Primer Cratering in T/C Encore. Solution?

[Crosshair]

So I have a T/C Encore that craters primers on rifle pressure 223 loads. The primers end up looking like this,



Since this is a break-action gun, this binds up the gun and causes the action to be difficult to open. Obviously the cratering isn't as "nice" as the picture once I break the gun open.

I KNOW I don't have excessive pressure with these loads. (Chronograph, QuickLOAD, firing in different guns, and reloading manuals.) So the problem has to be with the gun itself. I have some ideas, but I will be quiet and listen to what everyone else has to say.

Thanks for any advice that you can give.

 

[AJC1]

The common solution to fix that problem is to Bush the firing pin.

 

[243winxb]

Stop using CCI 400 primers. Or get/make a custom firing pin bushing.

 

[edwardware]

Try a different brand primer.

I find that Win (and sometimes Fed) are softer than CCI and S&B. Swap it up and see what happens.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

“I KNOW I don't have excessive pressure with these loads. (Chronograph, QuickLOAD, firing in different guns, and reloading manuals.) So the problem has to be with the gun itself.“
With all due respect, all any of these things are telling you is you might not be over pressure in theory, you probably aren’t over pressure in the other guns, and you are getting close enough to the expected velocity for a certain load in your Encore. Without a strain gauge the only thing you know for certain is your load in the Encore is showing signs of excessive pressure and is difficult to extract. Different throat dimensions, different barrels, different headspace… it’s really dangerous to make assumptions based on modeling software - predictive analytics and modeling are imprecise with great precision - and how a load works in something else.
If you never used software or tried it out in another gun, what would these primers be telling you?

 

[Riomouse911]

“I KNOW I don't have excessive pressure with these loads. (Chronograph, QuickLOAD, firing in different guns, and reloading manuals.) So the problem has to be with the gun itself.“
With all due respect, all any of these things are telling you is you might not be over pressure in theory, you probably aren’t over pressure in the other guns, and you are getting close enough to the expected velocity for a certain load in your Encore. Without a strain gauge the only thing you know for certain is your load in the Encore is showing signs of excessive pressure and is difficult to extract. Different throat dimensions, different barrels, different headspace… it’s really dangerous to make assumptions based on modeling software - predictive analytics and modeling are imprecise with great precision - and how a load works in something else.
If you never used software or tried it out in another gun, what would these primers be telling you?

Agreed, what is safe in one gun may not be safe in the very next one off the line even if it is a book load.

“When changing components, or trying in a new gun, reduce the charge by 10% and work up to safe levels, looking for signs of excess pressure as you increase charge weights” isn’t just old guy, pre Internet stuff. It can keep you, and your firearms, from suffering damage.

Good luck and stay safe.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I use CCI 450 primers but the best way to solve it is to have the firing pin diameter reduced and a bushing installed.