6.8 SPC misfires

[singleshot1]

I just bought a G2 carbine in 6.8 spc, after picking up some Hornady ammo and heading out to shoot I am having alot of misfires. The primers show what sees to be a good strike but no bang. I thought it may be the frame so I tried another, same results. So now I am wondering if it is a bad batch of ammo or what, any ideas?

[Keith L]

Couple of things I would look at.  If you have shot the carbine with another barrel and it works then I would try polishing the locking lugs.  It doesn't take much but sometimes the lugs don't engage completely and you get a lighter than needed hammer strike.  If you have a hammer extension take it off and try it.  Sometimes that does it.  If it won't work with any barrel or you don't have any others to try then remove the bolt that holds the stock on and add a washer or two.  If that bolt goes in to deep you can have improper strikes as well.

Give these a try and let us know.

[DEACONLLB]

What I found in my case any way, it was the ammo and not the gun. All my guns have the hammer extension  on them but I get the ones made of aluminum and not steel. I had trouble with the 6.8 and found the ammo to be at fault. I have never had any problem firing with hand loads. we have discussed this before on the 6.8 and for some reason there is a problem with factory ammo. 5 out of eight did not fire, sometimes they shot on second try and 2 never did shoot.What Keith mentioned is also something to check if the stock bolt is to long it can also give you a hair trigger, that happened to me on a new custom stock and sometimes it wont let the hammer cock.

Deaconllb

[Hopalong7]

      Unfortunately, this is a rather common problem with 6.8 Contenders(I know there are those that are overjoyed with their results and I'm truely happy for them...BUT, there are many who aren't too.)
      My long time huntin'/shootin'/fishin'/drinkin' buddy bought two 6.8 carbines(one for each grandson).  Both miss-fired miserably.  He had MUCH disscusion w/ Hornady and TC.  Hornady sent new ammo and TC sent a whole box full of new parts which I installed for him.  The new ammo didn't help but, so far, the new parts(knock, knock, knock)haved cured the problem on both guns.  The parts included new firing pin, bushing and spring, and new hammer spring.  Also included was a little washer that fit over the end of the hammer spring(in effect lengthening the spring).  The tech/rep said the washer was not a TC part or reccomended factory procedure, but was his personal suggestion.  In hind sight, I wish I had tried the washer "trick" just by itself first.  Both carbines were G-2's.
Walt

[SHOOTALL]

If you look at a fired case and a never fired case of the same batch and see that the fired primer is seated deeper , or if you have one that was hit with the fireing pin but did not fire and it has a deeper seated primer than an unfired case you have ammo problems. The fireing pin is seating the primers. I don't know but alot of the time primers used for ammo ment to be used in AR's and M-14's and such have harder primers than standard loads to prevent slam fires.
I also shot a contender in IMHSA for years and the bolts can cause lots of head scratching as lock up can be different from bbl to bbl.
Have you tried reloaded ammo ? with standard primers ? Remington has large rifle and SSA has small. I would use SSA with the small for target work much like the BR brass is made from Remington for target work.

[shawlerbrook]

Got me worried now. I've shot mine about 15 times w/ Hornady ammo without a problem( and love it). I planned on using it in a couple weeks when our deer season opens. Do you think very cold temperatures could cause a misfire, when I never had one ?

[singleshot1]

Ok, here is a little update, after the misfires grabbed my daughter's Encore and tried the ammo in that, same thing heavily dented primers and no bang, between her and I we have shot hundreds of rounds made by SSA through hers with no problems. Next I ran down to the only reloading store in our area and thankfully had a set of dies, got home resized and primed some cases and all went off, reloaded 20 rounds and headed to the range all fired. Now I called Hornady and explained my problem and he informed me it must be my gun, after telling the whole story he said he would send UPS to pick them up and take a look at them but he had never heard of a misfire in this caliber, finally complaining that youth weekend was this coming weekend and that this type of ammo is not readily availible in my area he replys " we can cancel the pickup and you can take your chances if you want". So now I think it was the ammo since reloading seemed to cure the problem but really cannot be sure, and am not happy with Hornady's service, should I be upset or is it nothing? Thanks for all the good input.

[SHOOTALL]

Well like all of us you buy factory ammo and expect it to work. They all promote theirs as almost fail proof. You are under the gun for the up comming weekend so it matters alot to you. To them they are a factory and in most cases the road leads away from the factory not to it. But in this case they are willing to pick up the ammo and check it . That is more than some would do. I had some cor-bon ammo that out of a box of 50 about 20 would not fire no matter the attempts. The factory didn't offer anything , said it might be old ammo or the supplier may have storied it wrong.
 Anyway I would give them a chance to make it right and if they don't then show them your displeasure with your pocket book.
 To their credit the Hornady groups best in my 6.8 and I have never had a misfire.
Also if I returned it , I would keep a couple samples just in case 

[no guns here]

I have a 6.8 barrel that I haven't shot yet.  I REALLY hope it doesn't have any of those problems...



NGH

[ccdarb]

The 6.8 SPC was specifically developed for military use and Hornady is likely using a milspec primers to reduce slamfires. Silver State specifically mentions on their website to not use their ammo in single shots due to insufficient force being applied by the firing pins. Your best bet would be to try to find some of the Remington ammo.

[Maine Woods]

I have a 6.8 barrel on an old style contender and have had ZERO trouble with misfires and that includes the silver state armory ammo.
SSA yields  EXCELLENT accuracy from my rifle.