Thread: Anyone had primer piercing issues with small primer brass in a Tikka?

Hey guys looking to get some Petersen SRP small primer brass.

It is for a Tikka T3x .260 18". Has anyone had any issues with running small primer brass in a Tikka? I have read the firing pin may have to be bushed to prevent piercing which I am not keen on doing..

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting...imers.6897390/

Have used palmer 308 brass, Robby Tiffen suggested magnum primers, as they are tougher, slightly more flash which is useful because the flash hole is smaller.
If its palmer brass you will need to adjust your decapping pin or break it. My Lee collect neck dies don't capping pins anymore, which is useful if pulling & changing rounds. Decapping done with a universal decapping die. I found I got slightly less velocity, but great averages of around 6 fps, and accuracy to boot, my 308 chamber is a standard
sloppy chamber so fiddling around with neck turning etc was not as useful as with a tight match chamber/ palmer chamber.
Bit of a waffle hope it helps.

Greetings 308mate,
My impression is that some small rifle primers crater at lower pressures than others. Cratering is a step on the way to piercing. You could try magnum primers or other primer manufacturers or drop your load until the problem goes away. The question needs to be asked is why would you use small rifle primers in the .260? I know they can give a small accuracy benefit in bench rest rifles but they can also result in hang or misfires in cold conditions. Perhaps it would be best to stick with large rifle primers and eliminate any possible problems.
Regards Grandpamac.

I read the sniperhide posting and I don't think he is quite on to his problem. He did mention CC 450 primers which are a known solution for piercing with for example Federal 200s but he still has the problem.

Years ago I started out using an old Barnard action with a 6mm BR chambering. That combination at the time had a reputation for piercing probable due to a slightly sloppy firing pin hole. I went straight to CCI BR 4s and never had a problem.

Currently I am using Peterson and Lapua Palma small rifle primer brass in my 308 FTR and the possibility of primer piercing never entered my head and I certainly haven't experienced any. My loads are HOTish, hotter than I would risk in a sporting type rifle action.

You shouldn't have a problem if you just work up your loads using safe practices.

This article is a bit old now but the thickness values are probably still valid Primers And Pressure

Re velocity, I get only slightly less velocity (as per @flock ) than with equivalent weight Lapua large rifle primer but astonishingly small extreme spreads. There is no need to use magnum primers as some suggest. My experience with them is increased ES. Some maintain that they fix the reduced velocity issue but it is so small as to not be an issue.
I don't even use magnum primers with my Win 760 ball powder loads and have never had an issue. Maybe a must for magnum capacity cases.

One other thing and it shouldn't be an issue for you but the 308 Peterson SRP brass has less capacity than Lapua Palma SRP brass. Ave case weight 171 grains versus 176. This gives me an issue getting the 185 grain Bergers running at a useful velocity. Again, shouldn't be an issue for you, just a bit of useless info :-)

A weak firing-pin spring can cause this, and subsequent gas-erosion of the pin can accelerate and compound the problem

Another thought, is this happening with virgin-brass, or resized ? Are you bumping the shoulder too hard ? Headspace might be an issue

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings 308mate,
My impression is that some small rifle primers crater at lower pressures than others. Cratering is a step on the way to piercing. You could try magnum primers or other primer manufacturers or drop your load until the problem goes away. The question needs to be asked is why would you use small rifle primers in the .260? I know they can give a small accuracy benefit in bench rest rifles but they can also result in hang or misfires in cold conditions. Perhaps it would be best to stick with large rifle primers and eliminate any possible problems.
Regards Grandpamac.

@grandpamac

Simply because they are what is available as .260 Lapua brass is still out of stock, I have been waiting a while. Also I did read that small primer brass lasts a lot longer

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...r-srp.3969340/

Originally Posted by zimmer

One other thing and it shouldn't be an issue for you but the 308 Peterson SRP brass has less capacity than Lapua Palma SRP brass. Ave case weight 171 grains versus 176. This gives me an issue getting the 185 grain Bergers running at a useful velocity. Again, shouldn't be an issue for you, just a bit of useless info :-)

@zimmer it could be a issue for me as I plan to try to get my 260 as fast as I can so maybe I am best to wait for Lapua Brass and go large primer and avoid any issues.

I used to run a Tikka CTR on SRP in 6.5 Creedmoor Lapua brass ( not Peterson ) never had an issue with CCI450 primers but did get erratic ignition and hang fires on other primers.
Still running SRP's in 308 now ( had too many left from running the 6.5 ) still 450's still no problems. Still no piercing
Plenty of pressure shooting 155's at 3000 +


Feds will possibly be to thin ? they gave me the FTF and hang fire scenarios and not the long hot spark a 450 gives. you could also try rem SRP's they are supposed to be hot too.

As a side note I tried some Winchester primers from gun city the other day ( WLRM ) fuckers still pop and eroded my nice bolt face, looked at the box ...... manufactured in 2010, thanks GC you really are GC'S or maybe just C's selling stock from 10 years ago.

If you have drama's you may need to have the firing pin bushed or altered .

I've seen differences in primer piercing in my .223 tikka. Started off using Rem SR no 7's? and were piercing frequently. Changed to CCI and Federal Match primers, both have been just fine. Load has not changed and not a hot load either. Some primers are thinner so perhaps try another brand or a SR magnum primer.

Originally Posted by 308mate

@grandpamac

Simply because they are what is available as .260 Lapua brass is still out of stock, I have been waiting a while. Also I did read that small primer brass lasts a lot longer

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...r-srp.3969340/

Thanks for the reply 308mate,
Thanks also for the link to the accurate shooter forum. It is nice to know there at least one other old fudd asking the same question. It seems that johnd has the answer with the CCI 450 primers if you need to use SRP cases. A friend used to neck up .243 cases for the .260 when they were scarce. Probably not ideal but another option. I used to neck up .308 cases to .358 for my son's rifle. I just ran the expander button in and out of the neck which did the job. It won't change the head stamp though.
Regards Grandpamac.

Cheers for all the input guys. I will wait for the Lapua large primers to come back in stock I think.

I use Federal Premium Match Small Rifle Primers in Laupa Palma cases in a Barnard action.
My son & I load and fire between 3000 - 4000 rounds per year.
Never, ever, had a problem with primer strike or piercing.

I would give it a go
I run 308win SRP brass through a Tikka with no issues using federal match primers