Misfire

[PGJPJ]

I took my Ruger M77 to the range yesterday (Friday). I was drying out from black tail hunting all morning. I got a tip from JD338 in another thread on a good load, and it turned out to be fantastic.

300 win mag. 180 grn AB. 75.0 grn RL22.

I was able to get several groups touching, where before I was happy to get 1 MOA with that rifle. I sent several rounds down range drilling out the same hole. I couldn’t have been more impressed with that load.

For the second time this year however, I had a misfire. There was a solid impact on the primer. The primer didn’t appear seated any differently than any of the others. I looked at my firing pin last night, and it still looks brand new. Do you guys think it could still be a problem with my firing pin? Or with the primers? I’m 110% sure I in no way contaminated the primers. After the first misfire several months ago, I’ve been very careful with my loading process. Also, I shot several more rounds after the misfire with no other issues.

The brass also happened to be brand new, W-W. Last time it happened was with Federal brass, well used. I’m just at a loss.

I’ve probably fired that rifle between 500-700 times since I bought it brand new. I wouldn’t think the firing pin would be worn by now, and like I said it looked just fine.

I do have a brick of WLRM on order (although it’s been on backorder for 6 months). I wonder if I’ll continue to have misfires with WLRM primers over CCI250’s.

If I get the “click” instead of “bang” next month when I’m out elk hunting, I’m going to blow a gasket.

Thanks for the help!

 

[JD338]

PGJPJ

Glad to hear the 300 Win Mag "Magic Load" has worked out well for you.

Since you have ruled out your loading process and contamination, it now is either the primer or the rifle.

I would take apart the bolt and give it a through cleaning. If you will be hunting in sub freezing temps, use a dry lubricant.

Its hard to believe that its the primer but it could be. Try a different brand while you wait for the WLRM primers to arrive. If you can find them, Federal GM215M primers have been fantastic for me in several calibers without a single problem.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I still have a bad batch of Fed215 primers. When ever I use them I get about 1 misfire per box of 20. Beyond that, I've had a few misfires throgh the years. Just a few here and there. You shoot enough, it will happen.

 

[DrMike]

I've had misfires on three different lots of primers during the years of hand loading. I have one rifle that I was forced to change out the firing pin after less than twenty rounds. I have another rifle that required dressing the firing pin before it would fire reliably. Clean the firing pin, checking it carefully for burrs and/or debris. If you are still having problems, check with a different lot of primers.

 

[rick smith]

Could be the primer but could be a headspace problem with the brass you mentioned as being new. Pull the bullet, dump the powder and remove the primer. Look at the inside of the primer. Anvil in there? Priming mix in it? Then reseat the primer in a case the worked, I know this sounds dangerous but if you are wearing safety glasses, as you should be when loading, nothing bad will happen. Now put the primed case in your rifle and pull the trigger, yes have it pointed in a safe direction. If your other cases fired, I would not think it is the firing pin. Headspace on the mag case or bad primer. I think most of us that have loaded for a good while have gotten some bad primers.Rick.

 

[1Shot]

It is most likely your firing pin spring. Ruger rifles are notorious for the firing pin spring getting week over time at least that is what my gun smith has told me because he has had to replace quite a few over the years for people and it fixed the occasional miss fire.

 

[DrMike]

Consequently, the rifle that had a rough spot on the firing pin was a Hawkeye. Dressed the pin, and it has fired consistently ever since.

 

[Divernhunter]

Well lets see. I have loaded along time without a single misfire until a couple months back. It was a win LR primer which was a new batch and I would have thought if I were going to have trouble it would be with the primers I have had since the late 1960's. It was in a ruger but it would not fire in a Rem or a T/C either. I have a bunch of older tang safety rugers and have never had firing pin spring troubles or misfires until recent primers were used. You can be sure that I use my older more reliable primers in my hunting loads.
I suspect it was a primer problem and not the rifle or the way the ammo was loaded. But then I am not real positive about the new hurry-up and make primers.