Primer or pressure problem? (new to handloading)

[bmf813]

So today I went out and decided to test my hand loads. The pic is the spent brass of my very first load. Burn mark on the side you can barely see as it wiped off when i handled the case and residue around the primer. It is as follows.
41gr imr4064
168smk
case lenth was 2.008
COAL was 2.800
The brass is hornady once fired. ran through a vibratory tumbler with walnut media (lyman). Full length resized and untrimmed. I will say that when I primed these cases i thought the primers were too deep. They were well under flush and measured .011 I did not clean the primer pockets, which I understand could also be the problem (uniformity). Just looking for opinions and where to start fixing the issue.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Was there a burn through the edge of the primer? What primer? Winchester by chance?

 

[bmf813]

Was there a burn through the edge of the primer? What primer? Winchester by chance?

yeah it kind of did look like a burn through the edge. and yes they are winchester primers.

 

[FLIGHT762]

A few years ago, there were some bad lots of Winchester primers burning through. Lots of info about it on the net. There were some known lot numbers affected. I don't know how old your primers are, but since they are Winchester, that may be the issue.

Try your load with some CCI or Federal primers.

 

[bmf813]

A few years ago, there were some bad lots of Winchester primers burning through. Lots of info about it on the net. There were some known lot numbers affected. I don't know how old your primers are, but since they are Winchester, that may be the issue.

Try your load with some CCI or Federal primers.

Ok. I will do some searching and investigate that. I really appreciate it. I was told to go right for cci's or gold medals to begin with so lesson learned.

 

[Bradu]

The Winchester primers I had issues with had flattened pretty bad and had a pinhole on the edge of the cup. You could see it pretty easily. I have about 3k of them in the cabinet.

 

[bmf813]

The Winchester primers I had issues with had flattened pretty bad and had a pinhole on the edge of the cup. You could see it pretty easily. I have about 3k of them in the cabinet.

A few of the loaded rounds I made were flattened pretty good with very little force when I hand primed them. I'll pull these and start over with different primers.

 

[Rocketvapor]

You are flattening primers when you seat them?
These once fired cases were bought once fired or you fired them from new?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Completely normal with Winchester large rifle primers. Toss them in the trash and get some federals or CCI’s before you pit your bolt face.

 

[bmf813]

They were once fired from me and yes I do think I flattened them a little too much. I examined factory cases side by side and thought they would be ok. I was clearly mistaken but didn't think it would cause that much of a problem. After a little searching.. I realized that it's possible the Hornady cases which were also once fired out of my gun, could have crimped primer pockets? And maybe that's why they went in so hard? I didn't think they would be crimped but I've seen on several forums after a quick search this is common for Hornady and their 308 cases. Could someone verify that?

 

[MtnCreek]

The photo you posted is not a crimped primer.

If it's a primer cup failure, there will be a small hole in the corner of the cup.

 

[Fig]

Where’s the corner on a circle? Asking for a friend.

 

[XLR308]

Where’s the corner on a circle? Asking for a friend.

You just have to follow around the edge, you will get there eventually.
Thanks for the laugh I needed it, stuck at work on Xmas but thankful for having a job. ?

 

[MtnCreek]

Where’s the corner on a circle? Asking for a friend.

Up your orifice.

 

[supercorndogs]

Punch the primer out and find the hole. If there is no hole in the cup. Sometimes as primer pockets get loose they start to soot around the primer when you shoot them.

 

[bmf813]

Ok. They definitely aren't crimped? The federal cases take a primer with relative ease. The Hornady cases are a b**ch to get a primer in. If my memory serves me right they were probably the cases from 178 ELD-X factory loads. I will pull that primer after our festivities and see what I can find.

 

[MtnCreek]

Not crimped. 100% sure.