I have been trying some 25-06 loads using 41.5 to 43 grs of Varget. I have found that all loads tested shoot under 1" so I decided to use 41.5 grs as my hunting load for this particular rifle. Last week I replaced the stock trigger with a Timney and now I am noticing what seems like "delayed" ignition of the powder in the ammo I had loaded for this gun. It's like I can hear the primer ignite (pop) before hearing the Varget ignite. Anyone ever experience anything like this before? Wondering if the load might be too light and the powder is too far away from the primer. It doesn't happen every round, perhaps 2 out of 10. Any ideas?
Delayed Ignition With Varget?
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243winxb
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Bullet weight? Trigger adjustment* problem?
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Using 100 gr. Nosler BT's. I shot 20 Federal factory loads with none of them had delayed firings. It has only happened about 3 times and they were all the reloads I mentioned. Hard to explain how this sounds, but the closest I could compare it to would be my black powder rifles. I don't feel any creep in the trigger and it is set to approximately 2 1/2 lbs. What other trigger problems should I look for?
Same here. I've been using Varget in my 308 and Swiss K-31's since it was first introduced several years ago and never experienced this delay in any other reloads.
Was approximately 38 degrees. Doubt seriously that temps would have caused this but I could be wrong.
hey_poolboy
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Can you put the other trigger back in and see if the issue goes away? That would at least give you an idea where to look for the root of the problem.
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gamestalker
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Wow, that's sounds pretty scary! You may be experiencing a secondary detonation, which is not good, to say the least. I'm not real clear on what weight bullet you are using, is it the Nosler 120 gr.? Or is that the factory load?
There are a few things that can cause this type of delayed det, one is a contaminated powder charge or primer, another is a severe flash hole obstruction, the wrong primer, and temperature reactive powder is also a possible. I don't know if light primer strikes could cause this or not, I would think if a primer detonates, all is good?
Did you double check your powder to make sure it is for sure Varget in the loaded cases? Either way, I would personally find the culprit before using any more of those loads to avoid a possible KB.
GS
There are a few things that can cause this type of delayed det, one is a contaminated powder charge or primer, another is a severe flash hole obstruction, the wrong primer, and temperature reactive powder is also a possible. I don't know if light primer strikes could cause this or not, I would think if a primer detonates, all is good?
Did you double check your powder to make sure it is for sure Varget in the loaded cases? Either way, I would personally find the culprit before using any more of those loads to avoid a possible KB.
GS
10 Spot Terminator
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What you are describing is in a minor sense a "Hang Fire" . With the powder you are using it isnt position sensitive nor temperature sensitive and your load is .5 grs. over min start so that pretty much leaves the primer. As a rule primers will either ignite or not when struck hard enough for the cup to hit the anvil. If they tend to sputter like a bad match when struck the the issue is with the primers themselves. I have never heard of double detonation issues with anything other than powders such as H110/W296 or 2400 when loaded lite and or when using standard powders rather that recommended magnum primers. What primer are you using ? How and where are they stored ? Do you live in an area where the humidity runs high or in a dank and muggy basement ? I am looking for some clues for the more common primer killer scenarios to help figure this one out.
10 Spot
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Kachok
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Are you shooting a Browning by chance? I can hear an audible click before the bang in my A-Bolt. Like a super heavy/slow firing pin. I was using Varget in my 308 today, no hang fires that I noticed but I did have one completely fail to fire at a modest 44gr charge using a CCI primer.
243winxb
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http://curioandrelicfirearmsforum.yuku.com/topic/12852 This is on the line of what i was thinking.
If factory ammo did ok, then has to be the reloads??
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The gun is an older S & W model 1500. The trigger appears to be functioning properly and the firing pin is leaving a good indent on the primers (no fail to fires). I suspose the powder could have become contaminated but not sure how this would have happened in just a few of these rounds and not in all of them. The primers are Winchester Large Rifle that were stored in a controlled climate (upstairs bedroom). I lived in Virginia Beach when these were reloaded and I had my reloading bench in an upstairs bedroom that had AC and heat. I still have 30 rounds left out of the box of 50 that I can either shoot at paper or pull and reuse the brass (since powder and primers are suspect I would probably dispose of them). I'm beginning to think it might have been 3 pieces of corn or walnut that I somehow missed blocking the flash hole. If I happen to figure this out what is causing this I will let you know.
http://curioandrelicfirearmsforum.yuku.com/topic/12852 This is on the line of what i was thinking.
I didn't need to make any adjustments to the Timney trigger. The trigger that was in this gun was so bad that the Timney could have been a 10 pounder and it would have been an improvement. It was like 2 sheets of sandpaper rubbing against each other when pulled.
I concur on the reloads. Just seems odd that only 3 out of 20 acted this way. The rest fired fine.
ngnrd
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Tumbling media stuck in the flash holes?
ngnrd
Member
Based on this, I can't see how it has anything to do with the trigger.
788Ham
Member
Sounds like you might get a primer hole reamer, ream all of the primer holes before you reload them. If you don't check for corn cob/walnut debris before priming, thats not a good deal either ! Reaming the holes will satisfy any questions you might have, makes the holes uniform. Try a different brand of primer also !
I really don't believe it is the trigger. Like I mentioned I fired a box of Federal factory loads with no problems. I believe it is my reloads, just not sure if it is the powder or primer. I was using corn to clean my brass when I reloaded these but I prime with a RCBS hand primer and I always check the flash holes prior to installing the primers. I would think if the powder had caused this they would all have the same problem since the powder came from the same lot. I believe it has to be primer or flash hole related. Just not sure how to determine which is the problem since none of the remaining rounds might act the same. I could pull the bullets in the remaining 30 and replace the primers but this still wouldn't tell me what caused this problem.
MtnCreek
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I'm just impressed you still managed good groups w/ a delayed fire.
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