What is a Hangfire in Centre Fire Ammunition?

Traveller11 · March 13, 2018, 12:17 AM

I'm pretty clear on what a hangfire actually is but what I'm really interested in is what goes on inside of a cartridge during a hangfire, especially one where the cartridge seems to fire in a normal fashion once everything "gets going".

The ammo that made me curious is 65 year old milsurp Czech made pistol ammo; poorly stored.

During a hangfire, is it the primer that causes the delay by slow ignition of its composition, or is it the gunpowder that begins to ignite, smoulders for a bit and then ignites in a normal fashion?

If it is the primer that is smouldering, are the gases it produces still sealed from the flash tube by the undetonated portion of the primer, preventing the gunpowder from igniting?

rwilson452 · March 13, 2018, 12:26 AM

Quote:

I'm pretty clear on what a hangfire actually is but what I'm really interested in is what goes on inside of a cartridge during a hangfire, especially one where the cartridge seems to fire in a normal fashion once everything "gets going".

The ammo that made me curious is 65 year old milsurp Czech made pistol ammo; poorly stored.

During a hangfire, is it the primer that causes the delay by slow ignition of its composition, or is it the gunpowder that begins to ignite, smoulders for a bit and then ignites in a normal fashion?

If it is the primer that is smouldering, are the gases it produces still sealed from the flash tube by the undetonated portion of the primer, preventing the gunpowder from igniting?

Either can happen but I think the main charge fuming a bit is the main culprit. Moisture leaking in around the case mouth is the cause.

243winxb · March 13, 2018, 08:48 AM

the gunpowder that begins to ignite, smoulders for a bit and then ignites in a normal fashion.

I am going with this.

T. O'Heir · March 13, 2018, 12:21 PM

The primer is ignited with percussion. Once that's done, no more percussion is added. The flame produced by that percussion is the only thing that ignites the powder. If the powder is damp or otherwise not igniting immediately, it's a hang fire. So it's the powder that fizzles then ignites.

Bayou · March 13, 2018, 12:31 PM

I've only experienced one hangfire: a while back I was given a round of 45 acp ammunition date stamped 1916. I should have kept it, but I foolishly put it in a Ruger Blackhawk to fire it.

The hangfire occurred when, after the pin hit the primer, the primer ignited, and it could be heard. But there was no bang. I cautiously kept the pistol pointed in a safe direction, and a fraction of a second later, the powder detonated.

Wish I would have kept that 100 year old round live...

Bayou

chris in va · March 15, 2018, 02:07 AM

Happened a few times with some 'SMG' ammo for the CZ52 I had. Click....bang. I was shocked how many times it happened, probably 1 in 10.

March 13, 2018, 12:17 AM	#1
Traveller11 Junior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 4	What is a Hangfire in Centre Fire Ammunition? I'm pretty clear on what a hangfire actually is but what I'm really interested in is what goes on inside of a cartridge during a hangfire, especially one where the cartridge seems to fire in a normal fashion once everything "gets going". The ammo that made me curious is 65 year old milsurp Czech made pistol ammo; poorly stored. During a hangfire, is it the primer that causes the delay by slow ignition of its composition, or is it the gunpowder that begins to ignite, smoulders for a bit and then ignites in a normal fashion? If it is the primer that is smouldering, are the gases it produces still sealed from the flash tube by the undetonated portion of the primer, preventing the gunpowder from igniting?

March 13, 2018, 12:21 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The primer is ignited with percussion. Once that's done, no more percussion is added. The flame produced by that percussion is the only thing that ignites the powder. If the powder is damp or otherwise not igniting immediately, it's a hang fire. So it's the powder that fizzles then ignites. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 13, 2018, 12:31 PM	#5
Bayou Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2016 Location: SE Louisiana Posts: 300	I've only experienced one hangfire: a while back I was given a round of 45 acp ammunition date stamped 1916. I should have kept it, but I foolishly put it in a Ruger Blackhawk to fire it. The hangfire occurred when, after the pin hit the primer, the primer ignited, and it could be heard. But there was no bang. I cautiously kept the pistol pointed in a safe direction, and a fraction of a second later, the powder detonated. Wish I would have kept that 100 year old round live... Bayou __________________ Bayou NRA Life Member "Keep Calm and Reload"

March 13, 2018, 08:48 AM	#3
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	the gunpowder that begins to ignite, smoulders for a bit and then ignites in a normal fashion. I am going with this.

March 15, 2018, 02:07 AM	#6
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Happened a few times with some 'SMG' ammo for the CZ52 I had. Click....bang. I was shocked how many times it happened, probably 1 in 10.