July 15, 2018, 06:55 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 12, 2012
Posts: 753
|
Strange primer event
I replaced the factory spring in my Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt with a lighter spring. I wanted to make sure the spring would deliver the proper primer strike, but rather than heading to the range with live ammo, I simply primed a few empty cases and headed to the garage. Upon pulling the trigger in both single action and double action mode, the primer would fire, but it would back out enough to lock down the cylinder making it hard to open. This gun has worked flawlessly with live ammo and the factory spring. What is the explanation for this?
|
July 15, 2018, 07:00 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 26, 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 959
|
When you fire a live round, the powder propels the brass back against the frame which would prevent what you have described from happening.
I wouldn't worry about it. |
July 15, 2018, 07:04 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 12, 2012
Posts: 753
|
disseminator, that certainly makes sense. So the primer is essentially reseated when firing a live round. Thanks.
|
July 15, 2018, 07:12 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 26, 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 959
|
Well, there is surely a more thorough way to describe it but basically yeah. Pressure etc...
I have observed a similar effect when firing foam bullets from my 45 Colt, though it didn't jam up the cylinder for me. |
July 15, 2018, 07:49 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 2, 2015
Location: The swamps of WNY
Posts: 753
|
When firing wax bullets, I drilled out the flash hole to stop primer set back. It worked fine.
David Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk |
July 15, 2018, 09:43 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 12, 2009
Location: Butte, MT
Posts: 2,614
|
Yep as David R states. You need to increase the primer hole size (1/8" drill bit) to shoot primer only loads (wax). Otherwise the primer will back out on you. But you must keep your cases separate if you do this. The low pressure (but high enough to move the primer) is why it does this. Shoot a wax bullet and you'll be surprised actually how much pressure a primer actually produces. BTW, I used .38 cases when shooting wax 'back when' for basement shooting. .357 cases were used for normal loads.
__________________
A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king. Last edited by rclark; July 15, 2018 at 09:49 PM. |
July 16, 2018, 09:04 AM | #7 |
Staff
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
|
Primers back out during firing because their brisance (suddenness of explosion) is high enough to drive the primer cup back faster than their gas can escape through the flash hole to relieve the pressure. This is the reason drilling the flash hole out prevents it from occurring. You can also make a load with light bullets and too little powder that doesn't sustain pressure high enough for long enough to drive the case head back enough to reseat the primer.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle |
July 16, 2018, 09:24 AM | #8 |
Junior member
Join Date: February 27, 2015
Posts: 1,768
|
Now wait!
According to a recent thread, it's the front of the case selling in the chamber 'Sticking' the case to the chamber and chamber pressure backing the primer out... No kidding now, that was what they wrote... Now you have the primer back out in a straight wall case, no bullet or powder, open bore in .45 and the story changes... Redhawk firing pin retracts after strike, this is probably allowing the primer to back out. The flash hole simply isn't big enough to relieve pressure from detonation fast enough. With the powder burning, and the bullet effectively plugging the barrel, the case would normally move backward reseating the primer before ejection. Lots of pressure when that bullet plugs the barrel for a millisecond, the case moves backwards and reseats the primer. Or that's the way I see it... |
July 16, 2018, 09:38 AM | #9 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: June 25, 2008
Location: Austin, CO
Posts: 19,578
|
The primer always back out, Jeep. Sorry but that was part of the “other” thread too... but in this scenario the rest of the process that ordinarily reseats it is missing. There’s nothing happening but a primer. What pushes the primer back against the breach is it’s own ignition, not the pressure from the powder charge. Now, the main charge pressure will certainly do other things to the primer, like cratering, mushrooming, etc, but it’s not responsible for the initial movement.
Your last paragraph is essentially correct. I don’t recall any (knowledgeable) folks in that other thread claiming that what initially unseats the primer is chamber pressure.
__________________
Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley |
July 16, 2018, 10:02 AM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 26, 2013
Location: on the lam
Posts: 1,735
|
Quote:
|
|
July 16, 2018, 10:30 AM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 18, 2008
Posts: 7,249
|
you'll be surporised:
Quote:
F. Guffey |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|