Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles BL-C2 hangfire

I recently had a 700 re-tubed in 35Whelen and am now just starting working up loads. Wanted to use some BL-C2 I have here with 250gr Speers and am finding some random hangfires with CCI 200s primers. I use 2 or 3 other ball powders in other rifles and have not had this problem but do know that sometimes it has been reported that ball powders require a hotter primer.

I am going to try some WW LrgRifle and WW LrgRifle mag primers in the next batch. It's a bit disconcerting to shoot a 7# scoped 35Whelen with full house 250gr loads and getting a delayed ignition. Scope got me once in the eye brow this morning.


Any thoughts and/or experiences?

In 308 Winchester ball powder loads I've had better results with WLRs and CCI 250s over 200s.

I'm sure the Speer Manual will indicate they used CCI-250's. I always run a mag primer with ball powders. I really like Varget with the 250's in the Whelen. 4064 and R-15 are other good bets.

I have used a BL-C2 in the 338RCM. Which despite the 100 years or so between the Whelen and the RCM are probably fairly similar in capacity and not to far in bore diameter. In general I had good results withe BL-C2 getting the best velocity and very good accuracy. Like so many I have always used a mag primer with ball powders. Never had a hang fire. My concerns were more with temperature sensitivity ( although that was minor as it was rifle intended for NB moose). My only other observation is that there seemed to be a fair amount of powder fouling come cleaning time.

Just looked in my Speer Manual #14. For the 35 Whelen with 250 gr. bullets and BL-C(2) they used CCI 250 primers.

Mine does, but I was being slack and used the first primers I saw on the bench. Not next time.

I use CCI #450 mag small rifle primers for H335, but will certainly switch to hotter primers for all ball powders in the future.

Doesn't get cold here for moose season. It's the last full week of Sept.

Match or Magnum primers for ball powder, even for something as small as a .223.

Cold CCI 200 behind 80 grains of ball, yea, you should expect a hang fire.

I'd expect CCI 250's or Winchester Magnums, either one to give you good results.