I was gifted a pristine Savage Sporter 23B in 25-20. It was manufactured in 1924 according to the factory letter.
I also received a box of 25-20 reloaded 75gr lead gas check w/ 9gr 4227 (per the loader's specs). They are from the Old Western Scrounger, and I spoke with their loader. He said they use 9.0 gr 4227 with 10.7 being maximum.
I intend to pull the bullet from one and make sure that it is, in fact, 9gr. If more than 9 grains it might explain the issue. I also will load some mild loads and see if the same thing happens.
Here is the problem: the primer is flowing around the firing pin but does not seem to be flattened. Flattened primers as we all know shows high pressures.
The loader was not complimentary to this kind of rifle, and thought that something could be off with the bolt, a weak spring (I don't know what that has to do with it), headspace, or something with the bolt face.
Personally I wonder if the head space could be off, or maybe even the diameter of the firing pin channel might be too big with an undersized firing pin. Maybe the firing pin is too long.....or maybe aliens live in there....who knows?
When the gun fires, the primer has no where to go except flow around the firing pin. Not bad, but enough to give me pause.
Any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Donald
a/k/a fish4bugs