Thread: Hang and missfires in Large ish Cases useing small rifle primers

My hang fires have been as follows

Press trigger and see firing go forward, at the same moment hear a light click ( noise of firing pin strike ) a millisecond later normal shot fired. Primers are seated in a Forster coax seater.
Havent had this issue with CCI primers which are my usuall primer prior to getting the CM.

If I was to get a failure to fire I would wait 30 seconds before opening the bolt.

Many years ago it was recognised that ball powders especially at reduced case volumes were proving difficult to ignite in certain situations. The magnum primers with their longer flame time gave more consistent ignition. Bench rest primers might be the same.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Many years ago it was recognised that ball powders especially at reduced case volumes were proving difficult to ignite in certain situations. The magnum primers with their longer flame time gave more consistent ignition. Bench rest primers might be the same.

Interesting I have just gone to ball powder, how reduced were the loads you are thinking of?
I am using 41 .5 grains of 760 so although its less powder by volume than say 2209 it comes up to the bottom of the shoulder, in the case.
And measures like a dream which was a major reason for the change.

Heres the results of an OCW test done with the hang fires evident in the bottom two groups.

If its not clear enough in the pic, testing was done at 200yds

Fired about 800 rounds in Lapua 6.5 CM cases with CCI 450, mostly AR2209 but also RE17, AR 2208, 2206H and Superformance. Not one misfire and at least 500 rounds shot were reduced loads for target shooting at 100m.

Good to hear guys im getting the rifle tomorrow by the sounds of it
But it will probably be a few weeks before I have all the loading stuff for it
I’ll buy a packet or two of factory and put it through it’s paces 1st

Great topic and one very close to home with me.
I have fairly recently entered the world of 6.5 Creedmoor after 20+ years of favouring .308win.
I strayed to this fad/trendy cal with apprehension but a lot of curiosity and sat down to watch every youtube vids and read hundreds of forum posts etc

I was torn between a custom build 6.5x47 Lapua or a factory 6.5 creedmoor and was leaning the way of x47 lapua but after finding a cheap platform in Creedmoor I decided that was a better way to cut my teeth on the 6.5cal .

I eventually picked up a Remington 700 Tactical in Creedmoor and some Redding competition dies proceeded to experiment with accuracy and velocity.
Id consider myself an experienced reloader with plenty of match load seasoning but Im am almost embarrassed to say that the Creedmoor cal has challenged me and taught me more it 6 months than my 25+ years of reloading match grade ammo in any other cal.
It has been the hardest to tune load I have ever come across any has been plagued with pressure issues. I think I have tried every brass, powder projectile and primer combo out there available for this cal and very nearly threw in the towel writing it off all together as a bunch of exaggerated online hype.


That was until I tried something a little left field and hit the mother load.
I am almost afraid to mention the powder I use here for the fear it will deplete the NZ supply with its sudden spike of demand.
What I learned about this cal deserves a thread all of its own but I can proudly say I have found my Creedmoor load nirvana.

The case is nothing more than a slightly oversized Bench rest style case and that is the mind frame that got my results.
Sure it can be loaded to 2600 to 2700fps in 24"+ tubes with fair hunting accuracy using many of the easy to get powders and loading components but when I finally had the break through that combated high pressure and or the hang fires you speak of above (powder v/s primer related) I was reaching velocities over 3000fps with 139gr Lapua Scenars with perfect ignition and no high pressure signs.
I have actually cut my heavy barrel back to 20"" from 24" to get the best efficiency/accuracy node to suit this load and have now settled on a ragged hole cutter load of 136gr L Lapua Scenars running at 2910fps at are still supersonic at 1400 yards.

This cal has been an OCD adventure and a fun challenge that has had me pulling my hair out at times but looking back on it I learned so much from it that it has changed that way I look at reloading other cals.

@Wingman, that’s not fair. Need more detail!

@Wingman what power what primer?

Like I said Ill start a new thread when I get time... it was 3 a month long session of load development that really needs proper documentation to stop newbies jumping to the conclusive loads or doing something potentially dangerous.
Creedmoor even in factory loads is a relatively high pressure cal, though it doesn't have to be to get good results.