Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hang Fire

I just had my first experience with a hang fire. They are reloads and I have now had two in the last box I reloaded. I didn't time it, but it seemed like a minute before they went off.

Anyone have experience with this and can offer my some solutions.

Thank you in advance.

It doesn't sound like you are getting the primers seated fully. Make sure that the primer is at least, if not a hair below flush. If you're pockets haven't been uniformed, then flush is about all you will be able to get depending on the brass. Don't be afraid to put some pressure on that press handle. They don't have enough leverage in that direction to have anything happen that would be unsafe or to damage the primer.

I use a primer pocket uniformer to cut all the pockets to the same depth and to square the bottom so the primer sits flat. I also use a hand priming tool so that you can feel the primer bottom out, then squeeze just a bit more. Primers need to be seated fully and have some pressure on them to work reliably.

If you have a bullet puller, you can disassemble the rest of your rounds and re-seat the primers in them. If they aren't seated properly, what you basically end up doing is trying to finish seating it with the firing pin. And that doesn't work very well.

I'd think about pulling the bullets, dumping the powder back in the can and firing the primers only.
It would narrow down the search pretty quick.
If they are not flush and take 2 strikes to fire, seat the primers down as FC363 has stated.
If they all are flush with the bottom of the case and fire when struck, It's may be an old powder issue or tumbling media in the flash hole.
If they are flush and you still have hang-fires, it likely primer or firing pin issues.
Good luck with your search!

thanks for the tips fellows......headed out to the reloading room right now

The only addition I can make to their advice is to make sure you go change your shorts.

Details would help.

Primer, powder, brass, cartridge?

I have had one. A friend loaded some 260 Rem ammo for me before I started reloading.

Rem Brass
140 NPT
RL19
CCI200 - apperantly he seated the primers with his thumb

300 Win Mag
Federal LRM
RL22
Winchester brass

I don't think I would do that. The problem could be contaminated powder.



I had some hangfires with a 45/70 and light loads with a lot of empty space in the case.

Nothing here raises alarm bells. Although, I've had a bad batch of Fed 215's in the past. About 1 in 10 wouldn't go off.