pressure signs from factory ammo

So about a week ago I went out with my beloved to do a little target shooting and make sure my rifles are tuned up for the upcoming seasons. I will often shoot some cheap factory stuff just to make sure My scope isn't pointing into outer space, and once I am sure it is close to being on I will try out my handload of choice. I had a box of federal factory ammo left over from last year so I popped a round into my 270 and let her go. BLAM! It kicked like a mule, and when I ejected the case the primer fell out in my hand! :o. I have cranked of a few hot handloads before, but this has never happened to me from factory before. The ammo rode with me in the ac car so it wasn't hot, and I have shot this ammo in this gun before. Do they occasionally put out a hot batch? Thank God I didn't let my wife shoot it first, she would have never touched it again.

Maybe it was the vibration from riding in a car so long.....same effect as putting live rounds in a vibratory cleaner. It breaks down the individual grains of powder into smaller pieces which changes the burn rate.

How long were they in ur car?


Brian

Check with the manufacturer to see if there is a recall on that lot number of ammo. If you saved the hull i would call and tell the manufacturer about it. They might want the rest of the box back and you would get a new box of ammo if they do.

That load (lot) must have slipped thru thier QC. I have had primers flatten on factory loads (6.5 x 55 mm) I was glad I was using them in a 98 action.

I would contact the manufacture and see what they have to say.

The loads were in the car ~30 minutes. I have had them since last year tho. I think I will contact federal and see what they say, thanks for the input guys.

Oh ok.....when u said in the car i thought maybe a few weeks! Lol.

Yeah i would contact the manufacturer to let them know what happened. This is how recalls get started. U could save a life!

Brian

If you left "ANY" oil or grease in the chamber or bore this can cause a pressure spike, "ALL" oil and grease should be removed before firing, even Hoppe's #9 or light oil can cause this to happen.

[img width=600 height=145]http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/bigedp51/boltthrust.jpg[/img]

Well I cleaned my hunting rifles that had been in mothballs before we went to shoot to remove the storage lube, but can I say I was especially careful to dry the chamber completely? No. It is possible that I missed some in this particular rifle. Never happened to me before though. Before I shoot it again (with different ammo!) I will be sure the chamber is clean just to remove the possibility. Thanks for that reminder!

I bought some brand new Federal High-Energy stuff for my 308 a few years ago. That happened to me, as well as ignition when the bolt closed(NO fireing pin marks on the primer) called Federal, and they had a recall that wasn't for the High energy, but then added my lots to it as well.