Ammo issue or rifle issue?

[Bwgunslinger]

Could simply be a manufacturer loading brass of absolutely mimimum size specs, thus causing excess headspace and resultant light primer strikes. Something similar happened to me with a new Ruger Hawkeye, 375 Ruger with my own handloads using once fired brass. I FL sized the brass thinking I had sized very close to chamber dimensions and while most rounds fired a handful didn't, even when tried again. I could see strike indents on the primers however. I obtained some advice recommending I unscrew my FL die a fraction which I did to instantly and permanently cure the problem. Clearly I had fractionally oversized my brass.
In your situation if you use only the reliable ammo brands in your rifle I would think you'll be perfectly OK. I don't think the problem is your rifle at all.
In my case I now have a few oversized cases I need to figure out how to turn into viable rounds -

Great info and I appreciate it. I’m actually glad to hear the multiple similar experiences and that it’s likely not the rifle.

I had a featherweight 270 that only shot reloads with 140 grain trophy bonded tip federal. So far, this rifle likes factory ammo. (Except for the misfires lol)

 

[Doug3006]

Faulty ammo used to be super rare. I don’t recall having a light strike until recently. The ammo companies have been loading fast and furious. I hope they get back to a zero defects approach soon. Lives may literally depend on it.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Faulty ammo used to be super rare. I don’t recall having a light strike until recently. The ammo companies have been loading fast and furious. I hope they get back to a zero defects approach soon. Lives may literally depend on it.

Exactly. It has me rethinking just shooting 404 factory ammo. But I can say that so far, all of the DGS and DGX have gone bang every time.

 

[Puddle]

The last one I encountered was from a manufacturer who shipped ammo with a Cape Buffalo printed on the box. When all was said and done, it was discovered the primer pocket was just barely 1mm too deep and the primer seating process was based on seating resistance, not seating depth. Proper sampling of primer pocket depths was not being done by either the supplier or customer.

Oh, and that ammo, intended for DG hunting? No recall ever went out. Test your ammo.

 

[cajunchefray]

The ones that fired are definitely deeper. I chalked that up to the pressure and maybe more force rearward when they ignite

More likely the difference in cartridge headspace. The measured length between the datum line( shoulder in 06) to the cartridge base. That’s what ensures it is tight in the chamber hence the firing pin has a solid strike on the primer.
A few thousands of an inch short and a deep seated primer, will give misfires.
Ask me how I know.
I now use an LE Wilson case length gauge to check my hand loads are correct.
Recently my shooting buddy, I showed him this gauge for 9mm ammunition ( it was a good price!) this test when his SIG P365 was having misfires. The pistol was fine. The “great deal “ ammo was out of spec, too short.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If it’s a FN m70 i would replace the firing pin spring, or at least have a a spare. My 365 did this for a while and that was the issue. I know of at least three other AH members who have also had issues with weak striker springs on their FN m70s.
I should add that my rifle only had this issue with one brand of primer. I would say that your federal and Remington primers are just soft enough to work.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

My 365 did this for a while and that was the issue.

That should read 375 h&h

 

[Hunter-Habib]

What was the other big name ammunition brand with which you encountered 2 misfires ?

 

[skydiver386]

I've seen several rifles that were out of spec, and combined with certain ammo they would misfire. Primers seated to deep in the brass combined with out of spec firing pin tips has been a problem for me more than once.

If you want to eliminate the rifle as cause, check the firing pin protrusion from the bolt face and the firing pin spring. Brownells sells a neat little tool to do it, but they are pricey. If you have a dial micrometer, check the face of the bolt from a known distance like the back of the bolt, or a locking lug shoulder, then measure from the same point to the tip of the firing pin in its fired condition.

Compare the amount of firing pin protrusion to what factory specs are. For most model 70's, proper protrusion is usually from .050 to .055., and no more than .062.

Here's a good video on how to do it with a gauge.

 

[Bandera]

Could be the head spacing on that ammo.
Could be an issue in the primer pocket or case rim.
Cases varies slightly from manufacture to manufacture.

 

[Hunt anything]

I have had this happen as well, I’ve put literally thousands of this manufactures rounds down range and this past summer I had 2 .416 Rigby fail to fire. Both out of the same box. I contacted the manufacturer and they put so many hoops in the way to returning and getting some satisfaction I finally just told them I would just not buy any more of their ammunition. They didn’t really seem to give a crap. It was Hornady DGX.

 

[Field28]

Some rifles can be finicky, never seen too many 30-06 that were. That being said, I've never owned a rifle that did not like Federal or Federal Premium.

 

[uplander01]

Get a new firing pin spring and try it again.

 

[deewayne2003]

I think these days ammo issues from the main manufacturers are rare so not sure what to think.

Honestly, I believe that quality control on ammo has been steadily going downhill for the last couple of decades.

Saving money is a secondary benefit to loading my own ammo, the real benefit is having ammo that is loaded to MY STANDARDS and the confidence that it gives me.

@Bwgunslinger - A Super Grade in 30-06 with a Leupold scope and 180gr bullets will serve you well on 90%+ of the game on earth..... Why not load up some good 180gr bullets and give your self complete confidence?

 

[Bwgunslinger]

The last one I encountered was from a manufacturer who shipped ammo with a Cape Buffalo printed on the box. When all was said and done, it was discovered the primer pocket was just barely 1mm too deep and the primer seating process was based on seating resistance, not seating depth. Proper sampling of primer pocket depths was not being done by either the supplier or customer.

Oh, and that ammo, intended for DG hunting? No recall ever went out. Test your ammo.

I didn’t know there had been issues with that ammo. Big time concerning because that’s all I have right now for the Jeffery.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

That should read 375 h&h

If it’s a FN m70 i would replace the firing pin spring, or at least have a a spare. My 365 did this for a while and that was the issue. I know of at least three other AH members who have also had issues with weak striker springs on their FN m70s.
I should add that my rifle only had this issue with one brand of primer. I would say that your federal and Remington primers are just soft enough to work.

I think this one is a 2024 rifle from Portugal so not sure about FN? Either way this is good to know and I’ll see if Midway has what I need.

 

[typilotguy]

I picked up a Winchester super grade in 30-06 and put the first rounds down range this weekend.

I had two Ammo brands with me on day 1. The factory Federal Terminal Ascent shot great and functioned 100%. I had another big name brand that had two out of 6 that did not go off. (Thought maybe the rifle was having light strikes because the primers were not hit really deeply).

I went back this morning and shot a whole box of Remington Core Lokt without issue. Then shot some more Federal and it was great.

I field stripped and cleaned the bolt last night thinking maybe that was the issue but when I tried the two rounds that didn’t fire again, they still did not go off.

I think these days ammo issues from the main manufacturers are rare so not sure what to think.

Would you just shoot Federal and Remington and consider the rifle good to go? Or would you send the rifle to Winchester to get checked out?

Thanks!

As so many others have said, I would not think that it is the rifle. I've experienced light strikes on factory ammo of various brands. Although it can occur on any brand, I have had far fewer from the "premium" manufacturers.

Two things you can do to mitigate this issue (other than the diet you feed the rifle) is a slightly stronger spring, and/or a SLIGHTLY longer firing pin.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

What was the other big name ammunition brand with which you encountered 2 misfires ?

The issues I was having was with Hornady Outfitter CX 180 grain.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Honestly, I believe that quality control on ammo has been steadily going downhill for the last couple of decades.

Saving money is a secondary benefit to loading my own ammo, the real benefit is having ammo that is loaded to MY STANDARDS and the confidence that it gives me.

@Bwgunslinger - A Super Grade in 30-06 with a Leupold scope and 180gr bullets will serve you well on 90%+ of the game on earth..... Why not load up some good 180gr bullets and give your self complete confidence?

You are right. I have my eye on some 180 or 200 grain North Fork SS and maybe even some flat point solids just for grins.

 

[cajunchefray]

I think this one is a 2024 rifle from Portugal so not sure about FN? Either way this is good to know and I’ll see if Midway has what I need.

Call Winchester customer service for the spring they are good to deal with.
I ordered magazine springs and bolt stop release springs and had them in 3 days.