Piercing primers

[Oldrooshooter]

I have a new.223 howa vt ss and straight out of the box with new SAKO ammo it put holes in the primers!!!
Contacted my gun shop and they just said the primers must be too soft???? Change ammo!!
Since then I have been reloading my own with no issues until recently started doing it again ! It’s had 600 rounds through it now ! The loads are not overloaded and have no other pressure signs. Also random misfire in the same session whereas FP only just hit primer!!
Anyone else crossed this problem? Could it be headspace problem as this gun has a lot of free bore and I can load long?
24gns BM2 useing 69gn projectiles and COAL 2.43

[Wm.Traynor]

Have you measured striker protrusion? You can do it with the depth rod of your vernier caliper. You should get about 0.045". Excess length could causes PPs and misfires.

[straightshooter]

Wm.Traynor
You have it the wrong way around.
Firing pin should be no less than 55 thou and preferably 60 - 65 thou. More is not a problem but it just reduces lock time and firing pin impulse and energy.
Oldrooshooter
I would be wary of the BM2. The batch I have seems to be far hotter than the stuff used for the ADI loading manual. I can't get within 2 -3 grains of their max loads.
The Howa bolt is easy to dismantle. Check inside for gunk or unusual rubbing.

[Oldbloke]

Umm, what primers are you using?
Some types of SR Primers are only for low pressure loads like the Hornet.
I can't remember which ones tho?

Someone will know.

Given u had issues with sako ammo more likely it's the rifle.

[Oldbloke]

Here:
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threa ... m.3824809/

[bladeracer]

I have a new.223 howa vt ss and straight out of the box with new SAKO ammo it put holes in the primers!!!
Contacted my gun shop and they just said the primers must be too soft???? Change ammo!!
Since then I have been reloading my own with no issues until recently started doing it again ! It’s had 600 rounds through it now ! The loads are not overloaded and have no other pressure signs. Also random misfire in the same session whereas FP only just hit primer!!
Anyone else crossed this problem? Could it be headspace problem as this gun has a lot of free bore and I can load long?
24gns BM2 useing 69gn projectiles and COAL 2.43

Have you changed your primer type or batch perhaps?
Howas are known for larger striker holes allowing the primer to flow around the striker, they can be bushed if that's the issue. The light strike might be a disc of primer cup obstructing the striker, strip and clean the bolt and measure everything up while you're in there.

[Oldrooshooter]

Ahh yes I did pull bolt apart and found small silver piece which may have been the misfire problem! I e always used BM2 without issues and because the factory loads did it I’m thinking bolt or protruding. Thanks

[Oldrooshooter]

I’m useing mainly RWS primers as that’s all I could get at the time but also have had Winchester

[straightshooter]

I’m useing mainly RWS primers as that’s all I could get at the time but also have had Winchester

I had been using 25gns 2208 80gn SMK and BR4 primers happily with no issues and no cratering for quite a few years.
When I could no longer buy and then ran out of BR4's I changed to RWS and experienced heavy cratering with the occasional blanked primer with that load.
I had to drop the load to 24.5gns and even then I still get slight cratering and occasionally heavier cratering.
There has to be a difference in primer cup thickness and hardness.

[Wm.Traynor]

Wm.Traynor
You have it the wrong way around.
Firing pin should be no less than 55 thou and preferably 60 - 65 thou. More is not a problem but it just reduces lock time and firing pin impulse and energy.

In that case, I humbly apologise to Oldrooshooter.

[TuskerOrd]

ORS, the firing pin holes on Howa's are on the generous side(1.8 - 1.9mm) and will sometimes cause softer primers to be blown up into the firing pin/bolt.

Please try to use CCI450, BR4 or Remington 7/1/4 primers, they are made with thicker cups and can stand up to the pressure better than say the CCI400 or federal205?

Something else you might want to double check, is that you do not push the shoulders more than 4 thou back when resizing - this will cause exactly this issue.

Firing pin protrusion from the bolt face should be 1.2 to 1.3mm or 0.05" - one cant really change this much as the firing pins on Howa's are pinned in position.

As suggested, you could have the firing pin hole bushed, but its generally not necessary - but it does make live easier if you cant get your hands on the above mentioned primers..

Please keep us updated,
Tusker

[Oldrooshooter]

Thanks for the advice. Cheers

[Oldrooshooter]

In pushing the shoulders back too far are you referring to full length sizing? Now that the cases have been formed and fired in my gun would you recommend I back off the sizer a bit and maybe just neck size?
It was something I also considered but because it done it to new sako ammo I was sceptical of this but worth a try.!
Does anyone know what primers sako uses v ADI as the ADI bullets didn’t pierce!?

[Oldbloke]

I mistakenly had my 223 FLS Die set 0.008" bump. But they are all going bang.
Now reset for 0.004" bump. I found it fiddling to get it right.

0.008" bump, couple be a contributing factor,,,2 issues?

[TuskerOrd]

Yes, exactly. I normally final set up my sizing die after the 3rd firing of any set of cases - to allow the cases to fully form to the chamber. I try to push the shoulders back by 3, but not more than 4 thou.

Even though neck sizing isn't very popular some still use it with good success. (I've washed out 3 x 204 barrels without ever full length sizing any of my cases).

New cases regularly happen to be sized to minimum or even below minimum length - causing pierced primers(Just had a customer that experienced exactly this on some new 6mm Creedmoor brass)

[bladeracer]

Yes, exactly. I normally final set up my sizing die after the 3rd firing of any set of cases - to allow the cases to fully form to the chamber. I try to push the shoulders back by 3, but not more than 4 thou.

Even though neck sizing isn't very popular some still use it with good success. (I've washed out 3 x 204 barrels without ever full length sizing any of my cases).

New cases regularly happen to be sized to minimum or even below minimum length - causing pierced primers(Just had a customer that experienced exactly this on some new 6mm Creedmoor brass)

It depends on the specific cartridge and how hot you run it, I've never had to bump the shoulder for the .204 and some brass is well over 15 loads now. .303 though I don't waste my time neck sizing, just bump the shoulder every time.

[Oldrooshooter]

I have a .22-250 howa as well ! It’s about 20 years old and has had literally thousands of rounds through it! Still shoots great don’t know how but it’s been tremendous to me! I’ve never had any primer issues with it and never even knew all the loading data I do now! I used to just measure a Taylor made bullet and match the length and use the Nick Harvey manual for powder loads!
I’m now right into the specifics so want to get it right! This is a great site and I love everyone’s input