Author Topic: new .243 flattening out primers (Read 600 times)

hunterwinco · « **on:** February 21, 2005, 03:05:54 PM »

Anybody seen a 243 flattening out the primers? Not totally BUT definately some. I have never seen this with any factory rounds in my 77 .270. I am shooting Federal Power Shok 80 grain. I just bought some Win Super X 80 grain and am waiting for the snow to stop so I can try one to see if they get flattened. Is this normal for factory .243 in this gun?

James B · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:18:31 PM »

Some flattening is normal. Be sure your chamber is good and clean and dry. Winchester primers are a bit harder so check them out after you fire them. The chambers are a little loose on some handi rifles. This can cause a little extra flattening.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2005, 07:08:47 PM »

Years ago I had a T/C Contender Super 14 in .30-30. I bought it to shoot the little steel animals that used to run around our range, and it did a nice job. The rams at 220 yards were easy if I did my job.
I used to buy loaded rounds just for the brass and reloaded all my own ammo with a Lee Loader. At 50 yards I could put 3 rounds on paper that you could cover with a dime. Everything went fine as long as I used the Remington factory stuff... no problems. Then one day I bought some Federals. Same problem you describe. Primers flattened out and actually started to flow into the firing pin hole. Not a good thing in my book.
I put 4 rounds of the brass in a padded mailer and sent them off to Federal per their instructions along with the box end flap that had the lot numbers on it.
They wrote back and said that the problem was with my gun. They said I had a rough chamber. WHAT? How would a rough chamber do that? They never sent the brass back, they never said thank you, nothing. Here I was trying to help them out by possibly avoiding a problem and all they could do was tell me my gun was faulty. Not much PR for Federal in my book.
I still buy Federal ammo if there is nothing else available, but it's usually not my first choice.

Rusty <><

handirifle · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2005, 07:39:27 PM »

The problem you describe can occur if the chamber is too long or the brass resized too short. Handi's usually do not have "sloppy" chambers, but the throats are usually a bit long, at least some calibers.

The chambers, if cut long can allow the brass to move forward when the primer is hit. As the powder ignited, it first pushes the primer slightly back and out of the case. The case is then driven back into the receiver and usually flattens out the primer.

Try another brand of ammo and if the same problem occurs, I'd send the rifle and brass back to NEF for inspection. If the ammo change fixes it, I'd let Federal know, but wouldn't but any more. If it were me!

hunterwinco · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2005, 03:33:08 AM »

thanks for the feed back! Like I mentioned its not what I would cause excessive...but if they were my hand loads, I'd be BACKIN OFF on my load. There doesnt seem to be ANYTHING sloppy about this rifle. I really want to get to the range tonight and fire on of the winchesters that I bought. The winchesters which are 80 grain--just like the federals...are about 1/16 to 3/32 longer.

Donaldo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2005, 05:15:58 AM »

As to flattened primers. I find that most factory loaded ammo will show a flat primer, at least in my guns. Contrary to what many think, modern cartridges are loaded to quite high pressures. Probably higher than what most handloaders load to. You need a chronograph to tell where you are on your loads. ShootingChrony has a good entry level one for about $75 or so. They all work on the same principle. Also remember that primer manufacturers use different hardness of metal in their primers. I find that Rem and WW are a bit softer than CCI. I have tried almost all of them and find CCI to be the hardest and give a slightly hotter spark without going to magnum primers. Also a slightly tight chamber will give higher pressures than one that is on the loose end of the scale. The loads listed in reloading manuals are close but not necessarily spot on. That is why they are all slightly different. You really need a chrono to tell what is going on. The WW45JHP econo pak stuff for 22-250, listed at 4,000 fps actually chronographs almost 4,100 out of my 22-250, which has a tight chamber. On the other hand, my 223 handi rifle, which has a somewhat loose chamber will only chrono the WW45JHP stuff listed at 3,600 fps at about 3,450 fps. So get a chronograph and find out exactly where you are on your loads. You are just guessing until then.

fish280 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2005, 05:56:38 AM »

the .243 is a high pressure round. this alone will yield some mildly flattened primers in many different rifles, not just handis. the .243 is notorious for pressure spikes, as well. betcha you can find a brand that doesn't show as much flattening. could be just a tiny little difference in case specs from one brand to the next, one primer to the next ... you get the drift.

hunterwinco · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2005, 11:52:44 AM »

THANKS for all the great feedback--I just ran to the range and fired the new Winchester 80gr. They had a slight "flattening" to the primer..just like the federals. I spoke with a great guy at NEF this morning and he said that as long as the action is tight I am good to go. The action is beauty! That being said I guess its just "what it is"...and like I stated before it not Totally flattened. I was just surprised because my 270 ruger (another high pressure round) shows virtually no flattening with the Rems I shoot in it. I'm probably just being an anal retentive engineer! I DO love the gun. Goes well with the NEF Sidekick I just bought and my NEF 20 gauge.