Weird Primer strikes

[bayjoe]

Has anybody seen a primer look like this?
Gun-Kimber Micro 9
Caliber - 9mm
Bullet Lyman 133 SWC .359 diameter ( .3578 is inside diameter of barrel )
Powder - 4 Grains of Unique
Case Length -.745
OAL - 1.041

The gun goes boom everytime but I have never seen a primer look like this. Is my load to light? To heavy?

[Outpost75]

What does the gun do with factory ammo? Do factory loads look like that?

Primer cup is flowing into fiirng pin opening in slide face.

Suggests that primers you are using have thin cups which are flowing into firing pin opening.

Clearance around firing pin may be too much.

Try a heavier cup primer such as Federal 200 and also try some factory loads and see if they do the same thing.

If factory loads crater, return gun to Kimber.

If factory loads look "normal", then change your primer. The 4 grains of Unique is NOT too hot.

[bayjoe]

factory ammo looks normal
Winchester primers- I use same primers in 1911 40 S & W and primers don't look like this

[Outpost75]

factory ammo looks normal
Winchester primers- I use same primers in 1911 40 S & W and primers don't look like this

Ah, therein lies the clue!

Winchester Small Pistol are not particularly thin cup.

Had you used Remington 1-1/2 or Federal 100, would expect this. But Winchester not.

I would contact Kimber and see what they say. I see it as their issue, not yours.

Please followup with what they say. Inquiring minds want to know.

Good luck.

[JimB..]

So as to avoid a discussion about reloads with Kimber, not that I know if they care, I would go shoot a box of WWB and see what they look like. I assume that Winchester uses their own primers in their white box ammo.

[bayjoe]

Good advice!! I will get some factory Winchester ammo and give it a try. This just started happening a couple weeks ago.

[bayjoe]

Went to the range today with Winchester white box ammo. They fired perfectly.
But I did figure out my problem. Oversize bullets were causing a spike in pressure. My lead bullets were .015 to big. I think if I drop back to .3578 diameter that should fix the problem

[MT Chambers]

Using .371 inch boolits in your 9mm may cause problems, you prolly have an oversize chamber.

[john.k]

Remove and check the firing pin tip...........tips sometimes spall,usually at high usage, its common in trap shotguns....Look at the tip under a magnifying glass,and see if its nicely rounded.

[243winxb]

A short chamber or a fat bullet not letting the round fully chamber.