Primers not going off

[ChrisChampion]

I did some shooting over the weekend and out of about 40 shots fired over two days I had about 4 primers not go off. I'm using Federal 209A. The primers that just went click had just a small round dent while the ones that went off looked normal with a dent about twice the diameter and depth. This was out of a pack that I had been using since before deer season and have never had this happen before with my Savage. Nothing about the way the bolt closed seemed out of the ordinary. My gun has been shot about 500 times. I have never taken the bolt apart to clean. Is this telling me its time to do so?

[edge]

Accu-Trigger?

edge.

[ChrisChampion]

Posted by edge on Today at 1:51pm
Accu-Trigger?

edge.

Yes

[edge]

Did you try to recock and shoot the primers? I suspect that it is just the Accu-Trigger safety that some hate. If not pulled directly to the rear, the primer will not be hit hard enough to fire.

edge.

[ChrisChampion]

I suspected that edge but I thought that the firing pin did not drop at all if the accu-trigger safety was not pulled back correctly. I did not try to recock and fire the primers.

I'll try that if it happens again. Thanks

[Harley]

My experience suggests the primer will not be hit at all if the Accu-Trigger safety feature is activated. Since you already know that 36-40 primers will fire, I don't think you are going to learn anything reassuring by re-trying those unfired primers. If they are only minimally dented it's not their fault they didn't fire and will probably do so the second time.

Rossman40 posted a detailed series on taking apart and cleaning the bolt; it's easy and entertaining. That'd be my first step.

Harley

[wilmsmeyer]

You may also inspect your primers and take measurements if you can. I once had a bad batch of FED209A's that did this...non accu-trigger gun. The primer was recessed enough that the pin did not strike it good enough.

When they do go bang, the primer is forced back into the pin and the strike looks deep enough to say that the pin hit it hard. BUT...it may have hit it JUST hard enough and then the ignition of the powder "drove" the primer back into the pin.

Just my opinion from the experiences I've had.

Advice: Try a new lot# of primers and see if you can inspect the old, unfired ones...looking for a very slight recessed primer.

[hunter]

I had that trouble last summer with a preaccutrigger and think that the bolt was not down all the way. Since I have been watching for the bolt position, I have not had any more misfires.

[BOBinIN]

My experience with this issue...same as Hunter. Bolt was not all the way down. BOBinIN

[richard]

Chris........if you can do as rossman said, decock your firing pin so it protrudes out the face of the bolt. If you have a caliper, use the back end as a depth gauge. You should have between .050 to .070" sticking thru the bolt face.
Richard

[ozark]

Wilmsmeyer posted my view regarding the firing pin imprint on the primer. I also suspected the bolt being less than fully closed. The forward part of the primer should fit snug enough to act as an anvil when struck by the firing pin. Cold weather along with oil inside the bolt around the firing pin and spring can decrease the speed of the firing pin when released. I would try different primers at first and if the problem still exists I would dig deeper into the suggestions made. Ozark

[jkruger]

same happened to me , bolt was'nt down all the way. slap myself in head!!!

[RBinAR]

8-)I've had this happen on rare occasions shooting Federal 209a primers. The cups are deeper than some and without perfect primer pocket they won't shoot well.

You might fix this if it's the problem by adjusting the the plug spacing. Since I know your rifle was converted to 45 I think it would be a easy try.

[ChrisChampion]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll check out how far the firing pin protrudes this weekend.