Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Explain primer leaks and tore up bolt faces please....

I've been using Winchester primers for years, the only problem I ever had was a pierced primer in my 17 Rem, it is still unknown what caused it, no other cartridge with the same load and primer lot ever did it. A hunting buddy suggested a piece of cleaning cloth probably caused it, I had just cleaned the bore and it was the first shot afterwards.

I can tell you for sure, the Winchester magnum primers are hotter than any other brand I've tested. I found Federal primers softer than Winchester primers.

Cheers.

Bad lot.

It's all over the internet if you look.

I have about 800 rounds of Garand ammo loaded with another lot number, 200 or so rounds into that, plus about 100 rounds of high(er) pressure .45-70 loads, no problem.

I keep all of my ammo stored with pertinent data on it, and if I see an anomaly, I will refer to my notes.

Common lot number to the problem.

Guess I have been lucky then

I recently had this problem too. A mate gave me a few hundred WLR primers he no longer needed, and I loaded some to try in my .338 Federal with proven ( mild) load of Win 748 reduced by half a grain. At the same time I loaded up a few test rounds for my 06. While they seem to give a slight improvement in accuracy over The Rem 9 1/2 I've used without a hitch for 40 years, in both rifles I had gas leaks at the edge of primers and gas cutting of the bolt-face.
Once upon-a-time Winchester primers were nickel-plated, these looked like pure copper and had varying degrees of discolouration and seemed to flatten heaps more than the Remington primers. I won't use them again! As one other poster said, it gives you a new respect for the power of high-pressure powder gases.

Winchester had some bad lots of primers a while back that really caused some problems. A good friend had 3 rifle bolts affected from the same lot. After about 6 months Winchester and my friend finally agreed on a settlement. You will have to contact Win for the lot #'s. I never heard anything about the problem from Winchester, but I don't buy Win primers anymore.

I had this happen a couple years ago with starting loads for a .270. Little pinholes at the radius between the sides and primer face. I was wracking my brain to try to figure out what I had done wrong until I starting to see reports on some different forums with pictures that looked exactly like what I was experiencing.

I've seen about ten different lot numbers mentioned.

Yea, it's just been some recent lots. The WLRs that I have that are older stock are fine.

Well, I heard from Winchester today.

They are going to reimburse me for the bolt in my M1.

Vic in Va, what lot number were yours from?

Lot# is DNL 837G. I only got about 200 rounds into a 4000 primer stash, but suffered about 10 to 12 primer leaks. What I hadn't fired got broke down, primers pushed out, and that bunch of primers are out of circulation.

I have, so far, had great luck with Lot# DKL 8020, But all of those have been loaded. Not one primer has leaked.

I'm using the hell out of CCI 200 and #34s now.

Thanks for the info. I just did a Google search and also found the following lot #'s of WLR's other people have had leakage problems with in the last year or two:

DHL766G
CLL555G
DFL717G
GEL 250G
GDL 225G

I'm working on the tail end of a 2010 batch that has been fine, but have a couple of 2013 bricks that will be needed soon. Neither matches your serial# or any of the above.

You're welcome.

I hope you don't have any problems.

Seems like Olin had a "Marlin Moment". I understand that they, too, had new equipment/people problems. Working in manufacturing myself, I can relate the problems with shaking down a process that is being restarted after upgrades or a newly hired/expanded workforce.

Add DNL836G to the list.

Add WLRM lot # EAL234G to the list.

I hate to think what lot number GFY666 will be like.

Now THAT'S funny!

They only work in .270s.

Never had a primer leak issue until recent. Using all Winchester WLR primers. They eat a bolt face quick like an acetylene torch. I have heard a few reasons why but do not know for sure.

1. Loose primer pocket
2. Primer was damaged as it was "seated" into the case
3. Dirty primer pocket didn't allow primer to be seated correctly.

I have had this happen in 3 firearms. I contacted Winchester and each time they offer a rebate to purchase new primers but never have covered the damage to the bolt as of yet? I will never use Winchester Primers once I run out of these.

The only primer leaks I have experienced is with Remington nine and a half's. My shooting partner and I purchased a large quantity of these for our silhouette rifles in the 80's. Remington replaced all of them. At the time they noted that it was caused by a bad lot of material used to make the cups. IIRC they even did a recall on several lots and replaced same.

I use every brand and type of primer out there and will watch for Winchester leaks and report back if problems are found.

DHL765G is another problem lot. Talked to Olin/Winchester this morning. They are sending me a container to return my unused primers, sending me a check for new primers, and offered to pay for the repair to my Venezuelan mauser bolt face or a replacement bolt (rifle was a pristine example). So, do I have the serial numbered bolt micro tig welded or get another bolt (if I send the rifle to Sarco they will headspace a brand new FN bolt) or simply not worry about it? I popped 2 primers that eroded the bolt face. There must be an issue with the primers as the Win. Customer Service rep didn't even question me, they just offered to pay.