Misfires

[Willy]

Hi everyone,
I'm just starting out in F Class, I was shooting on Saturday and had a few misfires. I pulled the cartridges apart and two were obviously errors by the dimwit who loaded them (I don't want to talk about it) , but two were primers that didn't ignite. I'm sporting a 308 sportco 44 (AKA Omark, I believe). The primers are a little old, about 5 years, but the indentation from the firing pin seemed much shallower than on the rounds that fired normally. Does anyone have any insight on the matter? I have purchase new primers and ditched the old ones already, but am considering the possibility that it is my rifle. Any advice would be appreciated. IMG_20200706_172916513.jpg

[John23]

Have you pulled the bolt apart and cleaned the firing pin and bolt body of debris that might be fouling ?

[lonerider43]

if all else seems ok,replace the firing pin spring.
if its an old rifle [used alot before you] replace it anyway.easy to do.

[KHGS]

Omarks suffer from weak ignition at the best of times. Have your firing pin protrusion checked, replace the spring and if you have an adaptor and aftermarket trigger fitted have the firing pin fall checked. Make sure your primer pockets are cleaned and the primers seated against the bottom of the pocket.
Keith H.

[6.5x55ai]

Decock the striker by twisting it. Then if you can recock it by hand (assuming average strength) the main spring has weakened.

As a matter of course I always de-cock my bolts when not in use.
(Wait now for the arguments that springs don't lose their set.)

[6.5x55ai]

Decock the striker by twisting it. Then if you can recock it by hand (assuming average strength) the main spring has weakened.

As a matter of course I always de-cock my bolts when not in use.
(Wait now for the arguments that springs don't lose their set.)

Is it just the photo quality but what is that strange pattern on the primer?

[mike H]

Five years old primers are not the problem,do as Keith said and all will be well.

[Willy]

[Willy]

[Willy]

Does anyone know where I could source parts from?

[Rich4]

[KHGS]

Do you mean the C shape? That's just the branding. I will try that with the bolt, it has sat clocked in the safe for a long time.[/quote]

Therein lies your problem!! New spring will fix it.
Keith H.

[superx10]

I copied this from a previous post I made
KHGS is on the money.


Well, so I thought and proceeded to blame the gunsmith for not getting the headspace correct. After driving about 280 km and having
many misfirings I was looking to blame someone, it must be a personality defect. So what was wrong. On measuring my firing pin extrusion on my Panda action it was measuring .045 or about 10tho under recommended, the cases I was were using were fired just once but on full-length sizing were about 8 tho under a fired round from shoulder to bottom of the case and the fact that I was using CCI small magnum primers a primer that has a reputation for tough skin. All this together made for the rifle not to fire.
I have since on taking my gunsmiths advice and jammed the projectiles with a decent amount of neck tension and used new brass wala they now go bang. Apology in-coming.


The link below is probably one of the best youtube clips on explaining headspace with the view of a cutaway chamber.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAgjvBxzng4

[GSells]

[Tim L]