Fired a case without powder today-Mystery

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Ok, I shot 49 new reformed cases today in my 6.5x50 Arisaka ...pretty much to blow them out. I had a mis-fire on one case which held a Lee cruise missile bullet.
These bullets I only had seated about 3/16" inside the case to reach the lands. Case was taper crimped.
At first I thought it was a light primer strike because the shoulder may be set back a bit. I tried to fire it 3 more times but nothing, so I figured the primer may be bad. When I got home I pulled the bullet ( that was still seated as it was when I loaded it) To my surprise there was no powder in the case but the primer had fired! The base of the gas check was black with carbon ! Ok where did all that pressure go? It didn't move the bullet at all and the primer area showed no burning
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Well . . . What primer? Enough case volume and a good enough crimp with a mild primer and you'll get just what ya got. Using a progressive press are ya?
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Crimp and big case, just contained the pressure. The larger the case, the less pressure from a primer only.
Good crimp, and not enough to push the bullet out.

Bill
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
No ....no progress press!
Human error on my part. Now I know why the case was empty once I seen the head stamp. That case got messed up when I was expanding the neck so I dumped the powder and resized the neck, then re expanded it and put a bullet in place! :rolleyes: I had put a mark on the case because I thought it may end up with a split ( remembered that when I checked my loading notes )
Primers were CCI 200 and I would think a 50 mm case isn't large
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Well ya gotta look at the bright side Jim. That's just so much better than the other way, i.e. a double charge. :)
 

S Mac

Sept. 10, 2021 Steve left us. You are missed.
Better than a double charge and better than a stuck bullet in the bore as well.
 

Ian

Notorious member
What will really wake you up is a squib load using fireformed brass that seals the chamber pretty well before pressure is applied. Open the bolt against slight resistance and WHAM! back it goes hard against the stop under power, leaving the bullet wedged in the throat. The primer gas probably leaked out around the primer cup and bullet almost immediately, leaving no residuals.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I figured it would have stuck in the bore since it wasn't seated very deep. Well that was a new experience for me
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
JW, I agree with Bill, and size of case etc. Had it
happen to me one time when fire forming some
cases. Think it may have been 270 from 06 mil,
and most likely a heavy for cal bullet. I bet it was
30 or more years back.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I had a "primer-only" load in 25/20 WCF once. A Rem #6-1/2 drove a Speer 75 grain FNSP about 2" up the barrel. Such a delight, driving a lodged j-word out of the bore. Once it got to the oiled portion of the bore behind it, all went well--getting that bullet to start moving was a chore.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Good sized steel or brass rod works fine. Too many folks try a dowel rod....Oh my, that can be very bad.

Bill
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Yup. 3/16" steel rod, MacGyvered with duct tape strips to be a slip-fit on the land tops. I still have it, Just In Case.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Helped a guy out one time after he stuck a jacketed bullet in a Contender barrel and then used a wood dowel to try to pound it out. The rod split up the middle and the sharp end jammed between the bullet and the bore. Talk about tight, wow. I used a drill to ream a hole over half of bullet diameter through the bullet. Gave the remaining lead and jacket a place to go as I pounded it out with a brass rod and it was still mighty tough to get it out. Had it been in the middle of a rifle barrel I dunno what it would take.