Primer problems. Need Help

[stainless1911]

 I think Im missing something here. Ive primed a bunch (2000) .40 S&W rounds with remmington 5 1/2 small pistol primers. I tried to fire just the primers just to check things out, and 3 out of 5 wont fire. Im shooting an XD .40 sub thats still new, under 2000 rounds through it, with no real problems until now. I took 50 rounds to the range to double check, and sure enough, most of the rounds wouldnt fire. I had some factory winchester JHPs for a control group, and they all worked flawlessly. The reloads would fire after the pin struck the primer a few times. I know that its not a problem with over all length, Ive trimmed the cases to .836 and have reloaded 100+factory rounds at this dimension with no failures. I could see plainly that many times, the firing pin diddnt make a good dent in the back of the primer, and was sometimes a little off center, but with repeated firings, I did eventually get all of the rounds to go off. I doubt  very much if its a problem with the gun.

[stainless1911]

When I called Remmington, they said that I could try the 1 1/2s or the 2 1/2s. A reloader at the range suggested that perhaps they mispackaged some small rifle primers.

[hawcer]

As long as they where seated to the correct depth...and not squashed. they should fire. They could have been mis-packaged . Did Remington ask for the lot #?

[stainless1911]

No, they diddnt ask.

Geez, here I am with another problem...

[stainless1911]

Could have squashed them, trying not to get them too high.

Whats the difference in the 1 1/2s and the 5 1/2s?

[SKS50]

Remington FAQ: In pistol cartridges, the 1-1/2 small pistol primer should not be used in the 357 Magnum, 357 SIG or the 40 S&W. The 5-1/2 small pistol primer is the proper selection for these rounds.  I never see any Rem primers around here ever I guessing maybe the 5 1/2 is a magnum primer and has a harder cup material.

Any pics of the firing pin strike on the cases that ignited? Might be the XD has a light firing pin strike.

[Croaker]

This is a handy chart to cross reference primers

http://www.lasc.us/primerchart.htm

[stainless1911]

Thanks for the link.

If Im not supposed to use the 1 1/2s in a .40, then why do all the reloading guides that I have seen, not called for magnum primers in the other brands?

[SKS50]

stainless1911 I've read where on the XD's that the firing pin channel can get kinda nasty and keep the striker from hitting the primer correctly each time,have you dissemble that lately and made sure the channel is clean.

As far as the primers that may be what Rem. loads it's factory ammo with, companies that publishes reloading manuals each work up there data with specific components sometime with some loads they will denote the use of mag primer other times they may not.

[stainless1911]

I am aware of the problem that you mentioned with the XDs. Dirt and/or excess oil can cause this problem. I ran into it once before, I over greased it. I keep it really clean but just to double check, I sprayed it out, and had the same problem. I just took it apart, and wiped it down. It was clean, I left it almost dry and still had a few fail to detonate the primers.

[daywalker627]

It appears to me you have a bad batch of primers and if it were me, I would be back on the phone with Remington and letting them know the batch is bad and some type of resotution is in order...

Sounds like you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your T's. Unless these are super old, which I know people that are using primers the cavemen left behind lol and they fire religously.... Just my 2 cents...

[stainless1911]

Thanks. Ill call them back. I doubt that the primers are old, considering the recent obama  ammo shortage.

[nhblaze]

 I tried to fire just the primers just to check things out, and 3 out of 5 wont fire.


 I took 50 rounds to the range to double check, and sure enough, most of the rounds wouldnt fire. I had some factory winchester JHPs for a control group, and they all worked flawlessly. The reloads would fire after the pin struck the primer a few times. I know that its not a problem with over all length, Ive trimmed the cases to .836 and have reloaded 100+factory rounds at this dimension with no failures. I could see plainly that many times, the firing pin diddnt make a good dent in the back of the primer, and was sometimes a little off center, but with repeated firings, I did eventually get all of the rounds to go off. I doubt  very much if its a problem with the gun.

Help me out here stainless ...

Was this just "primed brass" that you were trying to set off the primers,  or

loaded ammo  ??

[stainless1911]

The 50 that I took to the range were loaded ammo, as well as the control group. Those were PDX1 Winchesters. the rest were just primed brass.

[nhblaze]

Thanks