Maybe somebody has some insight as to why I'm having issues getting CCI 250s to ignite in my relatively new rifle. I do have many years of reloading experience...but that doesn't mean I'm exempt from screwing something up.
Fortunately I've had zero issues with Fed 215s so far, but I had to swap a buddy some bullets for them. It is my temporary "fix" to the problem as I only have a few hundred, but I wonder if I am missing something.
Rifle is a new Bergara Premier Approach in 7mm RM. This is the older model with detachable mag. It shoots in the .5 - .7 MOA range with both bullets and powders I've tried, so accuracy is fine.
My biggest issue is that I'm having about a 25 percent failure rate to ignite CCI 250 primers. I'll list the circumstances so those with more experience than I, can sift through and maybe be able to tell me where I'm off.
- Primers are stored in cool, dry place in my house. I reload for more than a dozen rifles out of this location, and this is the only cartridge/gun that has given me problems.
- Two powders have been tested with similar results. Powder storage is similar to primer storage.
- Primer seating depth is a couple thousandths below flush, mildly firm, but not crushed into the case. I've used two hand priming tools with the same results, but my original RCBS does require some play to get them to seat properly (and why I moved to another).
- Upon disassembly, there was a lot of grease in the firing pin channel with the look and consistency of anti-seize. That was completely removed and the channel/firing pin hole cleaned. I did not re-grease or fill it with oil.
- Firing pin protrusion is .047". If I suspect anything at this point, here is where it is. There is no damage to the pin.
- Firing pin hole and bolt face appear free from defects.
- I replaced the firing pin spring with a Wolff Remington 700...* They ARE NOT the same*...I had to trim the spring to fit, but it is definitely heavier now than the factory. I still have the factory spring and can switch back at any time. This swap made no difference in failure rate.
- I'm using 1x fired FC brass that I purchased, and I am full length resizing before loading. My FL die is bumping the shoulder .004" from my fired brass through the rifle.
- Using my comparator, I'm seeing about .002 to .006" difference from my fired brass to the various 1x fired pieces I've acquired (before FL sizing).
- I have unfortunately never fired factory ammo through this gun. I know that this does not help my cause with warranty work (if needed).
Have I overlooked anything? Right now my biggest suspicion is that the firing pin is perhaps a bit too short. If I am able to find one I'd definitely swap back to the original spring...but I'm not sure if this will fix anything.
Unrelated, this rifle came to me with a barrel that was off-center in the channel, and would contact the stock with very little pressure. I fixed that with a dowel and sandpaper before bedding the action.
Again though, I've got about 20 hassle free rounds through it now using Federal 215s. I'm familiar with with having to go to a Federal primer in our target revolvers for reliable ignition...but not with a factory unmodified bolt gun.
Any insight is appreciated. I may have missed something along the way here too. Thanks.
Fortunately I've had zero issues with Fed 215s so far, but I had to swap a buddy some bullets for them. It is my temporary "fix" to the problem as I only have a few hundred, but I wonder if I am missing something.
Rifle is a new Bergara Premier Approach in 7mm RM. This is the older model with detachable mag. It shoots in the .5 - .7 MOA range with both bullets and powders I've tried, so accuracy is fine.
My biggest issue is that I'm having about a 25 percent failure rate to ignite CCI 250 primers. I'll list the circumstances so those with more experience than I, can sift through and maybe be able to tell me where I'm off.
- Primers are stored in cool, dry place in my house. I reload for more than a dozen rifles out of this location, and this is the only cartridge/gun that has given me problems.
- Two powders have been tested with similar results. Powder storage is similar to primer storage.
- Primer seating depth is a couple thousandths below flush, mildly firm, but not crushed into the case. I've used two hand priming tools with the same results, but my original RCBS does require some play to get them to seat properly (and why I moved to another).
- Upon disassembly, there was a lot of grease in the firing pin channel with the look and consistency of anti-seize. That was completely removed and the channel/firing pin hole cleaned. I did not re-grease or fill it with oil.
- Firing pin protrusion is .047". If I suspect anything at this point, here is where it is. There is no damage to the pin.
- Firing pin hole and bolt face appear free from defects.
- I replaced the firing pin spring with a Wolff Remington 700...* They ARE NOT the same*...I had to trim the spring to fit, but it is definitely heavier now than the factory. I still have the factory spring and can switch back at any time. This swap made no difference in failure rate.
- I'm using 1x fired FC brass that I purchased, and I am full length resizing before loading. My FL die is bumping the shoulder .004" from my fired brass through the rifle.
- Using my comparator, I'm seeing about .002 to .006" difference from my fired brass to the various 1x fired pieces I've acquired (before FL sizing).
- I have unfortunately never fired factory ammo through this gun. I know that this does not help my cause with warranty work (if needed).
Have I overlooked anything? Right now my biggest suspicion is that the firing pin is perhaps a bit too short. If I am able to find one I'd definitely swap back to the original spring...but I'm not sure if this will fix anything.
Unrelated, this rifle came to me with a barrel that was off-center in the channel, and would contact the stock with very little pressure. I fixed that with a dowel and sandpaper before bedding the action.
Again though, I've got about 20 hassle free rounds through it now using Federal 215s. I'm familiar with with having to go to a Federal primer in our target revolvers for reliable ignition...but not with a factory unmodified bolt gun.
Any insight is appreciated. I may have missed something along the way here too. Thanks.
