Bensonr Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Long story short..........I went to the range today with my son. We shot a total of about 400 rounds of 9mm. Because of the way my reloads were boxed I was able to tetermine when I loaded each box. Since I don't focus on speed, I usually load 100 at a time and open a new tray of primers for each batch of 100. I have loaded about 10,000 rounds through this Dillon 550 over its lifetime. I have never had an issue other than human error.....that human would be ME. Today, one box of 100 had 34 fail to fire rounds. I have never heard of such a thing. The primers were struck hard, with a Glock 34 and then again with a CZ-75 with an extended firing pin. Not one of the primers ignited in either gun. No squibs........nothin. I brought them home to a friend who is a veteran member of USPSA. He pulled one apart and found everything as it should be. He put the empty case in his gun and tried to ignite the primer with no luck. I bought these primers as part of two boxes (2000 total). The first 1300 were fine, and then this issue. The boxes were from a retailer. The boxes were new in appearance, clean and dry. If it matters, they were Winchester SPP. I have never had any other problems with this brand of primers. Has anyone else ever heard of this type incident with new primers? Thanks for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuildSF4 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Hi primers, Oil contamination or wet primers (wet when struck) could cause this. Have you deprimed one to verify the anvil is in the primer and centered? On the hi primers, if your Glock is hitting the center of the primers deeply this could deform the anvil and another strike probably wouldn't fire it either (no compression). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babaganoosh Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 If possible could you post the lot numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 The lot number is #FHL374G. They were purchased in the Dallas/Fort Worth areaa if that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Update on situation. I spoke to a very nice rep. at Winchester this morning...actually a real person. Without any hesitation he provided paid postage and asked me to mail all of the failed cartridges to him for testing. He did not have much of an explanation, be he was quite curious, as I am. He said he has heard of 1 out every thousand sometimes, but never 34 out of 100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuildSF4 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 That's good. It is a very high failure rate, which is why I would suspect contamination or another issue. Winchester should get to the bottom of it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I used Winchester primers exclusively for many years,,,average about 8k a year or so, say 56,000 or so...never in my memory has one failed to go bang....HIGHLY unusual..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Rick is a very detailed guy and I know he didn't make a mistake with these primers. I guess it's possible the person he purchased them from, let them get contaminated or something........just kinda weird.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glock26Toter Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I would love to hear if they get back to you on that. I too would think this has to be contamination of some kind. I've been using Winchester for many, many years and don't recall any dead ones. The only time I saw dead or had any trouble was a short stint in Magtech land. And upon inquiring to THAT company about my troubles I was hastily blown off and went right back to Winchester just as quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 I will post any further information as I learn it. Thanks for the input. Trace already stomps me with ease, bad primers for me only add to the point spread, Got to at least keep him in sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelShooten Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I had some trouble with a batch of Winchester primers a littel over a year ago. Large pistol primers, different problem. Winchester had to determine what really caused the problem but they stood by their product and exchanged everything that was dtermined to be defective. They will eventually send you a letter and/or call you to inform you about their findings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinz Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I have been burned twice before, in two different matches about 7 years ago with Win primers. That's when I switched to Federal Match. Never had a problem since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 That is my greatest fear, having a similar episode at a match. Could end the fun real quick. I received a confirmation that the primers did arrive at Winchester.....still waiting to hear something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinz Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 I wasn't trashing Winchester primers. I know guys that have been using them since the dawn of age without a hickup. But you how we competition shooters are, if we shot our best match ever chewing cinamon gum, then by golly, we start chewing cinamon gum at every match and freak out if we leave it at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 I am starting to worry a bit. Right now I can't find ANY brand of primers. Hope things calm down soon. I am on several notification lists, just waiting for an opportunity to order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensonr Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Well the gentlemen from Winchester called and left a message yesterday about the test they performed on my primers. He said the primers showed to have moisture in them. This is what caused the FTF. He said the impact to the primer was fine, but the moisture was the problem. He stated the contamination would have happened after leaving their factory. He is sending a certificate for more primers. Thay is nice of him, but I need primers, I have no place to redeem the certificate. I still cant find any primers. I will be very carefull how I store my compenents from this point forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinz Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Hats off to Winchester for going the extra mile for the customer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuildSF4 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Nice to hear that a company stands behind it's product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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