unusual primer event

[M-54]

Yesterday while shooting an OCW test i had a Primer malfunction that I have not experienced before. The OCW test had nothing to do with the problem. The primer blew out just around the radius of the corner toward the pocket but just before it is in
the supported area. probably .005" down from the radius.The primer blew ejecta in my face on ignition, so I stopped and inspected, magnified the primer and decapped, checked the case, and talked to Dan Newberry about it. The case still looks normal except for carbon flash trace on the head. the primer pocket is still of normal dimension and accepted a new primer with average tension. The primer was a WLR and there are a few episodes on different forums of people having this same blowout with them. I am wondering if others here have experienced the same event?
The gun was a Rem 700 in 6.5 creed with 500 down the tube
Hornaday cases
37.6 gr. of IMR406 was the level the primer blew at.
Started at 36.0 and worked up
After the event I pulled all remaining round and reinspected and reloaded and continued the test w/out further trouble.
I'd appreciate knowing if others have experienced this type event.

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

I posted this yesterday in a different thread:

I avoid Winchester primers as much as possible. I've seen WAY too many issues with them springing little leaks and gas-etching expensive bolts.

Fuck Winchester primers.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I posted this yesterday in a different thread:



Fuck Winchester primers.

Interesting,... I've had more issues with CCI (hang fires)and Federal(no priming mix at all) myself.

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

Interesting,... I've had more issues with CCI (hang fires)and Federal(no priming mix at all) myself.

Undoubtedly, you'll find a lemon occasionally from any brand. I've never had any failure of any kind in rifles, but I've only ever loaded and fired about 15,000 rounds, which isn't Jack Schitt in the scheme of things.

Still, over the last 4-5 years, I've seen no less than 20 of these WLR and WLRM primer blow out incidents reported across several shooting forums, as well as a few cases of it at my local gun club.

I was checking out a friends GAP crusader, and saw his bolt face was well-etched. I asked him if he used WLR primers...answer was "yeah, why?". He doesn't use them anymore.

Of course, there are millions of shots fired without incident, but EVERY TIME I see the pin-hole primer leak scenario, it's a Winchester primer. I was literally just chatting with the riflesmith at the LGS about this last week.

Rifle bolts and eyeballs are too expensive and precious, while Tula and CCI primers are too cheap and good for me to chance it with Win. primers.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Interesting, I stared reloading in 1958(grandfather showing/teaching me how at age 8) an my experience is somewhat different.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

That's why I don't buy Winchester primers unless it's all I can find and I'm desperate. I've had the most issues with with their primers, but you get duds with all brands. Unfortunately Winchester seems the most prone to developing these pin holes and as someone else has mentioned, this has actually come up a number of times recently. All reported cases have been Winchester.

 

[M-54]

I figured if it happened to one guy it had happened quite a bit more. I got shit in my face once before when gas and cooper went the length of the bolt, and punched me in the eye and spent some time with an ophthalmologist. I am against it. Happy to be wearing glasses this time. Seems like a swell time to use another brand.

 

[sinister]

I've read of lots of complaints by highpower shooters since Winchester stopped nickel-plating both their large and small rifle primers.

I don't think they plate their pistol primers any more, either.

 

[wakajawaka]

I've not experienced this myself, but I haven't bought Winchester primers in a while.
The newest box I have I bought in 1999...
Now, mostly Wolf and CCI.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Yep, well documented problem with Win primers. Run from them.