Winchester LP Primer question…..

[USMCbrat]

Hi All,
I am having an issue with these primers in my M29 and M629. Here are the observations:
1) As many as 2 in 6 are misfires
2) The same is true for both my M29-2 and my M629 (no dash)
3) I never have this problem with CCI or Federal primers
4) When used in my Colt 1911’s I never get any misfires

When I first started load for revolvers and this happened, I went to CCI and never looked back but now, with primers being so rare, I buy what they have when they have it.

So….are the WLP cases thicker than CCIs or Feds?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[USMCbrat]

Hi All,
I am having an issue with these primers in my M29 and M629. Here are the observations:
1) As many as 2 in 6 are misfires
2) The same is true for both my M29-2 and my M629 (no dash)
3) I never have this problem with CCI or Federal primers
4) When used in my Colt 1911’s I never get any misfires

When I first started load for revolvers and this happened, I went to CCI and never looked back but now, with primers being so rare, I buy what they have when they have it.

So….are the WLP cases thicker than CCIs or Feds?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[max]

I have never had such a problem with the Winchesters. Are you sure you are seating them deep enough?

 

[USMCbrat]

Originally posted by max:
I have never had such a problem with the Winchesters. Are you sure you are seating them deep enough?

Maybe too deep me thinks....if that is possible.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Interesting. I have always used WLP primers and the only problem I ever had was with a 625-8. A C&S extended length firing pin fixed it, but cleaning the primer pockets helped.

 

[OU812]

will the second strike by the firing pin fire the bullet? Or is the round dead and will never fire?

How are you seating the primers Dillon or progressive loader or are you doing it by hand with a Lee or Hornady etc

 

[USMCbrat]

The first strike leaves a very small dimple. A second strike will fire the round. Looking at the spent casings, the ones that fire the first time have deep dimples. The ones the miss fire have shallow dimples.

 

[Bruce51]

This really sounds to me to be a case of primers that are not fully seated in the case. You know the primers are good as they fire the second time. You can't seat them too deep. Do you load single stage or progressive or do you handprime. I have fired thousands of Winchester primers and never had a misfire. Make sure you strain screw is tight as well. Bruce

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Originally posted by USMCbrat:
Hi All,
I am having an issue with these primers in my M29 and M629. Here are the observations:
1) As many as 2 in 6 are misfires
2) The same is true for both my M29-2 and my M629 (no dash)
3) I never have this problem with CCI or Federal primers
4) When used in my Colt 1911’s I never get any misfires

When I first started load for revolvers and this happened, I went to CCI and never looked back but now, with primers being so rare, I buy what they have when they have it.

So….are the WLP cases thicker than CCIs or Feds?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Several possibilities....


The gun(s).......Have the springs been lightened?Did you get the guns new?Strain screws ground down?Tightened?....I once had a revolver that had chronic misfires that were caused by the hammer fall slowed by rubbing against an area inside the frame.Removing some metal from that area of the frame(not the hammer)solved the problem.

Theres' a current fad of putting light springs in revolvers that causes the subject of misfires to come up a lot.


The primers.....Are you touching them with oil or lube on your fingers?A more sensitive primer seating method such as one of the hand tools will help with consistancy if you are seating primers with an erratic pressure.Using the press makes this more likely.

The CCI primers have the hardest cups in my opinion.Never had problems with Winchester primers.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Sounds like they are not being seated deep enough in the primer pockets, or else the primer pockets need cleaning before seating. Firing on second strike is an indicator. The first hit "seats" them.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, as a rule, CCI primers are the hardest to touch off, and Federals are the easiest. Winchesters fall in between, but closer to the CCI end of the scale.

Sounds to me like you just aren't seating the primers fully. If it were a gun problem (too light springs or something), I'd expect a much higher failure rate.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I second the strain screw being backed out or trimmed a bit too much suggestion.

If there has been much lightening of the action, this is usually what will happen.

If the primers are being seated too deep, there should be obvious signs of "crushing" the primers from excessive seating force.

 

[epj]

I have used the WW primers by the 1000's in .45 ACP, though primarily fired in 1911's. When I tried to play with the hammer spring weight on my 25-2. I had some misfire problems. Had to go back to full force spring to get 100% ignition. No problems at all with the 1911's, but a horse of a different color as far as firing pin strenght goes.

 

[Win]

I agree....tighten the strain screw.

 

[John R]

I put my money on the primers not being seated enough.
I have never had any problems with Winchester primers.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I agree with Ron H. As a rule, CCI primers are regarded as the hardest to set off, and Federals as the easiest. Winchesters are somewhere in the middle. I have a Colt with a light hammer spring and I always use Federals for it, it is sometimes a little bit iffy with Winchester primers.

One of the beauties of S&W revolvers is the strain screw on the hammer spring. I have several Smiths that have been tuned by my favorite gunsmith, and he usually backs the strain screw out just a tad more than I would like, in addition to lightening the spring. I just shoot the gun, turning the screw back in a quarter turn at a time, until I get reliable primer hits.

 

[Steve C]

Maybe too deep me thinks....if that is possible.

Bruce has it right. Its not a strain screw problem or a too deep problem its not seating the primer deep enough into the bottom of the pocket. This happen when the person seating the primer is being too timid with the amount of pressure they're using and not "feeling" the primer bottom out as they seat it. It can also happen in a progressive like the Hornady if the primer ram assembly get loose and doesn't push the primer in far enough.

CCI primers are notably harder than Winchester. If they work the firing pin strike is hard enough to set anything off IF the primer is seated properly

 

[Bruce51]

I remember when I was a new reloader that there were a few boxes of .357 that I actually flattened the primers while seating. I was applying too much pressure and my mentor was quick to tell me so. The good news is every one of those reloads still fired normally. Bruce

 

[USMCbrat]

OK….I did not want to respond until I had more data……

At the range today, I shot over 100 rnds with Federal primers…….no failures. Then I broke open some loads with Winchester. I had at least 1 in 6 failures in the 50 rounds. At one time I had 4 of 6! As I went along, I same the misfires and then, at the end loaded them again and they all fired….but in Single Action. All other shooting was double action.

 

[Bruce51]

My only question would be is did you inspect the loads for high primers? I put all the ammo in a box and scan across the tops or run my finger over the primers to feel for high ones. It does happen and that is one of the reasons I hand prime only. Since the failures were in DA mode it sounds like your springs have been lightened. You did not mention checking the strain screw. Was it tight? Bruce