I have a sporterized springfield 1903 for which I am reloading, but I have a problem with the primers pushing and I just started with low velocity starting loads. The brass is all once fired, full length sized brass trimmed to spec and with bullets seated to spec. Also to note with factory loads I have no problems. Any solutions would be appreciated

Have you had the head space checked?

quote:

Posted 15 November 2008 08:09
I have a sporterized springfield 1903 for which I am reloading, but I have a problem with the primers pushing and I just started with low velocity starting loads.

I`m not sure I understand. Are your primers backing out of the pockets or are they piercing? The title of the post is "blown primers", but the problem as you state it is that they are "pushing"

primers backing out at low pressure is often a headspace issue. Pin pushes the round forward but there is only enough pressure to move the primer back not stretch the brass. Full pressure factory fills the chamber.

Primer back out at low pressure is also a low pressure issue. In some chambers the primer has enough power to blow the case forward.

Sorry for my terminology - the primers are backing out not piercing as far as the headspacing goes I bought it from a gunsmith that checks headspacing on all guns coming into the shop

I'm thinking now that it was a low pressure issue. I checked my sierra book and hornaday book and the sierra book was a full grain and a half below the hornaday book. will try a medium load and see what it does.

mhilgart --- You need to back your FL die OUT a bit, you are setting the case shoulders back much too far.

Go up, screw the die out maybe an eighth of a turn. Seat a primer and fire it in your rifle. Check to see if the primer stands proud of the case head. If so, back the die out further, just do it until the primers stay flush but you can still chamber the sized cases easily.

Then lock the die ring and continue to load as you wish, knowing you won't be stretching the cases too much each time.