it's only an irritation; in competition, it's lost points; in SHTF, it could be fatal. Has anyone else had a problem with Blazer FTF's?

Chuck

 

[JohnKSa]

It is my understanding that CCI uses harder primers than some other companies. Glocks tend to have a lighter primer strike than some pistols, so the combination could result in the FTFs you have seen. It is a bit unusual though--I've put a lot of Blazer through Glocks with no problems.

How light is the hammer spring you put in the Beretta?

 

[GRINZ]

Never had a problem with Blazer, Lawman, Gold Dot. Haven't tried brass case yet.

 

[ChuckB]

John, my Beretta shoots everything and anything. Never had a problem in the past 3000+ rounds.

Chuck

 

[JohnKSa]

ChuckB,

You didn't exactly answer my question...

 

[Nick96]

I've never experienced a problem with miss-fires with Blazer ammo. But then - I use nothing but factory springs in my guns. I have had failures to eject with Blazer in autos though.

I really don't expect much from this ammo - it's just cheap, close range practice stuff as far as I'm concerned. The up side though - if your gun functions well with Blazer - it should digest most any higher quality factory loaded ammo. It's certainly not the sort of ammo I'd rely on for defense though.

 

[stans]

Is this hollowpoint or full metal jacket ammo?

How far do the rounds get before they get stuck?

Have you changed any springs in your mags or guns?

How many rounds do you have on those springs?


EDIT- Oops, my bad, I read "FTF" as Failure To Feed. Failure to fire might be a bad primer, could also be a weak hammer spring or if your gun has a firing pin safety system, something there could be dragging on the firing pin and slowing it down.

 

[Berg01]

Although my P228 shoots the aluminum-cased Blazer without a cough, I've been using the 9mm, 40 S&W, and .45 ACP Blazer Brass, which works great across the board in my Sig P228, CZ 75B .40, and my SW1911. WalMart has been selling the Blazer Brass at the same price as the regular aluminum cased stuff.

 

[Smurfslayer]

some thoughts

I've never had a bad batch of blazer (factory) primers. In the Beretta, did you 2nd strike them? If so, what happened? Also, is the the 92 stock, or with a reduced power hammer spring?

If you can't light it off with the stock 92fs, it's bad ammo.


OTOH, I HAVE had less than stellar results with blazer primers I've used previously in reloading. I'd get about 10 misfires in a 1k round batch; with Winchester, I'm seeing 1 every 1500 or so...

One final question; in the last cleaning for both guns you mention, were you careful not to get oil in the f/p hole ? <- it's possible, so I have to ask...

 

[mainmech48]

I'm guessing that this must be an issue peculiar to the new brass cased Blazer stuff.

I've used thousands of rounds of the aluminum cased ammo, mostly in 9x19 and .45 ACP with no problems to speak of. Whenever it's available in case lots at "loss leader" prices I stock up.

 

[ChuckB]

Smurfslayer- I tried second strikes the first few times, but no ignition. Please note, all, that this has happened in two, not one, combat handguns. Yes, I have a slightly lighter hammer spring in the 92, but it has functioned flawlessly for over 1000 rounds, including Blazers. I had just as many FTF's with the G19. I think CCI makes excellent ammo, in general. I'm a big fan of their Mini-Mags in .22 guns. Also, I'm not likely to use 115 gr. FMJ in a 9mm for self defense. However- if CCI uses the same primers in their Gold Dot 9's, then I will have to seriously consider another brand of defense ammo. As I said before, the .45's run perfectly through my S.A. Micro Compact.

Chuck

 

[JohnKSa]

ChuckB,

The reason I asked is because I've never heard of any 92 having misfires with any factory ammunition unless it's broken or has been modified. The 92 has one of the hardest hammer strikes I've ever encountered. Even the lighter D model spring, found in the Elites and the DAO Berettas, will tear up snap caps like nothing else in my safe.

The hammer strike is so strong that I've heard of at least one Beretta owner stripping his slide to find that his firing pin was broken into three pieces and yet he was only occasionally experiencing misfires.

 

[Morgan]

These primers don't happen to have an "LF" or "CF" marking on them, do they?

If so, they're lead free or "Clean Fire". The early ones (marked "LF" in the ones I've seen) were notorious for poor ignition. I personally saw Glocks, SIGs, Berettas, and Smiths misfire on them, with good primer hits. Oddly, another Officer's USPc had some issues, while my USPf didn't, and they run the same hammer spring.

The newer lead free primers have been fine from what I've seen, but I've read of problems.

 

[Smurfslayer]

tough to say...

John's right though, the 92 is meant to light off any 9mm x 19 available round in existence, properly maintained.

You said that the rounds could not be 'second struck' and successfully lit off, and if you're not having trouble with any other ammo as you indicate, it sounds like you have bad ammo. I'd quarantine the 92/retest to be sure you didn't have ammo pickiness now because of the lighter spring... Just as a precaution... Chances are good that this is not needed, but not 100%...

I got a Wollff 3 pack for a couple of my Tauruses ( or is it more correct as Taurii ? ) model 65. 10, 12 & 14 IIRC, with 16 being stock poundage. All of the reduced power springs produced at least some misfires... The 10 pound spring worked with 100% of my reloads, but not well at all with cheap commercial practice ammo... Apples to orange comparison, but keep it in mind.

 

[dairycreek]

I have used Blazers for a long, long time!

Years and years of use of the cheap Blazers and I have never had a problem - ever! Must be lucky. Good shooting

 

[ChuckB]

dairy- I, too, have used thousands of rounds of Blazers without a hitch. I have one box of these left, and I'm going to donate it to any friend who will take it- knowing of my problems with it.

Chuck

 

[chevrofreak]

I had an upside-down stovepipe with some Blazer Brass 9mm in my G17. First jam that gun has had in over 4000 rounds. Maybe the new Blazer isnt as good as we had all thought it would be?