revolver misfire

[icanthitabarn]

So I was firing some really hot 158 gr .357. I get a click, twice, so I look and there was a empty hole where the primer should have been. This ever happen to anyone? Edit to say I am pretty sure this round had a primer when loaded, I hand prime.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Primers just don't disappear and there's no way for a primer to be pushed into the case from the back so......

 

[oerllikon]

Maybe its time to retire that case, lol. I havent reloaded much, and Im only 19.. So there are many mistakes... I mean err..Learning experiences to have

 

[FreddyKruger]

How many times has the cases been reloaded? and how many of those time have been "really hot"?

 

[243winxb]

You may have seated a primer in a very loose pocket and it fell out before loading & firing. Or you forgot to install a primer.

 

[GaryL]

Or you forgot to install a primer.

That NEVER happens.


Reloading tip for bulk reloaders: Putting the finished rounds into boxes tail end up before heading to the range is an easy way to spot missing primers. Rounds with missing primers found at the range are indicative of brass past it's expiration date.

 

[Walkalong]

That is not a misfire, it is a mistake. Whether a primer was left out, or whether the primer pocket was so loose the primer fell out, it was simply a mistake.

So I was firing some really hot 158 gr .357.

Load book max, or overloads? I cannot say strongly enough that going over load data can be dangerous. Excess pressure does many thing. One of them is enlarging primer pockets. If you have enough pressure to expand PP's, you are running dangerous loads. The next thing is blown primers, and after that, ruptured brass and blown actions.

 

[icanthitabarn]

Who says primers don't disappear? I just tumbled and separated my .38/.357. Every .357 had a spent primer. These contained the 9 that were hot. Yes I went slightly over fac. max. 2/10 gr. I weigh each heavy load, the rest, I dip. The rest were extremely light Trail Boss, my new fav. The max loads are in a new gun (to me) that can handle it. The primers were slightly flattened. So I put the bunch in a mtm box as well as the .38's and like 6 or 7 of those have a missing primer, after the tumble . Like I said, I hand prime and have never had a primer that felt like it wasn't a tight fit. I don't count my loadings because headstamp sorting and case length sorting is killing all my time.( I'm learning thou) I just throw any cracked ones out. All my .357's are rem nickle.

 

[gamestalker]

Your playing with fire Sir. Walkalong said it all in one short sentence. In one form or another, it was a mistake that you made. Personally, I load hot as well, but not above published maximum data, and to date, some 30 years later, I have never had a primer pocket get loose. If it was the primer pocket failing, it's very possible that the pressures are well above the maximum working pressures for that cartridge. Your statement about primers falling out in the tumbler is another pretty good indication to me. I've not had anything like that ever happen.

 

[icanthitabarn]

I think this strange confluence of previously unseen occurrences was a result of too many loadings. I would guess at around 7 or 8, if that is a lot?. These were all light loads, in the 38's. As to the missing .357 primer, I believe it must have been too many loadings, combined with a previously heavy load or two. I believe the heavy recoil, in the next chamber
did knock the primer out, and the gun is made with a little gap which appears to maybe be enough room to allow this. I looked and the load was max of Unique but I used a Fed Mag primer. I think I will get some more casings and at least segregate the ones that were fired with a hot load. Thanks for all your thoughts.

 

[FROGO207]

A lot of loadings??? I have reloaded some batches of 38 SPL cartridges over 100 times and none have had enlarged primer pockets. Usually the neck splits on an odd one here and there, most of the nickle ones are worn down to the brass by now with no nickle left. I have also some 357 nickle that are at 40 reloads and going strong. I DO NOT load hot, in fact my best accuracy with the 357 is a little above starting with either Unique or Blue Dot. The brass sure lasts a long time. Also if your primer could fall out with rounds in the cylinder and gate or cylinder closed the firearm is in my opinion unsafe to shoot. I would at least take it to a Smith to have it looked at. If you want something that will kick the crap out of your hand and belch fire get a 44 MAG or 500 S&W and load with a slower propellant. I have both BTW. YMMV

 

[gamestalker]

Frogo207, you are really getting some case life there. I load with slow burning powders which do have a high SAMMI working pressure, so I don't have the luxury of case life exceeding 20 cycles. But considering my loads are deffinitly in the maximum range for .357 magnum at a SAMMI estimated 41,000 plus, I feel 15 to 20 cycles is not too shabby a life span. But my 38 special loads, which I also use slow burner's to load with, and are also in the high end of SAMMI pressures, seem nearly impossible to wear out, at least any time soon.

 

[FROGO207]

I failed to mention that the lightest roll crimp possible to prevent movement is also used. If I jamb the casing into the bullet to the max the case life goes down the tubes. However if you are to go to max load and beyond the roll crimp must be LOTS greater.