Time for a new bolt? Primer failure

[Pinmaster]

I had a primer blowout on a reload yesterday. I want to get some feedback to see if I need to order a new bolt or not.
If so, I will get a new bolt and have a gunsmith do a caliber conversion. I've ordered headspace gauges to see if it is a headspace issue. If it headspaces ok would you ditch the primers and test with factory ammo?

Remington 700 stock barreled action

Load data .308
Varget 42g From Lee Powder "powder perfect" verified and adjusted on digital scale.
Winchester LR primers (seem to have more than average problems)
168 SMK
Case length 2.0015
Overall 2.8025
Once fired FGMM brass. FLR, Primer hole cleaned and inspected.
Lee Handprimer tool

Pics
Small primer hole under "C"
Bolt face
Brass from same reloads

 

[Bigwheels]

Looks like a Winchester primer? I had the same problem with them several years ago. It was a primer problem that fixed itself with a new lot of primers. Winchester did not take care of it so I'll never use their products again.
I shot mine with several of those pits for a long time before getting the bolt resurfaced during a rebarrel job. Though yours looks a little worse than mine did but its hard to tell from a pic to be sure.

 

[Pinmaster]

Thanks BW. Yes, it is a winchester primer... I guess I will toss (or sell) the ones that I have and go to another brand. Seems that a lot of people have had issues with winchester over other brands. The rest of the case was fine, no swelling, and the cases ejected smoothly.

 

[phxfa]

I wouldn't shit can the bolt even if it's pitted, Send it off to Gretan to get it bushed and while it's there, go for the small firing pin. 42.0gr. of Varget under a 168 is a light load IMHO

 

[morganlamprecht]

typical of Winchester primers, your bolt is fine, just doesnt look pretty...ive seen some bolt faces with marks like that almost 360 degrees around the firing hole from lots of Win primer use

 

[rduckwor]

No, time for a different primer. Win primers are known to blow frequently at the transition from the side wall to the primer base.

Good Luck,

RMD

 

[Servo93]

I had the same thing happen and guess what; Winchester primer. It was on a pretty light load too. Pitted the face of my AI bolt and I was not happy. From now on its Federal or bust. Pun intended

 

[Pinmaster]

I had the same thing happen and guess what; Winchester primer. It was on a pretty light load too. Pitted the face of my AI bolt and I was not happy. From now on its Federal or bust. Pun intended

Did you keep using the bolt even though it was pitted? I bought new primers yesterday and will rid myself of the winchester curse.

 

[19Scout77]

Keep using the bolt. That is cosmetic and of no consequence. As stated above...at some point send it to Greg Tannel.

 

[Servo93]

I'm still using the bolt, it's affected nothing so far and I have no plans to send it in.

 

[cav has been]

Winchester will likely buy you out of the bad primers. Not worth the hassle if you don't have a sizable quantity but they paid me full retail on 5K.

 

[Bigwheels]

I tried that & they sent me a prepaid shipping label & asked me to send them 10 of the primers. I did so & about a month later they told me that found nothing wrong with them... Even after I told them that the new lot I was using had cured the issue. They offered to test 10 more but I would have to pay for it. They won't own up to it even though it's now fairly common knowledge that they blow out @ the radius.
Switch brands & move on. Have it fixed when you have your next barrel installed.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Nuts, many moons ago winchester were the go to primers.