Thread: Cratered Primer

Greetings Again Charliehorse,
I thought I might lighten the tone a little by making a few suggestions that may work around the problems you are having. The photo of the bolt face does appear to show a loose firing pin hole and I think I can see a fraze (a slightly raised ragged edge) around the plunger ejector hole. This fraze is likely the reason for the round stamp like marks on the case heads. Together with neck sizing this is likely also responsible for the small polished areas. Removing the fraze should eliminate or reduce both problems. You are likely to get polish marks on the case heads on the second or third firing with neck sizing together with tight chambering. Careful minimal full length sizing should then restore normal function. As far as the cratering goes switching to a primer with a harder cup may reduce the problem to tolerable levels. I have used Federal primers exclusively for some years and have seldom had any problems with cratering even with max loads. See if you can cadge a few primers of different types of your mates to try. Definitely worth a crack before doing anything major. You should be using large rifle standard primers in the .22-250.
Regards and Best of Luck Grandpamac.