by Hoot » Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:21 am
Welcome Aboard lendar!
My experience with hangfires were not from some mechanical problem like light primer strike. It seemed to be from inadequate neck tension for whatever reason. More specifically, the bullet exits the case too easily during initial ignition but before the powder column has ignited. It jumps a short distance until it engages the lands, stops and then the powder column fully ignites. This can be caused by not applying enough crimp but it also can happen when using copper plated bullets as the jacket is thin like aluminum foil. The crimp effectiveness is dependent not only on die crimping force inward but equally dependent upon the jacket fighting back outward from being pushed easily into the lead core. With conventional jacketed bullets, manufacturing start with a thicker copper cup, into which the lead core is inserted and then the jacket is formed into the bullet's final shape. I discovered this when I tried using Berry 230gr FMJ bullets. Under no circumstances, should plated bullets be used in this caliber. I know HAP bullets are affordably priced but I don't know if that reduction in cost is due to their jackets being plated onto them. That warrants some investigation. The problem of hangfire can be due to the bullets themselves being undersized. I have gotten to the point of mic'ing a few bullets from every box I buy to make sure that they make either their .451 or .452 spec. Don't rely on the precision of a pair of calipers. That measurement should be done with a micrometer.
Lastly, hangfires can be caused by not seating the primers fully into the primer pockets. When I prime my cases, I stand them up on a known flat surface and make sure they don't rock back and forth upon their primers still protruding a small amount from the face. Only takes a second to perform with each case while you're priming. I have not found that the CCI 450 primers have such thick cups that it causes hangfires, if they're fully seated.
If you have another lighter bullet to try in your loads, that is known to not be plated, see if the problem persists with them.
The weight of the bullets factors in but not that much if you avoid not crimping them adequately and not using plated bullets. I have successfully loaded bullets like the 200gr FTX and 200gr XPB. But lighter bullets start getting so short that there is not much metal on metal in the necks unless you load them for very short COL.
Hoot
Shoot! I'm slower at typing than Al and doubled with him.
In Theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In Practice, there is.