Pistol primers and breech block damage?

[Don McDowell]

Could be the firing pin has a chip or something in the tip, or it might be just a touch long. Either way that could affect the softer cups of the pistol primers.

[Kurt]

Jim,

I have some damaged breach blocks with primer dents as well gas cuts around the Shiloh blocks I shoot the most as well as the Stevens breach block. I don't pull the Stevens block to often so it has more damage than the Sharps before I caught it.
I think the dents are not only from pistol primers but also from the rifle primers. My .50 I shot more than the rest I only have used LR primers and it is dented also.
But these two blocks in the photo got gas cuts from using pistol primers and cutting paper seating the primers. The paper is under the primer not under the powder. I cut the paper seating the primers to keep them at a proper hight.

[JKR]

Jim,

I have some damaged breach blocks with primer dents as well gas cuts around the Shiloh blocks I shoot the most as well as the Stevens breach block. I don't pull the Stevens block to often so it has more damage than the Sharps before I caught it.
I think the dents are not only from pistol primers but also from the rifle primers. My .50 I shot more than the rest I only have used LR primers and it is dented also.
But these two blocks in the photo got gas cuts from using pistol primers and cutting paper seating the primers. The paper is under the primer not under the powder. I cut the paper seating the primers to keep them at a proper hight.

Kurt,
The Sharps block looks like my Shiloh except for the gas cutting. Is that from gas leaking around the primer?
A friend has told me he’s had this peening happen in three different rifles, two of which never saw a pistol primer. It got to the point of impairing the firing pin travel. He had hardened discs installed to cure the problem. I can’t say my issue was caused by pistol primers but I’m giving up on any use of them.
Don,
You may be right about the firing pin protrusion. I made up a spare firing pin this morning, so now I have one I can experiment with.
Jim

[Don McDowell]

Jim sounds good.
What would be super interesting tho would be if a person could chase down a handful of the 45-70 cases that were made to take a small rifle primer, or get a primer pocket swage that would take them to small rifle size and see what happens with the current pin.

[Kurt]

Don,
If I was to have RMC make some brass I would request the small rifle primer pocket. Back some years ago Lapua or Norma, cant remember for sure made .308 brass with small rifle primers.
I soldered the slash hole shut once with silfloss and drilled two small holes like the berdan and I didn't see enough improvement to worth the time converting 200 cases. Maybe if one would enlarging the primer pockets and make an anvil when milling the silver solder out might be a different story.


man were getting hit with some white out snow. Had to go to town and if there wasn't a dark spot or trees in the fence rows you cant see 300 yards or less. Had to hold center between fences.

[Don McDowell]

Kurt what I was talking about was just a few cases for a look see what happens.
Absolutely admire Kody and Tom's ability and quality at RMC but not sure it would be worth the expense just to see what happens type of deal.

[Kurt]

Jim,

Seven of my Shiloh's have a pocket around the firing pin hole. I talked to Kirk about this once and he said that he might scan the tempering with the blocks.
My Axtel does not have a problem and it's a .45-2.6.
I don't worry about it. as long as it fires.


I might add, The one Shiloh is a early Farmer with a one piece firing pin, dog leg as well as the Axtel and the shiloh Farmer is badly noticeable but it does have a very slight ring around the hole and the pin is a thicker diameter.

[JKR]

I would really like some brass with small pockets. I have lots of small primers.
Kurt, it was Remington that made small pocket 308 brass. I had a bunch of it when I switched to 6.5-308 for my match rifle. I had lots of 600 yard cleans with it. Shot it until the pockets got so loose you could prime them with your thumb. It was head stamped 308 BR if I remember right.
Like you, I’m not worried about the dent as long as it fires.

Don, I made the new FP tip much more blunt than the CS one. Fired primers look good but haven’t tried LP. Whatever happens it will be good to have the extra firing pin.

Jim

[Don McDowell]

Extra firing pin in your shooting kit is always good. And a lever spring.

[JKR]

Don,
You nailed it regarding firing pin protrusion. I made my new firing pin exactly the same length as the factory one. I tried it this morning with pistol primers in empty cases and it pierced them. I got to thinking about what you said about the possibility of it being to long and decided to shorten it .005”.
It ended up being .008” shorter and works perfectly with both LP & LR primers. I gave It a good test by firing 10 loaded rounds of each out my shop window at 120 yards.
I’ll shelf this project for now until I can shoot outside again and use the chronograph.
Jim