Gentlemen,
I am preparing for a hunt in Namibia. A couple of weeks ago I decided that my 99 in .300 Savage will be accompanying me. However, I am experiencing backed out primers in factory Federal rounds (both 180 and 150 grain). Have any of ya'll experienced anything similar? I have experienced some flattened primers in this rifle previously (in both factory and handloads) but nothing like this before as the primer isn't necessarily flattened but just backed out a millimeter or two. Is this just a soft batch of primers/out of spec brass? Any direction would be appreciated as I plan on shooting this rifle a lot in the next three months. BTW, this 99 was manufactured in 1951, I believe.

Wow you are going to Africa and bringing a 300 Savage, hope your ammo makes the trip and doesn't get lost in transit, cause if it does you may be hard pressed to find any.
By the way you have a rifle with a real problem, yet another reason to leave it home.
Can you take a picture of one of your fired cases showing the primer backed out?

Ok, now that I look at it, it is definitely backed out less than a millimeter. If this pic works you can just barely see the blue rim of the federal primer. Also, the .300 is coming to accompany my .270/because I like it. I am traveling with a friend so I will be sure to put a couple of boxes of ammo in his bag...

A backed out primer is usually a sign of low pressure and/or excessive head space. It's very possible federal ammo is shorter than the other factory ammo you have used.

Lee

+1 with Polecat. If other ammo is working fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you for the advice, I will pick up some Winchester ammo.

Good luck on the Dark Continent. Would like to see some pics of the trip when you get back.

Lee

Will Do, the trip isn't until the first week of August. But hopefully there will be some pics of my 99 next to some trophys...