We're getting corroborating evidence that there are bad lots of Winchester WLP (large pistol) primers in circulation. Primers have pinhole failures on their shoulders with no other signs of pressure -- 44mag in my case. Check your firearms for gas-cutting (pits) on bolt/breach faces and recoil shields of revolvers.
I talked to Olin (winchester ammunition). They want the failed primers, the brass they were in, and 10-15 live rounds with the suspect primers. They sent a UPS guy to pick'm up.
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Dear Winchester Ammunition / Olin, (per conversation w/ phone tech)
Last year, I loaded and fired 1000 of these:
44mag brass, mixed headstamps, 1-3 reloads each
WLP primer
23.5grains of H110 (23.0 is min, 24.0 is max)
Oregon Trail Bullet Company 240grain lead cast wad cutter
They all functioned perfectly. Having ran out of WLP primers, I purchased a
new lot of 1000 (lot #included). I then made 200 of the same loads (10 live
rounds included), the only difference beeing the new lot of WLP primers.
I fired 50 of these loads and four primers pierced at the primer's
shoulder. I noticed this when i cleaned the firearm, and four pits were
etched into the recoil shield (ruger super redhawk). I recovered the
failed cartridges and deprimed to discover pinholes in four of the of
new WLP primers.
This is getting attention on the internet as I'm not the only one
with an aparent bad lot of WLP primers.
Lot#'s include:
DFL717G
DHL774G
DHL788G (included in this box)
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=129224
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=129016&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
There is also a propensity for this to happen with RP(remington) brass (which
I've provided). You'll notice RP brass has more of a radius at the entrace
to the primer cup, leaving less support where the primer failed. Also, I
made more of a point of fully seating primers in the 50 I fired (of which
four failed), i'm not sure if that helps or not.
I'm disappointed because I've exclusively use Winchester/Olin primers in
all my firearms for years. I just discovered one similar gas-cut pit in my
Remmington model 700 bolt face (WLR primers). So I have two irreperably
damaged firearms, 800 suspect WLP primers, and 1000 WLR primers (all purchased
at the same time).
thank you for your support,
I talked to Olin (winchester ammunition). They want the failed primers, the brass they were in, and 10-15 live rounds with the suspect primers. They sent a UPS guy to pick'm up.
===========================================
Dear Winchester Ammunition / Olin, (per conversation w/ phone tech)
Last year, I loaded and fired 1000 of these:
44mag brass, mixed headstamps, 1-3 reloads each
WLP primer
23.5grains of H110 (23.0 is min, 24.0 is max)
Oregon Trail Bullet Company 240grain lead cast wad cutter
They all functioned perfectly. Having ran out of WLP primers, I purchased a
new lot of 1000 (lot #included). I then made 200 of the same loads (10 live
rounds included), the only difference beeing the new lot of WLP primers.
I fired 50 of these loads and four primers pierced at the primer's
shoulder. I noticed this when i cleaned the firearm, and four pits were
etched into the recoil shield (ruger super redhawk). I recovered the
failed cartridges and deprimed to discover pinholes in four of the of
new WLP primers.
This is getting attention on the internet as I'm not the only one
with an aparent bad lot of WLP primers.
Lot#'s include:
DFL717G
DHL774G
DHL788G (included in this box)
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=129224
http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=129016&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
There is also a propensity for this to happen with RP(remington) brass (which
I've provided). You'll notice RP brass has more of a radius at the entrace
to the primer cup, leaving less support where the primer failed. Also, I
made more of a point of fully seating primers in the 50 I fired (of which
four failed), i'm not sure if that helps or not.
I'm disappointed because I've exclusively use Winchester/Olin primers in
all my firearms for years. I just discovered one similar gas-cut pit in my
Remmington model 700 bolt face (WLR primers). So I have two irreperably
damaged firearms, 800 suspect WLP primers, and 1000 WLR primers (all purchased
at the same time).
thank you for your support,