miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

[michaeltx]

First time I've reloaded for this rifle. I only loaded 30 to shoot a ladder, and had 7 fail to ignite. I'm loading new lapua brass, rl25(84.5-87.0), 300 smks, and cci 250s. The primers are below flush, although not any more than my other loads have been, from what I can tell at least. It looks like I'm getting good pin strikes. I pulled a couple of them when I got home, and the primers did not light. I took the bolt apart and didn't find anything weird, the pin moves very freely. Any ideas other than maybe bad primers? I've had those primers for a couple years, but they were stored inside.

I was thinking at the range that the combination of light loads and slow powder might be the problem, then I had a couple of the 87.0 gr ones not fire. This is the first time I've ever gotten miss fires with my reloads in a bolt action. It made it pretty hard to shoot groups not knowing if it would fire or not, then worrying about a hangfire lol.

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

light loads and powder have nothing to do with it. Primer goes bang regardless if it is serviceable. Try a new lot from the store and see if the problem persists.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

I'll go with CKA on this one...you fubared your primers somehow.

Primers are pretty much bullet proof, unless enviromentals have damaged them.

Chris

 

[desertHK]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

Don't forget to wait a little bit before open the bolt and keep the muzzle down range. You don't want to be visited by Mr. Murphy with a hang fire. Be safe. Agree with Chris and Capt.

 

[RebelRouser]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

Same loads here and no issues! Any way that the primers got oil or anything on them?

 

[supersonic416]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

Primers=bad. I would try a fresh pack.

 

[Sandbogg]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

I just had the same exact experience, new gap 338 lapua . Loads were cci 250 and h1000 over a 300smk. 11 out of 50 failed to fire. I noticed that the primers were seating fairly deep. I thought maybe light firing pin strike, primer pockets to deep, not enough pin protrusion( .048, my remingtons are .055 ).
For shits and giggles I swapped out primers for the suggested 215 federals and the problem is gone.So far I have fired 50 with no problems. The federal 215 primers are sitting signifigantly higher in the pocket( almost flush).

Sandbogg.

 

[mdmp5]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

Personally, i use wolf large magnum or winchester large magnum primers. I have yet to see a failure to fire with either of them. Great groups and excellent ES with the Wolfs.

 

[esromvre]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

load is just fine you and i are the same but i use 215m's

your primers are the problem. change them and go shooting....

 

[michaeltx]

Re: miss fires, 338 lapua, trg42

I've got 70 brass primed with those primers. I think I'll fire them off in the rifle and see how many don't pop. I got a new brick of the same primer, I'll test them the same way before I make another range trip. I've used that batch of primers before in another cartridge, without problems, but it was probably a year ago. I gave up trying to find 215m, even the $100 per k crap on gunbroker has dried up.

Thanks for the input guys.