Fieldcraft light primer strike: 6.5 CM

[Mike Islander]

First ever light primer strike from any rifle.

Loaded 4 rounds with one in the chamber for a Monday evening hunt. No deer, and I kept the rifle loaded on safety on this solo trip. Camped out and was back in the stand in the morning. No deer, so went to the 300 yard range for a few shots. Temps never dropped below 57F.

All along, original round was in the rifle. Lined up for first shot, pushed safety forward and squeezed the trigger..."dink". Obvious light primer strike and no BANG. Chambered another round. First one had a light dimple on the primer. Shot the next three without issue. Reloaded the first round again and it shot without issue.

Main question is whether having round chambered overnight had an effect on the bolt spring. My physics background says there's no way this could have affected it, especially in the moderate weather. But I'm not a gunsmith. Any ideas? My best guess is just that my boat is a little bit dirty and I need to clean it. This gun has probably 100 rounds on it total.

 

[hereinaz]

It was not leaving the spring compressed overnight.

Likely cause is firing pin friction or poorly seated primers.

If you hadn’t cleaned the bolt, sometimes they ship with a heavier oil/grease or too much.

 

[Tanner]

can’t say that I’d ever see a single reason to have a round chambered until it’s “go time” on a hunt but that also shouldn’t cause a light strike and it’s another issue entirely…

are they handloads or factory?

 

[Mike Islander]

147 ELD-M. That round shot just fine when I rechambered it. I could literally hear that it was a light strike.

I'll disassemble and clean the bolt tomorrow. It's probably still got some original lube inside. I've never really sprayed it out to clean out whatever they ship in there.

 

[Mike Islander]

can’t say that I’d ever see a single reason to have a round chambered until it’s “go time” on a hunt but that also shouldn’t cause a light strike and it’s another issue entirely…

are they handloads or factory?

Solo camp hunting. I walk flat ground to the stand the next morning after shooting light. I see no reason to unload.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Same,no reason to unload were I’m at most of the time.

 

[HandgunHTR]

A couple of things.

1. The viscosity of a lubricant can change significantly with even small changes in temperature. That being said, I find it hard to believe that any modern gun manufacturer would use something that temperature sensitive, but who knows.

2. The most likely cause was a poorly seated primer. When you pulled the trigger the first time the firing pin pushed the primer firmly into the primer pocket and ran out of juice to push the primer material into the anvil and cause ignition. That is why it fired just fine the second time. You didn't answer if they were handloads or not, but if they are, you may want to check them for high primers.

3. This doesn't have anything to do with the misfire, but why are you hunting with a rifle that only has 100 rounds on it? I won't hunt anything that has less than 500 rounds on it. 100 rounds isn't even broken in yet.

 

[Mike Islander]

A couple of things.

1. The viscosity of a lubricant can change significantly with even small changes in temperature. That being said, I find it hard to believe that any modern gun manufacturer would use something that temperature sensitive, but who knows.

2. The most likely cause was a poorly seated primer. When you pulled the trigger the first time the firing pin pushed the primer firmly into the primer pocket and ran out of juice to push the primer material into the anvil and cause ignition. That is why it fired just fine the second time. You didn't answer if they were handloads or not, but if they are, you may want to check them for high primers.

3. This doesn't have anything to do with the misfire, but why are you hunting with a rifle that only has 100 rounds on it? I won't hunt anything that has less than 500 rounds on it. 100 rounds isn't even broken in yet.

1. Guessing you are right.

2. Sounds plausible. Hornady factory 6.5CM ELD-M.

3. Nonsense. No breaking in required. 100 rounds is plenty for a Fieldcraft and probably most decent factory rifles. Also, not traveling to New Zealand here. Short drive to 2000 private acres with 40 stands to hunt tons of deer.

I'm leaning towards your idea of poorly seated primer, though have never seen one for Hornady (1000s of rounds in several calibers). Definitely possible. If you are right, nothing to do with the rifle.

 

[TK161BOONER]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, who has the time and money to put 500 rounds down a barrel before taking it hunting….
I don’t think I’ve ever gone hunting with a rifle that has 100 rounds down the barrel.
Most are 20-50 LOL.

 

[prm]

I’m guessing gunk inside the bolt.

 

[Mike Islander]

Disassembled, cleaned, and lubed the bolt. Slightest oil film on the spring (wiped with cloth after). No lube on firing pin end. Very light grease on rear of bolt lugs and bolt threads. Tiniest bit of grease on ejection ramp. Light wipe of oil on bolt surface.

Some say to put a tiny bit of grease on the trigger release, but I'm not actually sure where that is on this bolt. Should be obvious? Not to me. So no grease there by me.

 

[yfarm]

Son had the same thing with a FC 308, one light strike followed by normal function. Read somewhere if the bolt handle is not completely seated into the stock light strikes occur. Have not tested to verify however and how much less than complete causes the malfunction.