.50 Cal Brass Cases-Primer Hole Problem

[Carl Byron]

Dear fellow Skirmishers, I need advice.

I normally shoot my 2nd Model Maynard with borrowed ammunition but I came into an inheritance of new .50 cal brass cases. Problem is, the primer hole is so small less than 1% of my rounds fire. I've tested the carbine and every aspect of the firearm-it is not the Maynard, powder, ball or caps.

My Question: Is there a size to drill the primer hole to? I know it can't be very big but it sure needs to be larger than when the cases leave the factory.

Thanks to All in Advance.

Carl

[geezmo]

Compare yours to the borrowed cases. Drill them the same.

[Sven205]

I bought a batch of 100 from a popular vendor about 1 year ago and had the same ignition problems. All of these seemed to have smaller flash holes. The older stock second hand/used brass works fine and have larger flash holes.

For the new ones, I drilled them out with a #58 micro drill bit on a press. Fixed the issue.

[Lou Lou Lou]

Just to be arbitrary, it could be the guns flash hole is too big. Not concentrating fire enough

[Carl Byron]

Therein lies the problem-I gave them all back

[Carl Byron]

I bought a batch of 100 from a popular vendor about 1 year ago and had the same ignition problems. All of these seemed to have smaller flash holes. The older stock second hand/used brass works fine and have larger flash holes.



Many thanks. This is exactly what I needed. I'll pick up one of the drill bits and have them done this wekend.

I appreciate the help.

C

[John Bly]

I use a #1 center drill on mine. The tip is .047" diameter. I drill them in a lathe and the stiff body of the center drill makes sure it drills on center rather than follow an existing hole that may not be centered.

[RaiderANV]

What Cap'n Bly said......

[Carl Byron]

I bought a batch of 100 from a popular vendor about 1 year ago and had the same ignition problems. All of these seemed to have smaller flash holes. The older stock second hand/used brass works fine and have larger flash holes.

For the new ones, I drilled them out with a #58 micro drill bit on a press. Fixed the issue.

My bits just came in. I'm going to spend the evening drilling the brass out and take some to the range for a test run. Thanks again for the direction.

[John Bly]

I just went through this with a misfiring Maynard. I could get it to fire with multiply tries but that is not acceptable in a skirmish. The cases had tiny holes. I checked the Maynard out and all seemed OK. I drilled the cases out with a #1 center drill. Test firing was consistent immediate ignition every time.