Blown primer. New rifle. Only 1 round fired.

[txnewguy]

Hello,

This is my first post here and my first on any firearm or hunting related blog.

I bought a factory new Weatherby 307 Range in 280 AI for my first elk trip in November.

The following day I mounted a scope and headed to the range. On the very first cartridge, the primer was blown out and the extractor was shattered and in two pieces. The primer was not pierced. But the case head was deformed and the extractor damaged the case head as well.

The ammo was/is factory new Federal Terminal Ascent 155 gr. I do not reload.

Obviously, the blown primer is a sign of high pressure. But what caused the high pressure? Is it simply due to hot factory ammo? Or, could it be a tight chamber? Should I buy GO/NO-Go gauges? Am I safe to try factory new Nosler Accubond 160gr?

If I experience a similar issue with the Nosler ammo, I’ll be sending the rifle back to Weatherby.

Weatherby is aware. They’re sending a new extractor, pin, and spring. I’ve ordered new ammo (Nosler Accubond) and will put the Federal ammo aside.

I’ve emailed Federal twice detailing my experience as well. No response.

Thank you for your guidance. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I would send the rifle back.

 

[Aaron-in-CO]

Last summer, I was getting blown primers on my 15+ year old 7mm RM Savage 110 shooting Federal TA 155s.

Turned out to be an excessive headspace issue which got fixed up by a gunsmith. It’s been shooting well since then with several more boxes of same ammo.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Turned out to be an excessive headspace issue which got fixed up by a gunsmith.

Headspace was my first thought.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I would send the rifle back.

This

 

[wind gypsy]

Chamber wasn’t oily by chance was it?

 

[txnewguy]

Chamber wasn’t oily by chance was it?

I ran a new boresnake with a few very small drops of Break Free from a pen applicator.

I thought this was the culprit, too. But I’ve done this for the other 7 rifles I have, especially after they’ve been sitting in storage for months.

Something to add, the bolt is very hard to rotate on a new cartridge. It takes much more effort than on my other bolt gun.

 

[lyle_destroys]

Send the rifle back. You willing to risk it again?

 

[hiker270]

Send it back, If you can afford it buy another rifle while that one gets repaired.

 

[kevingm1987]

I follow a few forums/FB groups and can't remember which one but I swear I had read a similar post about 280ai 155gn federal terminal accent blowing primers. This would of been in the last 2 weeks or so. I would say ammo issue before a gun issue

 

[txnewguy]

Of course, I don’t want to risk shooting the rifle again. I suppose I’ll need to buy or borrow a rifle in the meantime.

Is anyone familiar with Weatherby’s resolution or turn around time? Are they easy to work with?

 

[kevingm1987]

Of course, I don’t want to risk shooting the rifle again. I suppose I’ll need to buy or borrow a rifle in the meantime.

Is anyone familiar with Weatherby’s resolution or turn around time? Are they easy to work with?

I would shoot a different round a see if you have the same problem. Weatherby may help but needs to be determined if its the gun or the ammo that's giving you the trouble. Or at least that's what I would do.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Something to add, the bolt is very hard to rotate on a new cartridge. It takes much more effort than on my other bolt gun.

Something isn't clearanced right between the rifle and ammo. The bullet could also be jammed in the lands (and you're feeling the resistance when closing the bolt for example). Which would spike pressure.

This isn't necessarily a Weatherby's fault but I'd have the investigate it unless you have the tools to check headspace, where the bullet hits the lands, etc.

 

[SDHNTR]

you are never going to shoot that rifle well. Send it back along with the ammo and let them deal with it. Sell it when it comes back with a clean bill of health. Go buy a new rifle now.

 

[TaperPin]

Your problem isn’t uncommon - other posts have a number of blown primers with factory ammo, but what is somewhat unique is the amount of pressure in your case seems a step beyond what it takes to simply blow a primer, and that is concerning.

Whatever you do keep in mind, what if that doesn’t fix it? Sending it to a low paid warrantee technician at Weatherby would be better than nothing, but would they do anything other than test fire a few times and send it back? You could try other ammo, but what if that doesn’t fix it and rather than just a blown primer and broken extractor the case ruptures and causes real damage? The gun would seem to need a seriously defective chamber if it’s not bad ammo - like a dangerously small diameter neck, or super short neck that prevents the bullet from releasing correctly. If a new bullet can freely drop down the neck of the fired case, that’s often used to check that the neck clearance is ok.

If a trip back to Weatherby and totally different ammo doesn’t fix it, then what? A gunsmith can check headspace and do a chamber casting to help rule out any obvious issues, maybe run a known good reamer in. Hell, the bore size should be measured.

 

[txnewguy]

Thanks everyone for the guidance. I certainly do not want to experience this again - especially the hot gas in my face.

Weatherby emailed a shipping label so I’ll send it to them ASAP for testing. (I just need to figure out where I can buy a shipping box for a rifle.)

Federal also emailed a shipping label so I’ll send them the ammo for testing.

That being said, I doubt I’ll receive anything more than, “everything is within specification.”

Yes, I plan on selling the rifle once it’s returned. It’s very disappointing as factory 280AI’s are difficult to come by.

 

[txnewguy]

Here are some pictures to satiate everyone’s curiosity.