Reading shotshell primers

[tmd16556]

I know we often read rifle and pistol primers for pressure but we don’t really talk about it much with shotshell primers. I know that this is probably since we don’t work up loads for a shotgun.

Last week I fired this reload out dove hunting. When firing it I didn’t notice any low recoil like a squib, but when I checked the primer it looked like a really light strike. I’m guessing it may have just had a little less powder than it should (I need to check weigh 800X more carefully) or a bad wad seal. Has anyone seen something like this before.

 

[George P]

Did it go off? If so, call it good.

 

[243winxb]

I dont look at shotgun primers in any of the 4 gauges i have loaded.

If high pressure is used when seating a primer, the case head may become concave. With the primer being away from the firing pin, there may be misfires or primers that look different.

.
MEC Inconsistent powder drops
Part Number: 304W This brass washer is placed on top of the powders charge bar.Its keeps powders like W296 from leaking from between the bar & measure. If damaged/flattened, this washer can move with the bar. This can cause powder not to drop correctly, resulting in a light powder charge/wad stuck

Checking powder in case.- on a Mec 600 jr, i set the wad pressure to just move the marker. If you dont own a Mec, not much help.

If everything clears the muzzle & sound & recoil seemed normal, i dont worry about it.

 

[George P]

I dont look at shotgun primers in any of the 4 gauges i have loaded.

If high pressure is used when seating a primer, the case head may become concave. With the primer being away from the firing pin, there may be misfires or primers that look different.

. View attachment 953709
MEC Inconsistent powder drops
Part Number: 304W This brass washer is placed on top of the powders charge bar.Its keeps powders like W296 from leaking from between the bar & measure. If damaged/flattened, this washer can move with the bar. This can cause powder not to drop correctly, resulting in a light powder charge/wad stuck

Checking powder in case.- on a Mec 600 jr, i set the wad pressure to just move the marker. If you dont own a Mec, not much help.

If everything clears the muzzle & sound & recoil seemed normal, i dont worry about it.

I replaced those washers with the red PC powder baffle (now, it seems, discontinued); really makes a difference

 

[tmd16556]

So it wasn’t a stuck brass washer. I wasn’t using those at all and just recently realized what they do. The MEC charge bars work fine without them just a little more mess.

I also noticed that there is a big difference in the Lyman 4th edition bushing chart from the 5th edition. I had measured one powder (probably Unique) right after the 5th came out and my bushings were closer to the suggestion from the 4th edition. Looks like 800X gives a lighter charge but they were pretty consistent for field loads for at least a few hundred rounds. I figure at worst they’re coming out at 100 FPS slower than usual.

I guess the big problem that I missed that bird and maybe I can blame it on the load and not the 30 mph wind and fact that I almost never have a shot at a dropping bird.

 

[243winxb]

bushings

The same bushing used in a 600jr press, will drop more powder then a progressive press. The working of the 600 for the different stations settles the 800X in the bushing. More powder.

In other words the 600 lever is pulled 4 times before the powder drop.

A progressive drops powder every pull of the lever. Powder doesnt get to settle/pack into the bushing.

 

[entropy]

Another reason I prefer Green Dot. Throws more consistent charges.

 

[Thomasss]

There is more vibration on a Junior than there is on a Grabber. Simply flip the powder and shot bottles on a progressive back and forth before reloading. Also make sure your unit is grounded to reduce static . I do get a light hit primer about 1 in every 1,000 Winchester 209s. I thoroughly clean my Beretta Urika, checking firing pin and spring tension several times a year and also see some variations in dropped weight charges(not enough to notice shooting). Best thing I ever did was Dremel grind a bushing to drop close to max charge for each type of load I shoot. I can pick up odd size bushings very cheap and make them drop what I want them to. In the past few years I've noticed MEC bushings are not dropping what they should. MEC has also changed some of their charts for drop "weights". There is even speculation there are two different bushings now designated by 1 or 2 asterisks engraved on each bushing. This is not just me, but over 10 league trapshooters have noticed these changes. We all shoot 2 boxes or more a week, all year long. And slower burning powders tend to give more consistent loads. Red Dot has been removed from some pistol load charts because it meters too light, according to Alliant.

 

[slickracer]

I dont look at shotgun primers in any of the 4 gauges i have loaded.

If high pressure is used when seating a primer, the case head may become concave. With the primer being away from the firing pin, there may be misfires or primers that look different.

. View attachment 953709
MEC Inconsistent powder drops
Part Number: 304W This brass washer is placed on top of the powders charge bar.Its keeps powders like W296 from leaking from between the bar & measure. If damaged/flattened, this washer can move with the bar. This can cause powder not to drop correctly, resulting in a light powder charge/wad stuck

Checking powder in case.- on a Mec 600 jr, i set the wad pressure to just move the marker. If you dont own a Mec, not much help.

If everything clears the muzzle & sound & recoil seemed normal, i dont worry about it.

I don't like the brass washer at all, I have a powder baffle on my 9000H that does the same thing without jamming the charge bar.