Testing firing pin/primers as empty cases vs loaded

[Reece123]

Bit of an interesting question that I think has an obvious answer but I figured someone here could give guidance. I recently bough a new rifle and made some hand loads. Got to the range and had something like 5/10 FTF due to light primer strikes. I tried the bad rounds at least a couple times a piece and nothing. Got home and pulled bullets/powder and then chambered the empty primed round and fired. 4/5 primers went off this way, and 1 never did. I was using CCI Magnums (apparently the hardest primer they make) and im thinking they may not have been seated all the way. I went to Federal primers, ensured they were seated below flush using calipers, and went 0/20 FTF the next time out. I would prefer to use CCI primers as they seem to be the easiest to find, and I would prefer to not assume this rifle is extremely picky over what could've been mine fault.

Question is, If I just prime up say 20 cases with CCI primers and fire them as empties again, and they all go bang, safe to assume it was my loading error and the rifle will be fine with CCI's? could something change between doing this and having a round completely loaded up at the range? im trying to minimize having waste time to load them up and waste components trying to guess if one is going to not go off. Im currently in load development with it so its more frustrating then just grabbing another round and shooting again.

Thanks for any help

 

[wapitibob]

I have never had a fail to fire no matter what primer I was using, currently using cci 250. An issue I have seen mentioned is excessive headspace; primer strike moves the case forward with resultant light strike and ftf.

 

[Wrench]

Measure your pin protrusion. You may have a short stroke. If you sized the case too much this can happen too. Lastly if pin protrusion is good and your case is sized correctly....trigger drag or spring is the next likely culprit.

 

[MT762]

Yah this is a legit test. Only thing to keep in mind is each time the primer gets hit on one of those tests, the shoulder of the case will set back .005-.010. You can measure it each time after you drop the firing pin on it.

If you are having questions about whether the primers were seated all the way...this is the likely culprit. Also CCIs are the largest (or one of the largest) diameter factory primers so they often seat hard in fresh brass (but are nice to use when primer pockets feel loose with other primer brands.

I would look to operator error on the priming stroke before I worried about anything else.