Primer seated too deep

[urban]

I had a misfire at the range yesterday. It was, improbably, the last round I was going to fire - the previous 35 - all loaded by me - had been fine. The 36th just clicked.

The primer showed a light strike and, on comparison with some fired rounds, it looks like the primer is seated too deep. See photo - middle case is the dodgy one.



I prime on the press (Lee Breech Lock Challenger) and would have previously imagined that I'm quite consistent. I've shot about 300 homeloads since I started reloading and this is the first issue. I've checked the ~50 primed cases waiting to be loaded and none look to be seated too deep.

So what happened? Did I just lean too hard on the lever? That seems more likely than the primer being under-size or the primer pocket being too deep. Has anyone else had this?

I haven't pulled and deprimed the round yet. I imagine that I won't be able to tell much from the removed primer.

Cases are once fired (by me) magtech. Primers are also magtech.

 

[25 Sharps]

I’m afraid this seems to be an issue with magtech primers, I’ve had 4/5 not fire now in various rifles and chambering, other club members finding the same.

I am going to only use them at the range and stick to softer primers for hunting.

 

[Liveonce]

did you try to fire it for a second time?

 

[urban]

did you try to fire it for a second time?

No. The range officer training at Bisley teaches that this is dangerous because it may result in a damaged and pierced primer. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but I am a qualified range officer so I follow the rules.

 

[Liveonce]

No. The range officer training at Bisley teaches that this is dangerous because it may result in a damaged and pierced primer. Whether this is true or not, I don't know, but I am a qualified range officer so I follow the rules.

oh dear, pierced primers can occur on first firing, so hardly a significant risk, given most will not even notice it has occurred until they later inspect the fired case if reloading.

So what do the range rules tell you, you must now do with the round of ammunition? call the bomb squad I guess.

 

[Donkey Basher]

So what do the range rules tell you, you must now do with the round of ammunition? call the bomb squad I guess.

Take it to the armoury where it will be safely disposed of - although most homeloaders will simply take it home & dismantle it so they can reuse the case, bullet & powder!

 

[Liveonce]

Take it to the armoury where it will be safely disposed of - although most homeloaders wil, simply take it home & dismantle it so they can reuse the case, bullet & powder!

that’s as dangerous as trying it for a second time as you are potentially now de-capping a live primer, which is possibly very sensitive due to the failed first attempt at firing. Primer mixture is a proper explosive unlike smokeless propellant.

The worlds gone mad, with rules and regulations

Quick call the bomb squad

 

[ashray]

my humble opinion is that you had not seated the primer in far enough in the first place.! when the firing pin hit the primer it was forced to its lower seating depth and the firing pin had used its energy/force to push the primer into the case and did not have the energy to crush the anvil and there by caused the miss fire <very common problem on blazer rifle > being an rso does not make you any less or more of a reloader .just human and we all make mistakes.learning from them helps.

 

[finnbear270]

Worth cleaning the bolt out too.

 

[plumber01]

Ive had this a few times, its the magtec primers, one of mine didnt go bang in a local competition,,,,,,,which bollocked up my score as well
they are ok for tinkering about, but dont use them if you really might need them. Ive typically had about 2 out of a 100 not work.
Just take it home and pull it apart, without and powder in, just wear saftey glasses, its only a small primer, and while it might make you flinch, its unlikely to do any major damage, and if it didnt go bang when it was struck, its very unlikely to do so when slowly pushed out in a press,,,obviously dont leave a pile of exposed powder on bench while you do it etc and engage brain with regards to safety etc.
Good luck.
and if anybody wants to buy about 500 magtec primers...........let me know !

 

[bluesako]

your primers from your photo.s, look to be a tad deep in the pocket as ashray said, i use a k&m hand primer and its the best hand primer i have ever used, about mag tech primers i have used them, they have seated perfect in my cases, i have never had any issue with them at all no misfires no light strikes, if you cant get cci federal or other makes,what are your options if you can only get magtech? bs

 

[zambezi]

I had a misfire at the range yesterday. It was, improbably, the last round I was going to fire - the previous 35 - all loaded by me - had been fine. The 36th just clicked.

The primer showed a light strike and, on comparison with some fired rounds, it looks like the primer is seated too deep. See photo - middle case is the dodgy one.

View attachment 372586

I prime on the press (Lee Breech Lock Challenger) and would have previously imagined that I'm quite consistent. I've shot about 300 homeloads since I started reloading and this is the first issue. I've checked the ~50 primed cases waiting to be loaded and none look to be seated too deep.

So what happened? Did I just lean too hard on the lever? That seems more likely than the primer being under-size or the primer pocket being too deep. Has anyone else had this?

I haven't pulled and deprimed the round yet. I imagine that I won't be able to tell much from the removed primer.

Cases are once fired (by me) magtech. Primers are also magtech.

Do you recall any primers feeling easier to seat than others?

What I am wondering is whether this case's primer pocket was worn past usability and the force of the firing pin coming forward pushed it forward deeper into that loose seat?

So what do the range rules tell you, you must now do with the round of ammunition?

At Bisley there used to be a box for disposing of single rounds of faulty ammunition next to the armoury. Still there?