6.5 grendel pin hole through primers

Bbowl1

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Minuteman
Oct 14, 2012
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Portland, Oregon
I first noticed this with factory 123gr amax and now I am seeing it on my aa brass loads.

Pin hole through the primer with some "soot". Is this normal? I used to see this with my old custom build .308 on occasion.

Out of the 40 hornady factory 123amax at least half did this. Far less common now with AA brass and win sr primer.

I should note the rifle is a 24" AA complete upper with a geiselle 2 stage. Shouldn't be striking too hard...

My load is below max published and far below what I see others doing at 27.8gr xbr8208.

Second pic is the usual strike. Only 1/20 with my load are like first pic





 
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Pull your firing pin out and look at face, probably got eroded from the initial pierced primers. Might need a new firing pin.
 
The firing pins face looks completely normal as compared to my others. Should I just replace it? I can't imagine anything else could cause it unless the hammer was striking too hard. But like I said, geiselle, unlikely I think
 
Not sure how I would measure that. I guess I could put a pin next to the protrude of the pin and get a rough number
You get a fairly close measurement with a set of calipers. Use the rod that sticks out when opening the caliper. Measure the bolt to face then measure bolt to fitting pin whilst pushing the firing pin out to the fire position then take the difference. That is your protrusion measurement.