Light primer strikes

[kies277]

O.k., question about light primer strikes. I just reloaded some .45 ACP rounds that were as follows: Missouri Bullet IDP 4 200 grain flat tip, 4.2 grain Bullseye powder, 1.120 OAL, CCI Large pistol magnum primers.

I used the magnum primers because I could not get anything else. I had read in that they were safe to use and it was not a big deal to use them.

I shot about 150 rounds last night and had about 10 fail to fire malfunctions. The primer was dented, but no detonation. I fed one back through the gun and it fired fine. I fired them through my SA XD45 tactical. It has a custom trigger, about 4.5#.

My question is why? Are the CCI primers too hard, are the magnum's too hard, maybe the primers are not seated deep enough? I am going to pick up some Remington large pistol primers today, my fiance just got some in to the store she manages. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

Although CCI primers are harder then most other U.S. brands?
I don't think it is the primers.

The XD was developed as a military handgun, and NATO military and European commercial primers are harder then woodpecker lips.

Most likely cause is, they were not fully seated.

The primer cup must be seated fully to the bottom of the primer pocket.

That preloads the primer anvil into the primer compound ready for ignition.

And then if there is a dent, there is a bang following.

rc

 

[rfwobbly]

Agreed. First look at the primer seating.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also agree... Most times when a primer fails to fire the first time but does on a second strike the primer wasn't seated correctly.

 

[kies277]

Thanks a bunch guys. I was leaning toward that one myself, but I wanted to get some input from more experienced reloaders. I am pretty new to the hobby, I had done some about 12 years ago, but only for about a year or so.

Any tips on making sure the primers are fully seated? To me, my primers looked to be seated the same as factory rounds, but that was just by naked eye and feel.

 

[rcmodel]

Depends on how you are seating them.

On-the-press seating usually gives very little 'feel'.

I prefer the RCBS hand priming tool, as it is very apparent when the primer cup bottoms out in the primer pocket just from the 'feel' of it.

rc

 

[billybob44]

Thanks a bunch guys. I was leaning toward that one myself, but I wanted to get some input from more experienced reloaders. I am pretty new to the hobby, I had done some about 12 years ago, but only for about a year or so.

Any tips on making sure the primers are fully seated? To me, my primers looked to be seated the same as factory rounds, but that was just by naked eye and feel.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/457599/rcbs-automatic-bench-priming-tool

^^^This is what I now use for single stage loading. I have primed on the press (RockChucker) for right at 40 years..Used one of these primer tools+and I am NOT going back to on the press priming..Bill.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

And to check the depth, all you really need to do is run your finger over the primer and if it feels slightly below the level of the case bottom the primer is probably seated correctly.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I was having a few issues with light strikes with one brand of primer in one gun. I was seating them to a preset depth of -.003" with a Ram Prime on top of the press. I adjusted the primer die setting to prime by feel and the problem disappeared. Some primers go as deep as -.010" when seated by feel, but they all fire.

 

[kies277]

Well, adjusted the primer depth to seat a little deeper. I saw a little primer crush going on and backed it out a little. Brought 20 rounds to the range last night and they fired flawlessly. Thanks for the input everyone.

I also bumped the powder up to 4.9 grains, as the 4.2 grain mixture was having difficulty knocking the plates from the Texas star the other night. The gun fired good and the accuracy was spot on. My POI seems to have dropped a little, I figure it is due to going from 230 grain to 200 grain bullets.