500 S&W primers

[revchopp]

Hello, I need some help with my Smith&Wesson Model 500.  I just reloaded 50 rounds with cci 200 Large Rifle primers and out of every cylinder full I get two to three misfires.  My 500 has a very light trigger pull, but this does not happen to factory loads.  I can make the rounds go off by dropping the hammer on them a second time, but that's no good if a deer is in front of you.  My question is what is the softest Large Rifle primer out there? 
Thank You.

[MnMike]

I just had the same problem with my Handi. I attributed it to old primers and/or having to use my press instead of the Lee Auto Prime. Were you using Starline brass? Maybe there is another problem.

mike

[revchopp]

Yes I am using Starline nickel plated brass.

[Grumulkin]

On the primers that misfire, see if the primer is a bit more below the surface of the case head than in the ones that did fire.  Sometimes the primer pockets are a tad too deep.

As far as softer primers are concerned, just about any besides CCI in my opinion.  To me, Remington and Winchester primers seem the softest.  I use a lot of CCI primers, by the way, and like them.

[coop2564]

Most seem to feel the Federal's are the softest. Here's a post on them.
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,116096.0.html

[BNoz01]

Not sure if this is totally relevant here or not, but here goes ...

The SAMMI specs for the 500 S&W changed after the cartridge was initially released.  The initial brass was designed for pistol primers.  Then later switched to rifle primers (unless I'm recollecting this backwards).  The later rifle primed brass is denoted by a "R" on the headstamp.  So, first determine that all your brass has "R" on the headstamp. 

This info is readily available on the web, so you can double check me to ensure I've got my facts right.  I sold my 500 S&W Encore barrel a while back, so I haven't reloaded that cartridge in a while.

B. Noz.

[MnMike]

After getting a shell holder for my Lee auto prime, I reloaded another batch. I fired 14 rounds with one misfire. On the second strike, it fired. This was using 4 of the old primers and ten new Winchesters. The fail came on one of the new ones. I am still wondering if there is a problem. I almost never get misfires in my other rounds.

mike

[NavyLT]

Could it be the gun?  Maybe the firing pin protrusion is not long enough or the hammer main spring is too light?

The deal with large pistol vs large rifle primers someone mentioned has multiple effects, the same is true with the .460 - the early cases used large pistol and newer cases use large rifle.

If you put a large rifle primer in a case designed for large pistol, the primer will not seat flush with the case head and could cause the round to go off in a cylinder adjacent to the round actually being fired in the gun.

If you put a large pistol primer in a case designed for large rifle, it will seat too deep.  The effect is two fold - the primer is softer, so a weaker firing pin strike will detonate it, but it will also be seated too deep so firing pin protrusion length becomes and issue.

[MnMike]

I guess I never said:

I use the recommended large rifle primers in Starline brass.

Primer strikes are normal in all ways.

The action works well with all other barrels.

sorry for missing information,

mike