Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: wraithen on May 09, 2012, 01:50:28 PM

Title: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: wraithen on May 09, 2012, 01:50:28 PM: I have a win 94 in 30-30 I'm reloading for and took it to the range a few weeks back. I started in the middle of hodgdon's range for the leverevolution powder and I'm using 160gn hornady ftx bullets. Primed by CCI large rifle primers. As I flinched in anticipation of instant death for my lightest load it went off without a hitch. I inspected the case (knowing that the gun would probably fail before the case but might as well see what I can see.) The primer looks like I have really hard firing pin strikes and my pin isn't exactly pointy on this 30 something year old gun. That isn't the part that made me double think this though.

It looked initially like my primers were splashing a bit because of some ripple looking marks on the primer. There was no venting, the primer didn't change shape at all and it was still the same depth as before I shot. I was kind of confused so I asked a couple of the old timers nearby to see what they thought. They were kind of stumped as well. Figuring the loads were safe I increased the loads until I was .5gn under max safe load. All the primers looked exactly the same and the groups were starting to get smaller finally too.
Upon really close examination it looks like the boltface is marking the primer. The face isn't smooth. Around the firing pin hole it's raised and a little rough, so here's my question. Should I take a file to the bolt face and get things smoothed up or should I seek a gunsmith. I know it isn't causing any real problems yet but I also don't like that my firing pin is striking so hard either and to be honest the inner workings of a lever gun elude me. I get that it's generally the same as any other bolt in its basic functions but I have no idea how to go about things like tuning a firing pin (if there is such a thing.)
Anyone got any ideas? :dunno:
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: Biggerhammer on May 09, 2012, 02:20:00 PM: I would go at it with a light file or a piece of emery cloth wrapped on something to just bring the high spots down.
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: wsmnut on May 09, 2012, 03:21:57 PM: Are your primers seated below flush?
Depending on the primer seating tool used, and the cleanliness of the primer pocket, you might be leaving them a bit proud.
Just a thought. (Read: that happened to me!)

Wsmnut
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: AWS on May 09, 2012, 05:59:36 PM: Just re read your post, beats me am deleteing my answer other than take it to a gunsmith
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: high country on May 09, 2012, 11:25:03 PM: Let's see a pic.
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: wraithen on May 10, 2012, 01:01:55 AM: I'll post a pic after this saturday. All those primers are gone now. I am seating below flush. There was no difference in appearance between lower loads and higher ones so I'm not worried that something's gonna go boom instead of bang. Just thought it was odd.
Title: Re: Primer meeting boltface
Post by: wraithen on May 12, 2012, 06:46:08 PM: I lied about a pic of the primers. I already punched them all out again and forgot to take a pic. The primers were definitely not proud but the marks were left on them after just closing the lever and opening it again to eject them. So the bolt face is marring the primer before it's even fired. I don't even know how the bolt face can get like this. Soon as I track down a local smith I'll take her in and see what they have to say about it. For now I'm comfortable shooting her. Got her up to 35.3 gr of leverevolution and the primers started showing signs of pressure so I quit there. I'm thinking just under 35 gr was my best shot groups. I love shooting this gun! It's not even close to being really accurate but there's just something about it.