Recently loaded some 30-06 rounds in new Rem cases, with CCI primers. Had 2 rounds fail to fire so far. Never had a problem with the rifle and only had these misfires with this batch of ammo. Have used other various types of ammo in the rifle with no problems for last 18 years. Firing pin strike looks good but no ignition on these 2.

Any ideas?

did you try a 2nd hit??

Tried a 2nd hit, definitely no detonation and yes they do have powder in the cases

I got a bad brick of federal primers once.
Call CCI, see what they will do for you!

I've had the same problem with CCI LR primers. Some went off with a second strike; some didn't.

You might want to replace your firing pin spring.

Were the primers fully seated in the case? A primer that isn't fully seated, or a weak firing pin/striker spring can cause failure to fire.

If it were myself I'd Disassemble the load VERY CAREFULLY !. I'm not advocating you do it !

An I would inspect the primer after carefully pushing it back out or take a tubing cutter and cut the case

off say .250" ahead of the primer . After inspecting I'd Save them and notify CCi and ask if they wanted

to check them out . I did that with Federal some years back , although detonation wasn't my issue .

The OD Diameter was !. One of the Damnedest things I'd ever run into concerning re loading .

Come to find out after measuring an entire box #6 were way out of spec an these were MATCH PRIMERS !.

So after E mails phone calls and identification were confirmed they sent a pre paid call tag

for me to ship the " single box " back . Now mind you I asked about the entire Case lot complete with

numbers not just a box or carton of 5K . I was informed they didn't care about that ONLY a Single Box and

they would take care of everything immediately . BY GOD they did just that !.

A week after sending that Box in ; I received #2 complete cases of 5K count cartons # 2 of them !


With a note explaining a problem must have occurred with the anvil cup machine , an they appreciated my

notifying them and as an expression of gratitude of my continuing patronage , sent an extra case for

any inconvenience's . I guess you know where my loyalty's lie concerning primers !

I’ve had a number of duds over the years, 7 that I can remember. Mostly Remington 9 ½ M but a few Federal 215s and CCI 350s too. Is the primer pocket a little deeper on the 2 cases that failed than the other cases you shot? I’m not saying that’s the problem, I just wonder. I’ve studied the duds I’ve had and found no real reason on my part for the failures; they just didn’t go “bang”.

I had 2 duds out of a tray of Remington 9 ½ M a number of years ago. I brought those 2 duds home and removed the bullets and powder. I pressed the primers out and reloaded them in 2 of the cases that fired that day. Both were still duds. I loaded new primers into the dud cases and they both fired without a problem. Go figure,,, “Duds Happen” but so seldom I don’t wrong about them.

surprisingly, I'd be looking for a different culprit....I'd bet the primers are good and there's something about the gun that is causing weak hits!.....This has been my findings when I have a bad case....it was the gun....not the ammo...and this is aggravating until you find the cause!

The man has used his rifle for 18 years with no problems.

He bought new cases.

I would think that the cases are a logical place to start trouble shooting.

I believe the OP said he had good primer strikes so a weak spring may not be the issue. Could be any of the following:

- primer contaminated w/oil or resize lube
- primer not seated deep enough
- anvil fell out prior to loading
- no primer compound in primer
- headspace issue; either chamber too long or case too short

I would inspect the remaining primers to see if they have loose or missing anvils and if any didn't get a priming compound charge. Also check your re-size die to make sure it is not setting the shoulder back too much.

I think I would at least check the fireing pin spring, may be gummed up if not weak after 18 years! good luck!

I think venus was aligned with mars at the exact moment those two misfired.

Yes you can get bad primers ! A box where some will give excessive pressure and a box where some will push the bullet into the barrel but not ignite the powder.I've experienced those types .Throw out the box, examine the gun ,and get on with your life !

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
The man has used his rifle for 18 years with no problems.

He bought new cases.

I would think that the cases are a logical place to start trouble shooting.

An 18 year old firing pin spring?!?! And you've ruled it out as the possible culprit?? I'd definately replace it with a wolff. They DO go bad. I know a guy that lost an Idaho elk because of it, I've also seen them go at rifle matches. Sometimes it takes much less than 18 years, sometimes it takes less that 18 MONTHS. For the cost involved, it's cheap insurance. If I had a FTF it's the first place I'd look. The firing pin has to hit with a certain amount of velocity in order to detonate, when they get weak that's when you get sporatic misfires. The new cases or primers may have had an effect, but I would never trust that gun on a hunt the way it is, or without having a good gunsmith inspect it.

Put it this way, if I'm going on a major hunting trip, my rifle get's a new spring about six months beforehand.

quote:

An 18 year old firing pin spring?!?! And you've ruled it out as the possible culprit??

Don’t get me wrong Rub Line, I’m not ruling out anything. We have a situation were the gun was firing rounds without a problem, now it has a problem. When I trouble shoot a problem like that I ask myself “what’s new in this rifles life?” It just so happens that new brass and primers are the answer. I like to eliminate the problem in a backward order from the time that the problem starts. Without the ability to look the owner of this rifle in the face and ask questions, examine the rifle and brass, it’s all speculation on our part.

I don't know if you are reloading one round at a time, or using a progressive. How are you lubing your cases? I had a friend that was reloading one at a time, lube, resize, and seat a new primer. He was getting lube on the primers and was having no end of trouble with primers not detonating. I have seen several cases of weak firing pin springs, but that was pretty obvious as the indentations were weak.
Semper Fi

I have a whole cabinet full of actions (and firing pin springs) from 1938 and prior......and no problems at all!

quote:

Originally posted by 2drifters:
I don't know if you are reloading one round at a time, or using a progressive. How are you lubing your cases? I had a friend that was reloading one at a time, lube, resize, and seat a new primer. He was getting lube on the primers and was having no end of trouble with primers not detonating. I have seen several cases of weak firing pin springs, but that was pretty obvious as the indentations were weak.
Semper Fi

Exactly! The OP said he was getting good primer strikes. He has been shooting for at least 18 years and should know. He knew enough to look for it. There is always a few folks on forums who are spring freaks and think replacing the spring is the answer to everything. Since the guy double struck them and they still didn't go off, the suspicion rightly should turn to the primer.

quote:

Yes you can get bad primers ! A box where some will give excessive pressure and a box where some will push the bullet into the barrel but not ignite the powder.I've experienced those types .Throw out the box, examine the gun ,and get on with your life !

and a box where some will push the bullet into the barrel but not ignite the powder.I've experienced those types .

Please elaborate on just how that's possible ?. Primer ignites produces pressure yet fails to ignite

powder ???. Might need to rethink that one !.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I have a whole cabinet full of actions (and firing pin springs) from 1938 and prior......and no problems at all!

As do I.

You shoot enough, you will get a dud primer. In all brands. I have no idea why they happen.

As for an 18 year old mainspring, time to replace it.

When you put in your new mainspring, you will realise that it was about time.

I had some problems with some new .25-06 Remington cases one time. The pockets were too deep. You could clearly see the firing pin indent, but apparently it wasn't a deep enough indent, because several didn't fire. Went to some old cases and everything was fine and a different batch of new cases and had no problems. Apparently the cases were just out of spec enough to cause a problem. A stronger firing pin spring might have also corrected the problem, but I didn't try that.

If rounds are firing on the second strike, it often indicates the primers were not seated far enough and the first strike was driving them to the right depth and the second strike fired them.

A guy recently posted about getting light firing pin strikes. Someone else went straight to the full length sizer as the possible culprit.
If the sizer is pushing the case shoulder back too far, the firing pin may not hit the primer as the case is too far in the chamber, excessive head space.

quote:

and a box where some will push the bullet into the barrel but not ignite the powder.I've experienced those types .

Please elaborate on just how that's possible ?

I would think that would be an issue with the powder, not the primers. Or maybe someone forgot the powder in a few cases??