Was at the range the other day, a friend of mine had loaded some 30-06 under max. He shot them in a M-1 Grande and the primmers looked fine, then shot them in a remington auto and flattened them bad. I'm thinking head space on the auto. What do ya'll thunk?

flattened primers is a symptom of pressure.....and IMO headspace is not related. I seriously doubt that this suggests anything about headspace.....possibly copper fowling or partial obstruction...

Flattened appearing primers are most certainly a symptom of overly abundant headspace. From another post just this morning:

A common manifestation of "excessive headspace" in the fired case is the flattened appearance of the primer. This occurs because the primer backs out of the pocket upon firing until it rests against the bolt face, after which the case stretches under building chamber pressure untile the case head is forced back against the bolt face. As the case head moves rearward, it "reseats" the primer, but the rear portion of the primer "spreads" against the bolt face and creates an extremely flattened appearance.

If you'll pay attention to factory loads fired in a .30-30 Winchester Modle '94, you'll see what I mean. These primers are almost always "flattened" due to the loose chamber of these rifles.

I think no two rifles are alike, and what proves to be maximum in one can be quite mild in another, and vice-versa! Work up your loads individually in different rifles, and you will avoid such problems!!

It is possible the Rem. has excessive headspace, but I'd bet against that being the problem.... However, a gunsmith won't charge much to check it, and everyone has .30/'06 gauges!

semi-auto hunting rifles are IMHO a bit on the excesseive headspace side. I notice they flatten primers very often. I beleive it to be the case moving foreward under firing pin contact and then slamming back against the bolt face upon ignition. The primer is starting to work it's way out until it slams back into the boltface and is flattened.

I have a Ruger 300 win mag that I have been loading for about 10 years. I've used the same load all this time without any problem at all. Then it started punching through the primers. As a result of that the rifle now misfires as it is not hitting the primer full force due to soot from the punched through primers. I took the misfires and fired them out of another Ruger 300 that I have and that rifle fired them fine without any problems or signs of pressure. I took some unfired rounds and again it fired them without any sign of pressure. I then talked to a friend who is a gunsmith and builds some excellent rifles. The first thing he told me was to take the rifle to his shop so he can check the headspace. Head space could very well be a pressure problem. I relate to what Stonecreek is saying about head space and I also relate to El Deguello in that no two rifles are alike. My two 300's are a good example of that. I haven't taken the rifle to the shop yet but after I do I'll post the results.

I think for the most part your quetion is answered. FYI- - - I have a .308 with an Adams Bennet barrel that was finished ream just a little to far About.011" to .015". If Iuse commercial loads or load virgin casees almost without exception the primers are flattened. The happening disappears when I use fire formed cases or I should say at least once fired cases.

This problem is not that uncommon. roger

Thanks alot guys!

If I had a rifle that "punched through" the primers. I would look at the firing pin first. I may need reshaping or replacement.
Flat primers may be a sign of a load too light to reseat he primer after the shot. Also, a fouled ot rough chamber could stick the case and not let it reseat he primer as it should.
Botom line, have it checked out, fix the problem, enjoy shooting.
Judge Sharpe
m.ott

quote:

Originally posted by Alfredo Morrell:
Then it started punching through the primers. .

Friend of mine had a 223Rem (BSA i think) that was punching holes in Federal primers every time.
Gunsmith tried to fix it with a new/heavyer spring. Also said the fireing pin was too short.
Eventually he had to bush the fireing pin hole in the bolt face, that eventually fixed it.

I had two pierced primers in my 223 after about
600 fireings, yet nothing since? Seems like there are a few reasons for this happening.
John L.

How do you like this primer.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Mc:
How do you like this primer.

strange but it doesn't indicate any pressure.A lot of radius and a deep firing pin indentation. Just how did you get it out of the rifle with the primer sticking out that far? There must be some story behind this one??????? fess up roger

OK, It came from a M60 machinegun. They replaced the bolt and the problem went a way.

What caused it, I don't have a clue.

I shoot rifles a little slower than that

Judge Sharpe, The first time I punched through the primers was at the range. Then after that I went on a hunt in Missouri, as I was in the process of shooting at a whitetail, the rifle misfired three times. Then I loaded three other rounds and the fourth round fired but by then I was so nervous from the rifle not shooting that I missed when it did fire.

I sent the rifle to Ruger. Ruger changed the firing pin, firing pin spring, sear, and trigger. I practically got a new rifle back with the exception of the barrell . Ruger also corrected head space and set back the barrel.

When I received the rifle I went out to the range with the same loads I had been firing since the rifle was new. I got the best group that I've ever shot with the rifle. Then I went to zero the rifle and in the process at about the seventh shot (including the first three shot group) I punched through a primer. This happened two more times. On the tenth shot, the rifle did not shoot and the primers on those rounds although dented, they were not struck with sufficient force. Before I had sent the rifle to Ruger I had opened the bolt and the firing pin was full of soot, I cleaned and lubed it put it together again and it fired fine until I punched through again. Then I sent it to Ruger as previously stated. All the things previously mentioned were done to it and the same thing happened again.

I think my problem is definitely head space as they had set the barrel back some. I probably need to change the seating of my bullet too.

Thanks for the advice. This time my gunsmith will check it out. I'll take the rounds that I have loaded, the ones that misfired, and the ones that punched through and he'll check the headspace and we'll take it from there.