Primer backing out on older marline .30-30

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I've been hunting with a marlin .30-30 for about 40 years now. I've noticed that my primers are backing out very slightly. I compared my spent shells with those fired in a new marlin and a new winchester. They were flat, but mine protuded just a little. Is this normal or should I have a new locking bolt fitted as I had to have done when I first got the rifle (it was used) and I was having missfires. I'm not having missfires at this time.
 
Sounds like your Marlin is loosening up. Backed-out primers is a sign of excessive headspace. Recommend you have your Marlin headspaced by a competent gunsmith.
 
It's pretty common in 30-30's. They are not high pressure rounds. Part of what's happening is, when fired, the firing pin pushes the shell forward, the shell is gripping the chamber walls and the head isn't being pushed back against the bolt face. The slight amount the primer is backing out isn't a real problem. I have several 30-30's that do this, and know several other guys that have similar situations. I was concerned at first, but realized that it isn't a huge issue. I ignore it now.



Read PO Ackleys description of this in his book. He experimented with a Winchester turning the barrel out a thread at a time, and measuring the primer protrusion, to the point of making a longer firing pin when the distance became too great to fire the gun. The primer backed out the exact amount that the barrel was turned out. He even fired the gun with the locking bolt removed, held shut only by the lever. The shell stayed in the chamber without causing any problems.

A small amount of primer protrusion is not a disaster in a 30-30. If you want to have a new locking bolt installed, you can, but it isn't an emergency.
 
Hypnogator is right. You're developeing a headspace problem. It's not incurable, just take the rifle to a competent gunsmith and have the barrel setback and headspace re-set.
 
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