Unusual (to me) primer failure

[Borregos]

Had this primer fail on me, I only noticed it because of the soot on the head.
It was a Federal large rifle primer (#210) that I guess was about 15 years old, I got a bunch from a very good friends estate.
The load was 9.5gr Unique with a 150gr gas checked cast bullet, my Contender 30-30 plinking load.

[Mescalero]

Wow,
Looks bad,
did it scare you?

[AJMD429]

Looks like that edge is tipped-up a bit also; was the bolt fully closed and has a flat face...?

[Borregos]

Wow,
Looks bad,
did it scare you?

Nope, did not realize it had happened until I put the brass back in the box and noticed the soot!

[Borregos]

Looks like that edge is tipped-up a bit also; was the bolt fully closed and has a flat face...?

It was in my Contender, barrel was fully locked in place.

[Borregos]

I am going to dump all the primers from that batch!!

[earlmck]

That's interesting, Pete! Nope, I've never had one of those. And I'm betting it is a total fluke -- some kind of flaw in the edge of the primer when the primer cup was formed. I wouldn't toss those primers unless another such failure shows up: I'll bet you never have another one of those type failures. But then I am genetically a cheap-skate.

[Mescalero]

I am with Earl, try a few more.
Since I was just looking at the price of primers on gunbroker

[rogn]

Check your boldface also. If he loads were very low pressure theres likely no damage, but high pressure will etch the boldface. I had a lot of primers from major once that 10% perforated on the primer rim just like you have. Manufacturer replaced lot. Would have replaced bolt too, but I was in the middle of competition season so I declined..

[Borregos]

That's interesting, Pete! Nope, I've never had one of those. And I'm betting it is a total fluke -- some kind of flaw in the edge of the primer when the primer cup was formed. I wouldn't toss those primers unless another such failure shows up: I'll bet you never have another one of those type failures. But then I am genetically a cheap-skate.

I will try some more and see what happens, will keep you posted

[KirkD]

I have punctured a lot of primers with my Colt SAA. Other than some soot, I have not noticed anything else. I have lowered the spring force which has greatly reduced the problem. These are all Winchester primers.

[Griff]

Anything can have that Friday afternoon or Monday morning manufacturing syndrome. That appears to be a defective cup. I'd contact Federal with the batch number if you still have the box... and ask them for a disposition. Who knows, they may send you a new box...

Hey! Don't talk about me like that! If YOU don't ask, THEY CAN'T say yes!

[EdinCT]

I had a Remington 9 1/2 let go in my 7/57 with a load I had used for years with no problems. It is the only one I have seen out of 100 thousand or so.
I am as cheap has Earl I would watch them and see.

[Borregos]

Just loaded 20 more rounds using primers from the same batch. Heading to the range in the morning to check them out.

[QCI Winchesters]

I had a Remington primer do that a couple of times, once with my .577 Snider and another in .45 Colt. Also had more than a few duds with remingtons. I did have a .303 Lee Enfield once, that must have had a similar primer failure. It had a little torch cut across the bolt face. Would have put most bolt actions out of service, but since the L-E bolt head does not rotate, it still functioned just fine.

[Borregos]

Quick range trip, first two I tried failed in exactly the same way, bad batch of primers I guess, will not use any more from that batch (only got 300 odd left so will not feel too bad dumping them).
Firing pin bushing on the TC I was using was in bad shape to start with, just changed it out for a new one.

[Ray Newman]

Borregos: I had similar looking primer failures. Traced it back to worn out brass -- enlarged primer pockets from too loadings and some heavy charges. Symptom: loose primers -- felt no resistance when seating the primers in the case.

how many times has the brass been reloaded?

[BrentD]

I bet if you packed up your blown primers in the brass cases and the unfired primers with a really nice, polite letter, you would receive a brick of new primers pretty quick.

[Borregos]

Borregos: I had similar looking primer failures. Traced it back to worn out brass -- enlarged primer pockets from too loadings and some heavy charges. Symptom: loose primers -- felt no resistance when seating the primers in the case.

how many times has the brass been reloaded?

I am pretty sure it is not the brass, first failure was with WW Super brass, light loads only, reused only five times. Last failures were with unfired Federal brass.

[Borregos]

I bet if you packed up your blown primers in the brass cases and the unfired primers with a really nice, polite letter, you would receive a brick of new primers pretty quick.

I may well send them a polite letter with a picture of the failure and see what happens!