H322 with 50gr v max and CCI 400 just now pierced a primer at 3271FPS but several rounds faster were fine. Any clue what’s going on here? Book says that’s supposed to be around 3300. I understand that my guns different from the ones used for data.
Pierced primer
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Cheesemaker
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What is your barrel length? My Hornady book says their numbers are for a 26" barrel - is yours 26"?
#3271fps is quite fast. Like the folks said in your other thread your gun is your gun - not the one/barrel tested.
#3271fps is quite fast. Like the folks said in your other thread your gun is your gun - not the one/barrel tested.
Shooterbob
Member
What's the charge weight?
JFrank
Member
CCI 400 primers have a softer cup, try a different one.
Sorry thought I listed it. 24.6.
splattergun
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What other pressure signs do you see?
I did a ladder with 400 and 450. 450s gave me crazy velocity spreads while 400s gave me an average of like 20fps difference. I’ll just use the 450s as it’s an accurate load.
I’ll have to check for ejector swipe. Forgot about that.
No ejector marks that I can see.
length_of_pull_1
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Pierced primers equal too much powder, period. If your chasing velocity, sure, try primers with a thicker cup. But if your getting good velocity (which you are), and a tight ES, back your charge down a little and enjoy the results.
denton
Member
Primers are not really pierced. The primer extrudes back into the firing pin hole. Then the extrusion breaks off around the base, liberating a small piece of primer to jam up your firearm.
This does not necessarily indicate excessive pressure. AR15s and some other firearms require thicker primers, like the CCI450, at normal pressure.
This does not necessarily indicate excessive pressure. AR15s and some other firearms require thicker primers, like the CCI450, at normal pressure.
Small primer cartridge 700s are rather famous for it also.
Primers blowing out the firing pin indention id try harder primers, 450s and Rem 7.5s solved those issues for me. Cci41s are also an option.
Remington actually made the M700 firing pin hole larger, so the primer would cup around the firing pin, and in their opinion, provide better gas sealing. We don't know what firearm the OP is using, nor actually, the cartridge or the load. In so far as AR's, after Winchester redesigned the WSR around 1999, they removed the nickle plating (could have been zinc) and they made the cup thinner. And that primer pierced at loads that never bothered the old primer. That is when I switched to CCI #41's and have been very happy since then. This does not mean my loads were not over pressure, the 223 round from the get go was hot, and without pressure gauges, how do I know what pressures I have?. Highpower shooters would talk about their loads, and velocities, and lots of competitors were pushing 77 SMK's faster than I could push a 69 SMK. They did not have magic barrels, chambers, powder, cases, or primers. I believe their loads were well above 70 kpsia, but not showing gross pressure indications. Everyone tossed cases when the primer pockets got too large, or the primer would fall out during feed, or extraction, and jam the action. But again, no one had pressure gauges, so, everyone was more or less guessing at the pressures.
Let me recommend something to the OP that posters never recommend: cut your loads. We live in a world where we are told, more means more. But, what more are you getting, beyond the greater potential for malfunctions?
Savage axis 223rem. I had other issues with rounds not going off and no marks on the primer either. That seems to be the most accurate load for that powder and bullet. I’ve tried several other bullets with it and nothing shoots good.
Sounds like a mechanical issue with the rifle that you need help with first.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Have you tried any factory loads? Exact component 1:1 per a book or boxed from the shelf, either way? Give it a try and see what kind of results you get. It will at least help diagnose if you have a problem with the rifle.
Out of 30rd the pierced one was #4 and the ones that didn’t fire were 10-11.
reloaded_in_pa
Member
Just curious, what was the case length on the two rounds with no firing pin indents ?
Cheesemaker
Member
The Savage Axis is a 22" barrel - right? And you are getting 3271fps with you 50gr v-max that pierced the primer. The Hornady manual says 3300fps from a 26" barrel. You are 29fps shy of the 3000fps number - with 4" less barrel. Are you sure your powder charges are correct?
It does sound like there is an issue with the rifle though.
edwardware
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I can set up a rifle and ammo to occasionally pierce primers at Starting loads, by fooling with the pin, bolt face, sizing, or primer pockets. I also have rifles that is will show high pressure signs at half way between Start and Max in some books.
Much more info is needed.
JFrank
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Aren’t these the rifles with a two piece firing pin spring ?
EricBu
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I think we need more information here. Was it 1 out of 5? Out of 100? Are you using mixed headstamp brass, and near a peak load? Different brass has different capacity, so you can get a one off that's higher pressure. Are you loading with a powder measure? Or weighing each charge? What type of gun? Bolt? Are you 100% you've seated all the primers properly? A proud primer can certainly look like that. Lot of different things can play into this. Also, seeing your comment about some rounds not going off.......are you bumping the shoulder back to much? In your case gauge, is the head below the top? Too much and inconsistent shoulder bump will definitely cause all of the symptoms you've mentioned.
Everything was trickled
Everything is trickled and full length sized with primers seated using a hand prime.
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