WidenersRepackboxLoad DataRotoMetals2
Reloading EverythingInline FabricationTitan ReloadingLee Precision
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Strange misfire in my 44-56

  1. #1
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    719

    Strange misfire in my 44-56

    I was out enjoying the afternoon shooting my Contender in 44-56 and had 2 misfires ...this was a first and was shocked!!
    It seems I had a primer fail!!






    Ol Deuce
    Do the Best with What you have !

  2. #2
    In Remembrance



    curator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Fort Myers, Florida
    Posts
    1,383
    This was not a total primer fail or it would not have burned the coating off half of your charge's granules. Is it possible that the primer had been contaminated with oil or solvent?

  3. #3
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    719
    Quote Originally Posted by curator View Post
    This was not a total primer fail or it would not have burned the coating off half of your charge's granules. Is it possible that the primer had been contaminated with oil or solvent?
    It's sure Possible!! out of the 20 loaded and fired there was 2 that did this and a couple witha slow delay in firing!!! In my loading,nothing was done different or
    out of the ordinary........ I take care when loading........ Krazy Ol Deuce
    Do the Best with What you have !

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    elk hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Central Oregon
    Posts
    1,540
    Ball powders can be hard to ignite, the primer was not hot enough to light the powder reliably. I'd try a magnum primer.
    BIG OR SMALL I LIKE THEM ALL, 577 TO 22 HORNET.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,457
    I will agree with elk hunter on the primers not being quite hot enough for ball powder. It looks like the load is slightly compressed also. Other issues might be a plugged or blocked flash hole, cleaning media, manufacturing burr folded over. Another might be a shallow seated primer or bad primer pocket not supporting the anvil completely. The coating is burned of a lot of the charge so the primer did ignite. Was it damp or humid when these were loaded? Could the powder have drawn moisture at some point. Could there have been a trace of moisture or solvent in the case when charged?
    Another is how does the Indent look in the primer? Contenders sometimes give light hits if the hammer spring is getting weak or not completely locked up. The split locking bolt helps with the not completely locking up.
    One quick question is Did the bullet set out some from the primers force? Slightly Longer Overall Length after?

  6. #6
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    2,731
    I've had many more issues with stick powders not igniting properly than ball powders.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Rattlesnake Charlie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Victor, CO
    Posts
    1,377
    Powder can migrate through the flash hole into the primer and cause problems from resisting the crush from the firing pin as well as plugging up the flash hole. Some black powder cartridge shooters who use compressed powder charges place a small piece of tissue paper in the bottom of the case before dropping powder. Is your powder fine enough to do this? Especially since it looks like it was compressed. Was it compressed, or is this clumping due to something else? Could the inside of the case become contaminated by case lube, bullet lube, or something like that?

  8. #8
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    719
    I had replaced the hammer spring just a couple months ago!! so thats all in good shape. its been dry ....This was a new package of CCI 300 primers
    and the WW748 was a new batch bought last month!! I went back with the last of the 100 primers and used 2400 and it all did good!! OlDeuce
    Do the Best with What you have !

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master


    swheeler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    5,471
    OlDeuce a couple days ago you were in the mid 30'sF ??, that 748 was cold man! I don't think those large pistol primers are up to the task, maybe a LR primer or a 350 CCI would get it burning. .02

    Why pistol primers with 748, most manuals show WLR primers or Mag primers
    Last edited by swheeler; 11-19-2017 at 01:24 PM.
    Charter Member #148

  10. #10
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    719
    Quote Originally Posted by swheeler View Post
    OlDeuce a couple days ago you were in the mid 30'sF ??, that 748 was cold man! I don't think those large pistol primers are up to the task, maybe a LR primer or a 350 CCI would get it burning. .02

    Why pistol primers with 748, most manuals show WLR primers or Mag primers
    SWheeler.............Your thoughts are right on the mark!!! I really didn't give it much though at the time, That powder charge really need a Mag primer to
    lite it all off!! I guess all the testing and loading of the WW748 was a stroke of luck it all fired except these 2 ....Live and learn..... we'll keep these CCI300
    for the lite loads thats for sure!! I had bought these 300's when the primers were in short supply!! We Know Now!!! Ol Deuce
    Do the Best with What you have !

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master


    swheeler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    5,471
    I'm sure it will work better for you, may have to work up your new load with the primer change though. Keep in touch and good shooting!
    Charter Member #148

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master


    missionary5155's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Last trip to Arequipa... till April.
    Posts
    7,133
    Good morning
    You snuck this one in and I missed it completely.
    The fun of trying to remember everything always. If we can just remember to look in the books every time.
    Have done near the same thing with our 375 H&H. Loaded a batch of 10. Grabbed a box of LRP to ignite cases filled with 4831 under 345 grain GC. Happily they were just half hang fires. Click / Bang. Got back home wondering and right there in the middle of the bench sat the box of LRP's.
    Mike in Peru
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    1,941
    I've had that happen twice with H-4198 in the .45-70 in cold weather. Switching to magnum primers fixed it.

    Chris.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    South Jersey
    Posts
    6,314
    Rule of thumb - All Ball powders need magnum primers for proper powder ignition
    Regards
    John

  15. #15
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    719
    This was a lesson well learned!!!!! First of the first with Ball powder... First ........Live and learn......Makes for better loaders & Shooters!!!!!

    Ol Deuce ................. Thanks for all the good input!!! ....................
    Do the Best with What you have !

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check