Blown primer. New rifle. Only 1 round fired.

Since we are all spitballing here and OP is definitely going to send it back, I’ll throw in a scenario just for fun.

What are the chances that it is chambered correctly in 280AI like a lot including OP seem to think, but they accidentally chambered a .277 barrel in 280AI instead of a .284? What else would cause crazy pressure like that aside from some seriously effed ammunition?

Anyone?
 
Jason Snyder said:
Excess headspace.
Click to expand...
Can you explain? I understand that excess headspace can cause pressure signs because there's extra space in the chamber and the case head slaps the bolt face typically leaving an ejector mark and/or swipe, but to cause an actual pressure spike to this extent I just don't see how it's possible. If anything I would suspect an under spec chamber, or with that much pressure something like a 277 bore.
 
A cartridge rattling around all sloppy inside an oversized chamber can cause all sorts of problems. Misaligned bore. Dramatically stretched out brass (you can see that ring indicating near case head separation). Primer gas escaping and popped primers as the case head bounces off the bolt face. None of it good.
 
Jason Snyder said:
Too much clearance between bolt face and shoulder, case head separates because it’s not fully supported by the bolt face. Primer blows out for the same reason.

I’m not saying something else isn’t going on in addition to, but this chamber is clearly not to specs and likely that caused the head separation.
Click to expand...
I believe a very hot load could do that in an in spec chamber. I don't think we can diagnose from a distance on this one.
 
One blown primer in his Montana and one blown primer in his Alterra.

He’s going to reach out to Federal.
 
txnewguy said:
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.
Click to expand...
Weatherby will email you a shipping label for free all you have to do is box it up and drop off at a FedEx. They will return it to your house for free after their review/repair/replacement for free and should be no FFL needed.
 
fuzzymarindave said:
If they do the correct paperwork it can be an identical replacement with a different serial number. Browning kept my rife and mailed a replacement to my house and it had a different serial number.
Click to expand...
I've had 2 Ruger rifles and 1 Christsensen Arms that were sent back and new rifles were sent back. All 3 needed to have new paperwork done and a background check done. The 204 I sent back to Ruger got a new barrel and was returned without the need for paperwork. These were all sent back using the FFL they were ordered from. That could be the difference.

Jay
 
The Guide said:
I've had 2 Ruger rifles and 1 Christsensen Arms that were sent back and new rifles were sent back. All 3 needed to have new paperwork done and a background check done. The 204 I sent back to Ruger got a new barrel and was returned without the need for paperwork. These were all sent back using the FFL they were ordered from. That could be the difference.

Jay
Click to expand...
Some of the specifics depend on state, but I know it's federally legal to ship directly to and from with an FFL, it's usually state laws that make them do paperwork on the shipping/receiving/transfer back to you if you use an FFL to ship, if that makes sense. I now send my rifles directly to my gunsmith in ID and he ships them directly back to my house, but if I ship through my local FFL he has to do paperwork to give it back to me (I've had my own experiences with Ruger and they won't ship direct).
 
txnewguy said:
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.
Click to expand...
Several years ago I bought a weatherby mark v talus 6.5 creed that had a failure to fire condition. Didnt matter what ammo I tried. I contacted them, they sent a shipping label and I sent it in. They cleaned it, examined the rifle and they actually called me to ask a few questions. In my case the firing pin assembly was assembled incorrectly. They corrected that, test fired and prepared a detailed report of the whole process. I received it back in fully functioning condition. It was sub Moa accuracy with multiple ammo brands. The only unhappy part for me was the initial let down and then the two month wait for it to be fixed. They were excellent to deal with and very thorough in their response. I didn’t have to pay a dime.
 
txnewguy said:
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.
Click to expand...
In another related situation, I had a semi custom Tikka rifle built in 280ai. This was during the 2020-2021 ammo famine. The only ammo I could get was nosler 140 ballistic tips and I scored on some 165 accubonds too. Also I was able to order some custom hand loads from Dallas Reloads with 145lrx bullets. First trip to the range upon loading the BT’s I noticed that many of them seemed to have harder than normal bolt close but they were very accurate. And no blown primers or anything. The 165AB’s were same with only an occasional hard bolt close. Good accuracy and no other issues. The Dallas ammo had none of that and were exceedingly accurate. Over the course of phone calls (Nosler was unreachable and no response) Dallas responded promptly and gun smith had lengthy conversation about possible causes. At the end of the day I purchased a hornady freebore gauge and ptg headspace gauges. The rifle headspace and freebore were within spec. The Dallas ammo was assembled with Peterson brass which I came to find out comes with a shorter .002 OAL from the factory than nosler. The actual Nosler ammo was either right at chamber OAL or exceeeded it by up to .002. Thus the hard bolt close. Since then I have purchased and fired Federal 155TA and it functioned fine and was exceedingly accurate. Final note was all the ammo was within SAMMI spec. I think you have the same thing going on with your rifle. But you really should send it in and have Weatherby assess it.
 
Last edited:
Update.

Interesting note - The Nosler Accubond cartridges I ordered pre-blown primer arrived and the bolt closed much easier than the Federal Terminal Ascent cartridges.

Also worth noting, when I shook the Nosler Accubond cartridge I was able to hear the powder in the case. When I shook the Federal Terminal Ascent cartridge I couldn’t hear anything in the case. I know it’s not a scientific or quantifiable data point but to me at least it’s worth noting. I’m not a reloader but it seems odd that there’s no free space in the Federal TA. For all other rifle ammo I have I can hear the powder shake in the case, e.g., .308 Win. 7.62 NATO, .30-06 Springfield, 6.5 CM.

The Federal TA was sent back to Federal. I’m curious to hear what they say. But I imagine for legal liability reasons it won’t amount to much.
 
Last edited:
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