Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Question about gas escaping around primer????

I have never had this happen before. While shooting a hand loaded round (264 win mag), I noticed a tiny puff of smoke ooze out near the rear of the bolt. I extracted the case. The bolt lift was not difficult. But when I examined the case, there was fine, a dark ring around the primer edges and what looked like a tiny burn crease coming up from the primer pocket edge in one spot. Based on chrono reading, this was near what should be a max load but seemed 50 to 100 fps below max predicted fps. .. I am wondering if this was a sign of too much pressure or perhaps just a loose primer pocket seal??? What say you?

Curious, How many times have you loaded the brass with max loads?

This brass was a first or second loading. Probably not a max loaded the first time?

Rifles are individuals. My son-in-law's Savage 7mm Rem Mag uses the starting load in his manual and yet gets 3,284 feet per second with 140 grainers. This "starting" is his max load. Your rifle might be like that.

Your problem is probably due to a bad lot of primers, not your gun. This problem occurs from time to time when primers are made with cups that are too soft.

I once had a lot of Remington 9 1/2 primers that would rupture on the side with even very mild loads in several guns.

A call to Remington and they replaced the primers, they knew that lot was bad.

Try the same load with another batch of primers and I bet the problem goes away.

Sounds to me like you are a little on the hot side.
Any other pressure signs?
How much have you loaded for this rifle, and, on average, how does it handle pressure?

What's your exact load (including choice of brass and primer)?

"...there was fine, a dark ring around the primer edges and what looked like a tiny burn crease coming up from the primer pocket edge in one spot."

It is as Flowers said, it has nothing to do with over pressue.

Primer makers buy huge rolls of sheet brass and stamp out the cups. It happens to all of them when a soft spot or, more likely, a bit of trash incursion in the metal will blow out when it's in the unsupported transition between the wall and flat top. The gas jet usually burns a small pit in the bolt face too, but it's harmless.

And was one out savoring some of the 100 degree weather we are seeing across the country? I've had loads exhibit pressure on hot days that seemed just fine when it was 20 degrees out.

Going from 20 to 100 degrees can make 200 fps difference.

It's called primer leakage. I had it happen to two of my newest and expensive firearms. I was highly irritated. Contacted Winchester and they stated they could not replicate the problem. They kept the primers and brass and sent me 100 dollars in Winchester Vouchers.

Basically the primer is damaged upon seating or is a bad primer which causes the hot gases to cut your bolt face like a torch. Usually a primer ring but I had a pin hole where the gas hit. If you shoot enough it will eventually happen? It is also known to happen with factory loads as well.

Very interesting. I'm learning a lot from the feedback. Thanks for chiming in.