Ruger BH 357/9MM and Pierced Primers

[Ed_Shot]

My Ruger BH 357/9MM will pierce Magtec SP primers about 50% of the time. Light loads don't fix the problem. The Magtecs still fail with 9MM using test loads with Lyman 358242 (120 gr) over Promo 3.0. The problem with Magtec SP primers is less pronounced with 357/38 Spl but still the occasional failure. Evidence is that the primer is black and there is powder residue on the hammer. No sign of flatening or cupping.

Good news is that yesterday with over 100 rds each using CCI and Win SP primers using my usual mid range loads in both 9MM and 357 I didn't see a single primer issue. The fired CCI and Win primers look as normal as can be. Lesson learned.

I've gone thru over 10K of Magtec SP primers in different 9MM autos and my Ruger SS and never noticed a problem.

[Outpost75]

What is the driven protrusion of your Ruger firing pin? Should be 0.028-0.032".

What does the TIP of the firing pin look like? Is it pitted from prior primer cup punctures?

[ReloaderFred]

MagTech primers are a fairly "soft" primer, right there with Federal, which is why they're among my preferred primers for a lot of handgun uses. Between my wife and I, we've got over 60,000 MagTech primers through our SAA Clones, Ruger Blackhawks and Marlin 1894's, with nary a problem.

Like Outpost75 suggests, I'd look at the firing pin protrusion.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Ed_Shot]

My BH Convertable is less than 30 days old and I have @ 500~600 rds of 357/38/9MM thru it. With a magnifying glass the firing pin appears smooth and rounded. My Starrett measures the firing pin protrusion at .028~.029. I'm still firing sets of 18 ea test loads to find what it likes best.....and I find it likes everything I try.

With identical loads the weapon puts an obviously much bigger dimple in the Magtec primers than either CCI or Win SP primers. My conclusion is the Magtec primers are softer/thinner than the CCI or Win primers.

[Tatume]

I had a similar problem, but the "piercing" wasn't in the firing pin indentation, but along the periphery of the primer. The problem was diagnosed as defective primers, and the manufacturer replaced the case of 5000. Could your problem be with the particular lot of primers?

[Ed_Shot]

I had a similar problem, but the "piercing" wasn't in the firing pin indentation, but along the periphery of the primer. The problem was diagnosed as defective primers, and the manufacturer replaced the case of 5000. Could your problem be with the particular lot of primers?

The pierce (hole) in the "blackened" Magtec primers is not visually noticeable to me but probing the bottom of the firing pin dimple with a sewing needle reveals a tiny hole that only the point of the needle will pass thru. As I said, the BH only does it with Magtec primers and then only about half the time.

I've had no trouble with Magtecs in 9MM or 40 SW autos or in H&R or Marlin 357's. I'm on my last case of Magtecs and in the mean time I'll use CCI and Win primers for the BH.

[Ed_Shot]

Finally got tired of loading specially for this Blackhawk with small rifle primers to avoid piercing. Contacted Ruger last week and they immediately emailed me a shipping label. They called yesterday to say that the pistol was not repairable (frame drilled too deep for the firing pin) and they're sending me a new one....pretty fantastic service. Guess I put up with it so long because the weapon performed so well but I didn't want to pass it along to the grandkids with a problem.