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Thread: Did I cause this?

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Did I cause this?

    Hi All

    I recently bought some 12ga primed empties to experiment with. Last night I wanted to try one out for fun so I decided to put one
    in the ole Mossberg's chamber and shot it in the garage. No powder or projectile of any sort was used, just the primed shell.
    When I ejected the spent round, it looked like this(shell on the right):
    Click image for larger version. 

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Views:	36 
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ID:	302146
    My question is, did I cause this by shooting this primed 'blank"?
    Or is there a problem with the cartridge/firearm?

    Thank you for all replies!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Electrod47's Avatar
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    Shoot a second one and see. Primers can back out without proper pressure to hit the bolt face.
    “You should tell someone what you know. There should be a history, so that men can learn from it.

    He smiled. “Men do not learn from history. Each generation believes itself brighter than the last, each believes it can survive the mistakes of the older ones. Each discovers each old thing and they throw up their hands and say ‘See! Look what I have found! Look upon what I know!’ And each believes it is something new.

    Louis L’Amour

    The Californios

  3. #3
    Boolit Mold
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    Quote Originally Posted by Electrod47 View Post
    Shoot a second one and see. Primers can back out without proper pressure to hit the bolt face.
    Samey-same:
    Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #4
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    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
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    That's normal.

    Almost all primed and empty cases will do that.
    Doing that, I used to call it a redneck headspace gauge.

    That's partly how really flat primers in fired cases end up with high pressure signs, and the primer looking like a rivet.
    When it fires the primer backs out, tries or starts to bulge,
    and the case gets pushed back onto it before it can slide back into the primer pocket.

    In your case, You know the primers are good.
    I'd load & shoot 'em, they'll be fine.
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 07-15-2022 at 05:00 PM.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master


    stubshaft's Avatar
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    The primed hull doesn't have enough pressure to seal the hull into the chamber and allows the gasses to migrate to the base. Full power loads will shoot just fine.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

    Men who don't understand women fall into two categories: bachelors and husbands!

  6. #6
    Boolit Mold
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    Thank you all very much, that's a load off my mind!!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
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    If case head in now concaved it goes in the trash. Firing pin may have trouble reaching it.

    Concaved happens also when to much pressure is applied when seating the primers.

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold
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    Yes Sir, I cut it up. Thanks for that info!

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by stubshaft View Post
    The primed hull doesn't have enough pressure to seal the hull into the chamber and allows the gasses to migrate to the base. Full power loads will shoot just fine.
    you hit the nail on the head. it needs the pressure from firing to keep the primmer seated on the hull!!

  10. #10
    Boolit Mold
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    The comments regarding insufficient pressure appertain however the Fiocchi hulls primer chamber may be oversize for typical US 209 primers ie a loose fit contributing to the result.
    It would be of interest to compare these with some fired in another gun such as a standard sxs gun.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Electrod47, that is correct & it will happen when the headspace is not in specks.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by 243winxb View Post
    If case head in now concaved it goes in the trash. Firing pin may have trouble reaching it.

    Concaved happens also when to much pressure is applied when seating the primers.
    Not so A punch that fits shell well Hammered down on the anvil of the vice flattens it back down so primers will be flush BTDT

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by natlmatch View Post
    Hi All

    I recently bought some 12ga primed empties to experiment with. Last night I wanted to try one out for fun so I decided to put one
    in the ole Mossberg's chamber and shot it in the garage. No powder or projectile of any sort was used, just the primed shell.
    When I ejected the spent round, it looked like this(shell on the right):
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	48-DBB8-A6-7-D5-D-4-F3-C-8454-FAB3-F0-DE776-C.jpg 
Views:	36 
Size:	39.9 KB 
ID:	302146
    My question is, did I cause this by shooting this primed 'blank"?
    Or is there a problem with the cartridge/firearm?

    Thank you for all replies!
    that is normal . that's what happens in the first mili-second of firing a live round then when the powder is ignited the pressure is reversed on the primer and the shell is pushed back against the breech and resets the primer where it was in the first place. that is called headspace

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Geezer in NH, roger that. it is what I do to them also. the brass in UBER soft and will flatten out with out any problem. I use a 5/16 th. brass rod to accomplish it, it is what I have and it works. waste not want not! it is not being cheep but repurposing items!

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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