Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Bad brass, or bad primer?

Greg does very nice work, but he hasnt been accepting new work for a couple years now.

Looks to me from the (not great) photos that the primers are so flattened that they are flowing over the outer edge pf the primer pocket. Decap a couple and look to see if the primer has a ridge around it.


Hip

I've had Greg bush LOTS of bolts for me and it is never not THE Cure. Hint.

OEM 700 bolt, positive headspace and 50gr V-Max smooch, on a Form Load(of which I'd fired 100,00rds+). Hint.



Greg's bushed bolt. Minimal headspace "change",as in none. This particular boltface had been chewed THE fhuqk up, due it's horrendous slop. Hint.



Same Lot of Form Loads,post The Bush'. Hint.



Rifle is a HAMMER and often shoots under 1" at 500yds and is one of my favorite LR Egg Rifles. Hint.



Now I use the Kali Kid and he's fhuqking SENSATIONAL. Hint.

Just sayin'................

That was my thought as well. If the shoulder is set back about .010 the primer protrudes until pressure shoves the case back, riveting the primer and stretching the primer cup and damaging it. Then you have a blowout. Check the headspace one the resized cases.

Bad primers. No doubt in my mind. This from one who suffered from a few just like you show. The WLR primers of a certain vintage shot great but had the nasty habit of pinholing through the edge just like your photo shows. These were produced probably 15 or so years ago and are the brass colored ones. If you search around a bit you can find a list with known lot numbers that were involved but I wouldn't waste my time because yours are either on the list or should be. The mfg sent a truck to my house to collect the 5 bricks that I had and I was reimbursed with a check for around 40$ per brick if I remember correctly. The newer WLR primers that I have are nickel(?) plated and in my experience fit a wee bit loose in my primer pockets. As others have posted, the bolt pitting is usually just cosmetic. Winchester did offer to repair any pitted bolt faces that I experienced but I did not go through the trouble.

Been noticing this lately on several rifles in 22 caliber ( 223 etc). BUT its only occurring when I am using light loads... and NOT every time. And the primers are NOT Winchester. UP the powder charge and it quits happening...increased pressure.

I've seen primers on light loads do some funky things over the years, not always, but enough to notice. Its just not constant, but the one common trait is light loads. Those will sometimes back the primers out of the case. Increase pressure and it stops.

Just my observation on those issues, but in those circumstances, the brass has looked EXACTLY like the pictures the OP posted.... and the cases can't be used again....loosens the primer pocket. So I scrap them.. but then plenty of range pick up opportunities, I don't worry about it much.

I had the same issue 20+ years ago but I swear they were Remington primers. Maybe I'm wrong on the brand. All I know is my 7mag still has 3 gas divots in the face of the bolt from them. They replaced the primers but never offered on the bolt and I didn't know any better to ask.

Does anyone remember if this issue existed with any Winchester Magnum LRP’s? What about any of the pistol primers (large, small and mag)? I just landed a stash of all of the above. Anybody have a link to a lot number list?

Bad primers. In addition to WW, I've also had this happen with a couple of Tula LR primers.

100%. I had W/W Magnum LRP's fall out of Virgin R/P 8mm RemMag(300 Super) brass. Hint.

Just sayin'.............