Hornady Vmax primers

[User00057]

Recently purchased a box of factory Hornady Vmax in 53Gr 223 to compair to my results with my home loads of the same weight. Using RS40 and 53Gr Vmax I had been getting good results so thought it’s worth a try.
I had found the groups were really bad with the factory rounds and when I checked the cases it looks like they were also showing signs of pressure (will post a pic).
Checked the home loads and no pressure signs at all thankfully.
So do we think pressure or soft primers maybe ? Anyway I’m not putting the factory through it again but thought I would share my results.

 

[243ack]

That doesn't look like high pressure to me. More like a firing pin/hole problem?.

 

[User00057]

It’s odd then as everything else looks struck well apart from these Hornady 53Gr box. Norma 50gr and Hornady 50gr are all good.
It also shot ok but just not very accurate. I thought it looked more like the primer had pushed back out after igniting and just left the shape. Could be wrong though.

 

[User00044]

If you're not getting cratering on others then I suspect soft primer cups . You would expect to see cratering accompanied by flattened primers if over pressure , that isn't.

That doesn't look like high pressure to me. More like a firing pin/hole problem?.

^^^^^
May be worth,stripping and cleaning the bolt and firing pin assembly, just to be safe .

 

[samdk]

Could be a combination of soft primer cups and a slightly large firing pin hole.

Sam

 

[User00057]

I will check it when home. It’s a Remington 700 and was new 12 months ago so under warranty

 

[User00040]

I will check it when home. It’s a Remington 700 and was new 12 months ago so under warranty

Remington 700's always have over-sized firing pin holes for 223/small rifle primers