Posted: 11/21/2008 5:14:46 PM EDT
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Can anyone provide any reloading help?
I am new to reloading. I am just now fully set up. I have had problems with my Ruger red hawk percing the primer on all Winchester super mag rounds. I've heard that this is a common problem due to a thin primer case. However, my question is: I've shot some primer only rounds (just primer in brass with no powder charge) using my Winchester cases and CCI mag. primers and am now having difficulty with the primer gripping/grabing and holding onto my firing pin? The primers are not "cratered," but do seem to be poped out of the primer pocket a little bit. Is this normal? Will it change with a fully loaded round? Does my brand new .44 need to be taken to the shop or sent back to Ruger? |
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Post a photo of your primers on full loads that has been fired.
It sounds like you are over the top of working pressures, and causing the problem (yes can even happen using faster burning powder that does not get the rounds up to full potential speeds). As for the primers walking back with no powder, not a problem since the force of the bullet going down the barrel will pin the case to the back of the frame during live fire. Bottom line here is give up your loading data, and how long (OAL) you are loading the ammo. |
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The factory loads that I've experienced a problem with are: Winchester .44 magnum 240 GR. JSP. I've been told by a couple of different people that Win. has thin primer jackets and that my experiences piercing the primers is common.
I have reloaded the Winchester cases with CCI primers. After firing the primers only (no powder or bullet) I experienced them backing out of the primer pocket and locking my firing pin. I’ve noticed no foreign fragments on my firing pin. I plan to take some fully loaded rounds (H110 powder at 22 grains, with CCI primers and 240 GR. JSP bullets) to the range tomorrow. This data is the lowest range of powder load recommended by Speer’s reloading catalog. I hope that the pressure from firing will fix the primer backing out problem. |
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Best advice I can give you on loads is to go directly to the gun powder sites and get the load from there.
Although canister powders, the burn rates do change from time to time, and most reloading books (hard copies) are a bit outdated (read from time to test, write them, then get them published). http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp |
| The primers only problem you describe is normal. If you are having trouble with primers, you might try Remington. Understand they have a bit thicker metal for the primers. If those are still giving you problems with under max reloading data, you might consider sending it back to Ruger. |
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I would suspect the gun, if it experiences problems even with primer only loads. It could be the cylinder needs refitting, in my experience a pierced primer on a revolver has usually involved a firing pin being out of spec - but once I had cratering and it turned out my gun had 'stretched' and needed the cylinder refit.
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