light primer striking problem

[browningautorifle]

The shooting of my reloaded ammo went very well, no jam or misfire.

Good, sort of what we expected.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[floydthecat]

I’d agree with Mike that very early on, short cases were the issue here. The minimum case length is 1.280, but that assumes the action is not longer than a field gauge measurement and you can take your pick of gauge lengths from 1.299 to 1.302.

I think actual factual accurate head space measurements are very useful to determine the condition of the action. The OP might not even have to ever trim his brass as long as the case length doesn’t exceed his head space. 1.284 is not much longer than 1.280. Likely could guarantee better performance with longer case-lengths.

I am still waiting for someone to produce evidence of a ruptured spec-loaded carbine case due to long head space.
None have surfaced that I have heard about. The carbine chamber is completely supported and as long as the brass is spec…….very unlikely to experience a rupture. The carbine will very likely stop firing before a case would be exposed enough to cause a rupture due to long head space.

[browningautorifle]

The carbine will very likely stop firing before a case would be exposed enough to cause a rupture due to long head space.

Probably won't go into battery so the bolt won't turn enough to fire. Unless it's very worn...

[donki1967]

Considering my reloaded ammo seems to work well in my carbine yet, and that I am in the safe dimensions of the cartridge, I will continue to do so.
Thank you to all.
Regards

[Bruce McAskill]

The case length is so very important in the .30 carbine. The length of 1.280 has been around for a long time and in reality its too short. New factory ammo is set to the 1.285 length for proper head spacing of the cartridge. Trim to length is set about the same at 1.285. Trimming is mandatory with the carbine case and should never be longer then 1.290. If longer then a possible out off battery discharge can happen. The result is a destroyed bolt. The left side lug recess must be checked for damage too as a new bolt could be damaged by damage to the recess. But disregard the 1.280 case length.

[floydthecat]

Just simple math. SAAMI specs. Allow 1.300 from the bolt-face to the cartridge base. That math’s out to 20 thousandths using the shortest spec. case of 1.280. Nothing other than that can be assured by design. If head space exceeds 1.300 and a cartridge of 1.280 in case length is loaded….no guarantee it’s going to fire by design. Sometimes it might depending on firing pin protrusion, but not designed to.

As long as one can keep the space below 20 thousandths, it’s suppose to fire and if the head space does not exceed 1.300 on any particular case length it should fire. Lengthening a case by .005 tightens head space by .005. If the action spaces at 1.302 on a case of 1.280 in length, you just reduced head space to 1.297 simply by lengthening the case.

I feel like many carbines are condemned for no reason at all and the fix is simply watch your brass and trim longer. Bruce is completely right…..stay away from 1.280 brass even if it is the spec. minimum.

[DaveHH]

A lot of carbine ammunition is actually too short to seat in the chamber as designed: chamber seats on the case rim at the front. So the cartridge is held by the extractor and fires that way. I ordered a quantity of Remington brass years ago. The case lengths were all over the place but none were too long (The dangerous exception). It all fired just fine as is. Which puts the lie to a lot of headspace enthusiasts.

[floydthecat]

I will purchase a carbine all day long that head spaces in excess of a field gauge, but I do have a limit. Some consider 1.301 and greater as junk…..those are the ones I will consider at a discount price (of course) after they have considered it defective. There is way too much forehead sweating, hand-wringing and barrel replacing over a action that might only exceed 1.300 by a couple thousandths.

Soldiers took this gun into battle and the powers-that-be wanted to make sure it worked on that short brass that could get out there, so they decided to condemn it on the safe side. It will shoot and be completely safe well past 1.300.