By John Kleespies
A lot can be learned from gathering your spent brass and reading the primers. Here’s a few things to look for… but first…
As I discussed in a previous article, different brands of primers behave in different ways, so proceed accordingly. For instance, Federal primers are soft, whereas CCI primers are hard. Therefore, a CCI primer may flatten more subtly than a Federal primer, or the CCI may suffer more excessively from light strikes.
That said, here are a few of the more common things that can be learned from a primer:
- A blown, flat, or flowing primer is a sign that your pressure is too high. Stop immediately, figure out the problem, pull that batch of bullets, and correct the issue with future loadings.
- As an addendum to #1… If you’re using a tried-and-true load recipe and the primers start to blow completely out of the cases, then the culprit may be old brass with worn-out pockets. Or it could be that your powder drop settings have shifted out of spec. Thoroughly examine the brass to see if it’s exhibiting signs of wear, such as a worn-out headstamp. Verify that the amount of powder in your recipe is still in the safe zone, followed by re-weighing the powder dispensing from your powder measure. If all of the above lines up, invest in some new brass, back off your powder drop, and test your way back up with caution, no differently than you would with a brand-new recipe.
- Light strikes in an individual gun are a common problem. If they are showing up at the end of a range session (or after two or three range sessions…) then the gun may simply need a thorough cleaning. Revolvers with lightened trigger pulls are infamous for this malady; in this case, try a softer primer like the Federal. Lubrication choice can be an issue as well: try a lube with a thinner viscosity, especially if the weather has grown colder. Lastly, check that your firing pin or striker, or its associated springs, aren’t in need of replacement.
- Light strikes in a revolver are also common if the brass is loose in the cylinder, causing the cartridge to shift forward when struck, thereby stealing energy from the firing pin. The brass may be worn out with thinned rims. Worst case: your cylinder is in need of maintenance.
- Light strikes on ammo used in a variety of guns (and/or with a variety of primers) is yet a different problem. In this case, the primers may not be seated securely enough into the brass, causing them to shift forward in the primer pocket when struck. If a subsequent firing pin strike sets the primer off, it wasn’t seated deep enough. (Note: It is dangerous to attempt to reseat high primers. Doing so has been known to set off the primer with predictable results.) Adjust your primer seating equipment to press the primer a smidge more deeply into the brass. If that doesn’t work, then the primer pockets may be overly dirty with a cushioning gap of residue in front of the primer; try decapping the brass prior to cleaning to ensure that the pockets are as clean as possible.
- Lots of good strikes, but not enough bangs? The primers are contaminated, and that batch of bullets should be pulled. Verify that your flip tray isn’t covered in something. Or you just won the lottery and got a bad batch: identify that lot of primers and safely dispose of them.
