primer strikes with no go

[Glock702]

I just started learning to hand load after reading the entire manual and I am fairly confident in what I am doing but I cannot figure out what the issue is. I am loading Hornadyv115 grain 9mm FMJ 0.355 diameter with CFE pistol powder, CCI new pistol primers. Half fires consistently, while the other half has the primer hit with the bullet intact with the casing. I crimped the casings but may have crimped too hard, I used a lee hand loader and banged the casing a few times with a hammer as suggested. Im hoping this may not be the issue but any helpful feedback would be appreciated.

 

[otisrush]

For the ones that don't fire, is the firing pin imprint as deep and sharp as the indents on the primers that do fire?

For the ones that don't fire, did you try firing them again and, if so, did they fire?

I've had two situations where a pull of the trigger resulted in only "click". In both instances, when I tried them again, they fired.

In both of those instances I'm convinced the primer wasn't seated deeply enough into the primer cup. The first firing simply pushed the primer deeper into the primer cup. But the second firing worked because, at that point, the primer was fully seated.

OR

 

[troy fairweather]

its possible the primers were not seated all the way, in order for a primer to fire the small anvil inside needs to be seated. if not no fire, this is how its safe to ship primers. also being new its a good idea to get as many loading data books a u can. the load recipes will very some. also read the first part of all the books u will learn more and more. don't be afraid to ask for help.

 

[Glock702]

For the ones that don't fire, is the firing pin imprint as deep and sharp as the indents on the primers that do fire?

For the ones that don't fire, did you try firing them again and, if so, did they fire?

I've had two situations where a pull of the trigger resulted in only "click". In both instances, when I tried them again, they fired.

In both of those instances I'm convinced the primer wasn't seated deeply enough into the primer cup. The first firing simply pushed the primer deeper into the primer cup. But the second firing worked because, at that point, the primer was fully seated.

OR

The firing pin imprint is as deep as the spent casings that fired just moments before it. And I felt like it was not a good idea to try to fire it once I knew there was a failure. I was even hesitant on keeping the round because their is that possibility that it still may discharge.

As far as the primer might not have seated right, I hand checked after i primed every casing. I know this is definitely a possibility but i'm sure this was not the case.

 

[troy fairweather]

are these old primers or maybe they got contaminated in some way. u need to pull some and see if the primer went off could be bad powder. failure to fire can happen some times with reduced loads. its fine to try to fire them more then once, but if they don't go off keep the round in the chamber/cylinder for at least 10 seconds, there is always a chance of a hang fire.

 

[Englishmn]

Good dents and no bang in my personal experience are primers not fully seated or didn't dry the wet tumbled cases long enough.

 

[Rule3]

If there was no NOISE whatsoever as in NO bang, then try to fire them again. If they then go bang it is simply you did not seat the primers fully.

A common thing

Does factory ammo fire and go bang? If so then see first paragraph.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, 99.99% of primers not firing is not being seated fully to the bottom of the primer pocket.

 

[Toprudder]

Are the springs in the gun the same as came from the factory? Since you say they are all dented the same amount, I doubt that is your problem, but just thought I would throw it out there.

Agree with everyone else, though, may not be fully seated. On loaded rounds, DO NOT TRY TO SEAT THEM DEEPER. The chances are extremely slim that you will set one off while pushing on it, but the possibility is not zero.

 

[ATLDave]

Here's another voice guessing that insufficiently-seated primers are the cause. Very common for new reloaders (and even some old guys) to experience this problem. The primers should be below flush with the base of the case. You've got to really get them seated in there, otherwise the energy of the firing pin mostly goes to moving the primer forward.

Think of it this way. Throw a beach ball up in the air. Punch it as hard as you like. Will it pop? No, not even if you punch like a 1980's Mike Tyson. It will deform somewhat, then move in the direction of your punch. Now hold that same beach ball up against a brick wall. Punch it as hard as you can. Will it pop? There's a good chance it might! Why? Because it can't "get out of the way." All of the force of your punch is going into deforming and stressing the ball, not accelerating it in some direction.

An insufficiently-seated primer is like the beach ball tossed in the air. When you seat them fully, you are pinning them against a brick wall - the bottom of the primer pocket.

Hope that helps.

 

[243winxb]

banged the casing a few times with a hammer as suggested.

Banged what? The case mouth is said to head space in the chamber. To much crimp may have an effect on firing?

What make, model of gun?

It must be 50 years since i first used the Classic Lee.loader.


Lee photo, note instructions about crimp. I would crimp enough to just remove the flare on the case mouth.

 

[ATLDave]

Oh, jeez, that thing! If the round were grossly over-crimped, I could see it sliding too far forward in the chamber until the crimped case mouth bumped the lands. In that case, the round going off would likely be very dangerous!

OP, can you post photos of your rounds? Ideally from the side and next to a piece of factory ammo?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Sounds like a primer seating problem to me. The primers should be seated roughly .004" below flush with the base of the case to properly seat the anvil into the priming pellet.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[243winxb]

If the round were grossly over-crimped, I could see it sliding too far forward in the chamber until the crimped case mouth bumped the lands. In that case, the round going off would likely be very dangerous!

The extractor should prevent this from happening.

 

[ATLDave]

The extractor should prevent this from happening.

Depends on how tight the extractor is and how short the throat is.

 

[Glock702]

Banged what? The case mouth is said to head space in the chamber. To much crimp may have an effect on firing?

What make, model of gun?

It must be 50 years since i first used the Classic Lee.loader.


Lee photo, note instructions about crimp. I would crimp enough to just remove the flare on the case mouth.

View attachment 814014

wow, it clearly states do not crimp 9mm lugers. thank you for posting this

 

[Glock702]

Oh, jeez, that thing! If the round were grossly over-crimped, I could see it sliding too far forward in the chamber until the crimped case mouth bumped the lands. In that case, the round going off would likely be very dangerous!

OP, can you post photos of your rounds? Ideally from the side and next to a piece of factory ammo?

i'm almost certain the primers were not seated right, but i'm glad you mentioned not to crimp as this could lead to some kind of explosion. Sorry I no longer have pictures, I should've done this, I pulled the bullet from the casing as well the primers.

 

[Smj]

Not being able to see just how deep the firing pin is into the primers.....If you have a bunch of oil/crud in the firing pin channel that can keep the firing pin from going as far as it needs to on all of the rounds.

Just one other thing to think about.

And just how does that "banger-seater" (shudder) install primers?

 

[Glock702]

Not being able to see just how deep the firing pin is into the primers.....If you have a bunch of oil/crud in the firing pin channel that can keep the firing pin from going as far as it needs to on all of the rounds.

Just one other thing to think about.

And just how does that "banger-seater" (shudder) install primers?

I use the lee hand primer to prime my brass. It seems like the seating is consistent. Also i'm sure it is not the firing pin, because when I load new brass, it cycles every round. I've even switched from the xd to the shield to the 17, they all do this.

 

[santacruzdave]

I had this problem with my first batch of handloads. 2 out of my first 50 failed to fire. Reloaded the rounds and they went bang. Asked more experienced reloaders what was up. They all said, seating the primer was an issue with new reloaders, and the firing pin acted to seat the primers and once seated they would fire on the next firing pin strike. Since then, as part of my loading process I prime off the press in a separate operation. I then set each primed case on my bench, which has a very nice flat surface after visually inspecting each primed case. If my eyes fooled me, setting the case, primer side down, will cause the case to wobble if the primer is not seated flush or below. I need multiple checks. Have not had a FTF in over 7500 reloads.

 

[Average Joe]

Your primers are not fully seated, firing them again would tell you that.....
Because, the the first hit, ( which did not fire) will seat the primer, and the second hit, will fire the bullet....Now you know the secret....

 

[Dudedog]

If you are using the Lee hand Primer feel free to give it a good squeeze when seating the primers.
I have yet to set one off using the Lee hand primer. I suppose it is possible (and more likely if they are seated crooked, mine tries to do some sideways every now and then)
I would have to do some and think about how they feel but after 10s of thousands I just give it a good squeeze.

As a side note if you have the kind of Lee hand primer that has sort of sharp square edges on the handle a short piece if 1/2" soft clear plastic tuning slid over the handle works wonders.
I cut a piece a couple inches long and slip it on the handle, big improvement IMO.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

You could have seated them to deep and broke the priming pellet under the anvil. Unlikely, but it does happen.

 

[Walkalong]

Unlikely, but it does happen.

Yep, unlikely.

It is difficult to seat a primer hard enough to damage it to the point that doesn't work.

It is very easier to not seat them deeply enough so they don't fire.

I know which way I am voting.

 

[Stew0576]

I had this problem with my G40, turned out I needed to pull my firing pin and clean everything with running alcohol, fixed the problem and it never came back