Are WLR primers soft?

T

TheBaron

New member
Got to the range today and put the first 20 rounds through my new .220 Swift. All were W-W brass with WLR primers, loaded with increasing charges of IMR4064.

I saw flattened primers from the start, even with mild loads. No cratering of the pin strike, but all were flattened. This is my first experience with WLR primers. Is it just me, or are they very soft?
 
What you are probably seeing, is caused by your new brass being a bit short of fitting your chamber. When the firing pin hits the primer, it pushes the case forward...not a lot, but a few thousands. The pressure of the round firing locks the case into that forward position, and pushes the primer out, back to the bolt face; as the pressure increases, it will stretch the case back to the bolt face(fire-forming), and re-seat that protruding primer. As that primer is re-seated, it tends to look pretty flat. So, even light loads can look flat. If the pressure is low enough, so as not to stretch the case back to the bolt face, the primer will still be partially pushed out of the case. Once you have the cases fire formed, and sized correctly, everything should look normal.
 
I think Onionskin nailed it. A litle too much headspace will flatten primers real easy.

My long range(500-1500 yards) rifle is a fast twist 280AI that I load to 70-75,000 psi and the WLR primers work fine. I do not recommend loading to these pressures unless you really have a lot of experience loading way beyond the normal limits.

Jack
 
I had never heard of that, but it makes perfect sense - always great to learn something new. And thanks for the great link.

Thanks fellas!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif
 
Winchester primers really are softer than most primers. The other advice you got was good but with Thompson Contenders which often have light hammer strikes the Winchester primers usually are easily set off.

The hardest ones I've found are CCI.

$bob$
 


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