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Posted: 5/24/2025 11:09:07 PM EDT
[Last Edit: mda2bushy][Edited]
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Was at the range today, somewhere between rounds 160 to 260 in on a m1a standard I bought brand new 1 month ago and noticed I had a blown primer while collecting brass. This was the first rounds of Winchester .308 fired (specifically 308 Win 147 Grain FMJ Winchester Ammo - USA3081) the previous ammo was federal 7.62 bought from Walmart. I am hoping this was a fluke but from my research tonight it appears a good cleaning of the gas system and ordering a set of gauges is called for. The first 120 rounds fired with the Federal 7.62 were without issue put down between two range trips. Rifle is well oiled and greased since NIB and has only seen a boresnake cleaning with hoppes 9 passes followed by a few passes with lucas gun oil in the barrel for cleanings so far. Any ideas or input? I will ship it off to Springfield Armory to take a look at it if needed but hoping not. Thanks in advance. ETA: primer is gone entirely from primer pocket |
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Originally Posted By pepe-lepew: Primer cup has a hole in it? Firing pin pierced it? Stretch the pocket and leaked gases around the primer cup? Photos of the blown primer would help. Primer is gone entirely, had a completely clean lane before I started shooting and am certain it was the same headstamp not a random piece. The brass is otherwise unremarkable stands straight on countertop, not out of round, stretched/bent/damaged from what I can see with the naked eye next to any other piece I picked up. Will post a picture later on today though. |
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primer pocket side of case case mouth Any help would be appreciated  |
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1 out of a hundred rounds? It happens. Chalk it up to insufficient primer pocket tension and move on. Nothing about that would suggest the rifle being at fault. |
"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By lew: 1 out of a hundred rounds? It happens. Chalk it up to insufficient primer pocket tension and move on. Nothing about that would suggest the rifle being at fault. Yeah I was stressed that this was a huge red flag in regards to headspace or something missed at factory. Been wanting one for a LONG time and finally pulled the trigger on it. Thanks for the relief lol |
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Originally Posted By vellnueve: Yeah also 9 passes with a boresnake for 100 rounds is overkill. I don't even do that much for a thousand rounds. 
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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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Winchester primers are exhibiting an unacceptably high rate of failure. They have been failing at the radius of the primer cup, right near the damaged spot on your case head - punching through and venting gas. If that's where yours failed, it is certainly a primer problem not a rifle problem. Visit the Reloading Forum for more details. |
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Originally Posted By TOTHEMAX: I agree. If it were multiple rounds, then you have something to worry about. 1, nah. Thanks! a relief to hear, did not want to have to send it back so early on after years of wanting one. Was overthinking it cause I have never experienced anything similar. |
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Originally Posted By vellnueve: Still overkill for 100 rounds Cleaning a new rifle is overkill? My entire life I have been under the impression you should clean a rifle whether it's new or used prior to first use, now that we have gotten the hoppes 9/9 passes of hoppes misunderstanding out of the way since I unintentionally failed to correctly state hoppes #9 I think we can move forward with life. Per springfield armory... "Your firearm is delivered factory packaged and preserved with a light coating of protective grease and oil. Before loading make certain that all packing grease and oil has been cleaned from the bore and exposed mechanism." Please get a hobby. |
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Originally Posted By mda2bushy: Cleaning a new rifle is overkill? My entire life I have been under the impression you should clean a rifle whether it's new or used prior to first use, now that we have gotten the hoppes 9/9 passes of hoppes misunderstanding out of the way since I unintentionally failed to correctly state hoppes #9 I think we can move forward with life. Per springfield armory... "Your firearm is delivered factory packaged and preserved with a light coating of protective grease and oil. Before loading make certain that all packing grease and oil has been cleaned from the bore and exposed mechanism." Please get a hobby. Originally Posted By mda2bushy: Originally Posted By vellnueve: Still overkill for 100 rounds Cleaning a new rifle is overkill? My entire life I have been under the impression you should clean a rifle whether it's new or used prior to first use, now that we have gotten the hoppes 9/9 passes of hoppes misunderstanding out of the way since I unintentionally failed to correctly state hoppes #9 I think we can move forward with life. Per springfield armory... "Your firearm is delivered factory packaged and preserved with a light coating of protective grease and oil. Before loading make certain that all packing grease and oil has been cleaned from the bore and exposed mechanism." Please get a hobby. So a couple patches down the bore, wipe the operating bits of preventative coating/lube, re-lube, shoot. Not spend a bunch of time cleaning it as you've just put five hundred rounds through it. 
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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By lew: So a couple patches down the bore, wipe the operating bits of preventative coating/lube, re-lube, shoot. Not spend a bunch of time cleaning it as you've just put five hundred rounds through it. I forgot I said I had put a bunch of time cleaning it! I wish I had known better since the rifle is now ruined! 
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Ammo that is exposed to sunlight, especially if it's loaded with ball powders, will spike pressure. I don't know if this was part of the OP's problem or not. If you don't believe me, pick up some brass that has been exposed to direct sunlight on a hot summer day for an hour or two. |
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Originally Posted By borderpatrol: Ammo that is exposed to sunlight, especially if it's loaded with ball powders, will spike pressure. I don't know if this was part of the OP's problem or not. If you don't believe me, pick up some brass that has been exposed to direct sunlight on a hot summer day for an hour or two. Good to know, ammo was factory sealed however and I was shooting from a covered outdoor lane so I guess it was just a one off bad case. Shot another 300 rounds of the same ammo a few days ago without issue. Thanks though! |
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Probably not a rifle problem. It's an ammo problem. Either oversized primer pocket or excessive pressure. Could be a defective primer, undersized primer, oversized primer pocket, and maybe too much powder in the case. It has nothing to do with your gas system or headspace. I recommend sticking with just one type of ammo so you don't wonder if your zero is going to stay the same between multiple types. General M1A advice: Check your rear sight, make sure it's not wobbling at all. If there's any wobble just buy a Garand rear sight. It's a good idea to have all the basic tools for maintaining the gas system. |
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Originally Posted By mda2bushy: I forgot I said I had put a bunch of time cleaning it! I wish I had known better since the rifle is now ruined! Originally Posted By mda2bushy: Originally Posted By lew: So a couple patches down the bore, wipe the operating bits of preventative coating/lube, re-lube, shoot. Not spend a bunch of time cleaning it as you've just put five hundred rounds through it. I forgot I said I had put a bunch of time cleaning it! I wish I had known better since the rifle is now ruined! Just givin' ya hard time.  That rifle will be just fine. If you are looking for new ammo to try, Prvi 155 gr. HPBT has been exceptional in my former M1A and my current Fulton-receivered M14. The advise about ball powder getting hot and spiking pressures is something to keep in mind. |
"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: Probably not a rifle problem. It's an ammo problem. Either oversized primer pocket or excessive pressure. Could be a defective primer, undersized primer, oversized primer pocket, and maybe too much powder in the case. It has nothing to do with your gas system or headspace. I recommend sticking with just one type of ammo so you don't wonder if your zero is going to stay the same between multiple types. General M1A advice: Check your rear sight, make sure it's not wobbling at all. If there's any wobble just buy a Garand rear sight. It's a good idea to have all the basic tools for maintaining the gas system. Thanks! rear sight seems tight. Sadlak scope mount coming in tomorrow and I intend to run through the remaining 500 rounds i have next weekend and then I will be looking at buying another case or two. |
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Originally Posted By lew: Just givin' ya hard time. That rifle will be just fine. If you are looking for new ammo to try, Prvi 155 gr. HPBT has been exceptional in my former M1A and my current Fulton-receivered M14. The advise about ball powder getting hot and spiking pressures is something to keep in mind. Oh lol it's hard to decipher sarcasm on this website sometimes. I will check out that Prvi ammo, I have been buying bulk off winchester off sgammo just to break it in. |
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Originally Posted By Trollslayer: Winchester primers are exhibiting an unacceptably high rate of failure. They have been failing at the radius of the primer cup, right near the damaged spot on your case head - punching through and venting gas. If that's where yours failed, it is certainly a primer problem not a rifle problem. Visit the Reloading Forum for more details. I have tons of WSP and WLR primers. All in the blue boxes and a few magnums primers in the older white boxes. Those are fine. I quit buying Winchester until they fix their QC issues. It’s been a downhill slide since they eliminated the nickel coated ones. Notice that they’re currently on sale all the time for $15 less. They know they have a reputation issue among reloaders and they likely don’t care. CCI, Federal and even Wolf first. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By mda2bushy: I forgot I said I had put a bunch of time cleaning it! I wish I had known better since the rifle is now ruined! I clean EVERY new to me weapon completely before use. Gives me a chance to look it over for worn or things not the way they should be. I also clean EVERY magazine I get as well…same thing. Magazine cleaning and inspection seemed to be a completely foreign idea on the Magazine forum. Unless something unusual happens my M1 and M14 only get broken down annually; bore snake and cotton swabs plus compressed air till then. They stay greased though. |
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