Author Topic: 204 Ruger Blown Primers (Read 860 times)

Wlscott · « **on:** May 27, 2006, 03:43:34 AM »

I just picked up a box of 32 grain Hornady V Maxes the other day. I shot three of them yesterday. Two of them completely blew the primers out of the pockets.

Ammo is Hornady 32 grain v max factory loads, rifle is a 204 Handi with a Gunstocks Inc target stock on it.

Is it my ammo or my gun that's doing this?

fuzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2006, 03:58:59 AM »

wes thats what ive been shooting out of my 204 havent had any trouble
of that kind. could be a bad batch of amo . got some reloaded 25-06 off
the internet that the primers are backing out a little. c u in a few weeks
Rich

Wlscott · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2006, 04:03:05 AM »

fuzzy, I was looking forward to shooting this gun at the p-dog shoot. I did a little more work on the stock. I sanded out the barrel channel a little more, then bedded the lug, and about three inches forward of the lug. I haven't really had a chance to see how it shoots since the first three bullets I've fired, two of the primers were completely blown out of the pockets.

Didn't mitchell have a problem with his 204 last year at the shoot?

fuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2006, 04:26:19 AM »

yes mitch had some pearced primers stuff he had hand loaded. What he did was put his amo in ice water and that took care of his prob.
But i dout thats your prob. id buy some other brand or diff lot # amo
see if it still plows the primers. and go from there. hows the fit between
barrel and reciver Rich

Wlscott · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2006, 04:33:55 AM »

it's a nice tight fit. It'll break open with some pressure, but won't just fall open.

Fred M · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2006, 05:49:21 AM »

Wlscott.
Blown primer are caused by a combination of high pressure and excessive head space.

Take an unfired loaded case and record all the measurements of case length base diameter shoulder diameter and loaded neck diameter.

Lightly lubricate the case and fire it, this will allow the case to fullt expand against the standin breech Then take the same measurments. Your case may get stuck. Compare all the measurement case length in particular.

The 204 is a high pressure cartridge. A variation of 5kpsi
is not unusual in different powder lots. So your ammo can easy operrate at 67kpsi.

I load the same case in my 6x47 and 0.2gr more powder will stick the case and raise the pressure considerable.

A tight lock up does not mean the head space is correct.
Another thing you don't see is the elastic action stretch under high pressure.

When you ice a loaded shell all you do is reduce the burning rate of the powder which in turn reduces the pressure. Besides are you going shooting with an ice bucket?

We all know Mitchell had all sorts of trouble with his hot loads

This is an unsatisfactory and unreliable solution to poorly executed and unsafe handloading procedure.
That is loading to maximum + loads when you have no idea what you got in a way of pressure.

.Take the ammo to Hornady and exchange it. It may loaded too high, they like to know. Even at that it should not blow primers.

Datil · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2006, 01:10:02 PM »

Wes I can not recall Mitghell's problems totaly but I think he had
to replace his firing pin, if I recall it was partil broken or some thing.
See you in 2 weeks Marvin

Wlscott · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2006, 05:08:03 PM »

Quote from: Fred M

Wlscott.
.....

Take an unfired loaded case and record all the measurements of case length base diameter shoulder diameter and loaded neck diameter.

Lightly lubricate the case and fire it, this will allow the case to fullt expand against the standin breech Then take the same measurments. Your case may get stuck. Compare all the measurement case length in particular.......

Thanks Fred. What is the max that the final measurements should be?

fuzzy · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2006, 09:00:20 AM »

I belive after mitch got home last year he found that his fireing pin was broke and had a sharp edge. that was what was peariceing his primer
but if yours is blowing them out of the pocket then i would be checking the
head spaceing as fred has said. good luck. Rich

trotterlg · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2006, 01:00:57 PM »

What did the case and primer of the one that did not blow look like? Larry

Wlscott · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2006, 06:40:24 AM »

The case that didn't blow a primer looked pretty good. The primer was pretty flat, but everything was otherwise normal.

Fred M · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2006, 07:12:09 PM »

Wiscott.

Quote

What is the max that the final measurements should be?

.

That is not carved in stone. The 204 design length and trim is 1.843" but chambers are usually longer than that.

A lubed fired new cartridge will tell you how much the case will stretch that should be your max case length.

The 204 will stretch for sure and needs to be trimmed now and then. No point in trimming if your chamber neck is 15-20 thou longer.

Find out how long your chamber is otherwise stick with the design length.

Shoulder to base is very important make sure you are not setting the shoulder back too far. Head space should be no more than .002". One thou if you can manage.