Anyone have issues using Wolf/Tula primers and BLC2? I’m looking at picking up an extra couple 8# kegs as back up powder for AR loads. I’ve had great success with it for my bolt gun but that was with CCI or Federal match SRPs. I’d like to continue using my stash of Wolf/Tula primers for the ARs.
Primers trend to ignite that which is flammable in the confined space of a cartridge case. You should ask yourself why there would be any incompatibility. If you can’t answer that you may want to re-read some reloading fundamentals.
LOL, WHY??? Are you intentionally trying to sound like a Douche Bag?
I asked a specific question regarding BLC2 and the compatibility with Wolf/Tula primers…
If you haven’t heard reloading components are hard to come by right now, BLC2 is one of the few that you could still order 8# kegs on several websites.
Maybe it should be you that re-reads some reloading fundamentals and while your at it, search some threads on Wolf/Tula primers and incompatibilities with certain powders such a military pulldown WC844 or Hodgdon H335 (hang fires, failures to ignite).
I’m no novice reloader, 10K rounds of .223 (AR and Precision Bolt) and 12K in 9mm last year alone. Normally, I would just load a few dozen rounds and test myself, but being the holidays and time restraints. I figured some of the more educated reloaders here on the M4C would possibly have had some experience with this powder/primer combo and be able to answer my question.
Perhaps both of you need to take a deep breath. Here are some things to think about.
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Hangfires, failure to ignite and things of that nature aren’t a powder/primer compatibility issue. That issue is between the primer and the gun. It is almost always due to a firing pin spring that is under powered or an improperly seated primer. When I say under powered that is relative too. It might be in-spec for the gun itself, but under powered for the primer specifically.
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Different primers will create different levels of pressure with the same powder and with different powders. Some regular primers are hotter than other magnum primers. Some magnum primers aren’t any hotter than the same companies regular primers. Each primer is truly an individual. If you have questions about specifics the only 100% trustworthy source of info is the company that makes the primer.
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Because every combination of components (and your rifle itself) will produce a different amount of pressure, it is universally recommended to start at a reduced load and work up to max while watching for signs of excess pressure. This is the time to spot incompatibility problems.
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There is no inherent incompatibility problems between any small rifle primer and Ball C2. There are however well documented incompatibility problems between Wolf/Tula SR primers and certain guns. My Mini 14 behaves exactly the way you have heard with at least their standard (copper cup) primer.
Thank you, so far this has been my conclusion based on internet searches and asking around on other forums. I was just a little hesitant to order an additional 24 pounds of powder and later find out I can’t use the Wolf primers I already have and have to use my standard or bench rest primers.
BTW, I don’t dispute any of you statements other than possibly number one. I had a friend that loaded a 1000 round batch of those bad Wolfs with H335 a while back. Once we determined what was going on, we tried over 10 guns that all had the same hang fire issue. Throwing out the competition platforms there were at least 5 or 6 that were standard MIL-SPEC triggers. IMO it was definitely the primers.
I guess I don’t see why you are disagreeing. That is obviously a primer/gun issue and has nothing to do with the powder, which was the point I was trying to make. Mil-spec guns and parts means less than most people think when you aren’t shooting mil-spec ammo.
City guy and snake certain wolf and tula primers have problems igniting ball powders. Has nothing to do with the gun. you two just put two of the most ignorant replies possible.
Make sure you get the magnum or 556 primers. If you can not get the magnum or 556 just use extruded powders. Some are claiming the new wolf small rifle 223 are hotter and should work with ball powders. The problem is thoroughly documented.
Snake you should read up on the fundamentals you throw away brass after two loadings because your die is leaving a ring on your brass. Yet you insist it is incipient case head separation.
I’m just saying it is very plausible that some primers just inherently do not have the “power” to ignite certain powders. Regardless off how well they are struck by the firing pin. Just recently there was a thread on Enos and another on GT where the particular powder/primer resulted in very noticeable “hang” fires in several different guns, both AR and bolt actions. The gentleman pulled the bullets, changed powders and the issue went away.
Thanks jstone… I normally use only TAC and have about a 2 year supply but with recent events am looking into another suitable powder to get me through at least a 3rd. I have plenty of Wolf primers both 223 and the SRM versions. I like BLC-2 for varmint loads but was hesitant to use it for ARs if I can’t use the Wolf primers. I guess I’ll just get 16 pounds for now, do my own load development and hope that things move toward a more positive direction for us in the future.
City guy and snake certain wolf and tula primers have problems igniting ball powders. Has nothing to do with the gun. you two just put two of the most ignorant replies possible.
Make sure you get the magnum or 556 primers. If you can not get the magnum or 556 just use extruded powders. Some are claiming the new wolf small rifle 223 are hotter and should work with ball powders. The problem is thoroughly documented.
Snake you should read up on the fundamentals you throw away brass after two loadings because your die is leaving a ring on your brass. Yet you insist it is incipient case head separation.
Lol thats funny, all of it. Perhaps next you can explain why the same primer has problems with 4064 in one of my guns, but no problems with that or ball powders in my other. Mighty strange indeed…
I’m just saying it is very plausible that some primers just inherently do not have the “power” to ignite certain powders. Regardless off how well they are struck by the firing pin. Just recently there was a thread on Enos and another on GT where the particular powder/primer resulted in very noticeable “hang” fires in several different guns, both AR and bolt actions. The gentleman pulled the bullets, changed powders and the issue went away.
If the primers were firing succesfully, and the powder not igniting, you would hear and see it. A squib load has a distinct sound and a normal primer ignition has enough pop to unseat a bullet. Also, if that was the problem multiple strikes on the primer would yeild a 0% success rate, which is not the case.
Do you know what a hang fire is? Have you ever been behind the trigger of a gun and experienced it yourself? We aren’t talking squibs here… Seen plenty of those from my experience as a IDPA shooter and SO. Hang fires are when you pull the trigger, hear the mechanism engage, there is a distinct pause then you hear and feel the round go off.
Wow why did this dissection have to turn into an argument?
Anyway to answer the OP’s question. I have shot a bunch of BLC 2 with Wolf primers and never had any issues.
Thank you 5pins, I appreciate someone chiming in that actually has experience with the particular powder/primer combo. BTW no argument intended on my part. I just don’t think a couple of these guys have a clue as what a “Hang fire” actually is and the reason for my initial post.
There is a documented problem with wolf primers and ball powder it has happened with br rigs to Ar’s. It is not the firearm. Wolf had a very bad lot that was causing hangfires with multiple powders.
City you may have had primers from the bad lot, but a hangfire is not caused by the primer strike. It is caused by improper ignition. Your answer was not as bad as snakes now that i read it re refreshed after a night of sleep. A lot of load data calls for a magnum primer when ever ball powder is used.
It is common knowledge that ball powder does not ignite as easily as extruded. If you do a Google search for “wolf primers with ball powder” you will get pages of problems.
Boxer you should be fine most of the reports are from h355, but other ball powders have had problems. Just watch out with the blc-2 if you develop the loads in colder weather that are near the max. Blc-2 is temp sensitive. Glenn zeidecher (sp) has specifically pointed it out. In one of his competition books he has said beware it is funny under the sun.
It is just like any other temp sensitive powder, but he specifically points out blc-2 warning shooters and competitors.
Boxer if you are worried about the primers or have problems wolf will exchange them. I would even trade you k for k. I have thousands of cci 400&41’s, Rem 7.5’s. I do not use much ball powder. Other than the 17lbs of cfe223 i have been sitting on i probably do not have more than 5lbs of ball powder.
City i used ignorant, because it did not seem like you have heard of the issue. I did not use stupid or retarded as if you new the problems, but could not understand it. It was not a personal attack. If it was i would have said something much different. The few posts i have seen of yours contributed good information. I lumped you in with snake he has made some outright stupid comments like the one in this thread.
Yes I know what a hang fire is and have had them using Wolf primers with both ball and extruded powders. Along with failure to fires too. Exclusively in one gun and not the other. You think I don’t have a clue and I don’t think you are seeing all the details. Good luck with your purchase.
I don’t mix WOLF and any Ball powders any more. There’s too many good short cut extruded powders that meter good to play with ball powders.
I can’t remember reading about anyone having problems with BLC-2 specifically. But I think its Mil surp equivalent has popped up as a problematic combo once or twice.
Is there a lot number or some way to identify the bad lots of Wolf primers?
The bad lot should not be on shelves of stores anymore. If you Google it, and take some time you should be able to find it.
The standard Sr primer from wolf is still supposed to be problematic. Not as bad as the lot that was known to be bad, but if you Google wolf small rifle primer there is still problems popping up. Like markm said it is mostly mil powders, but there have been problems with other powders.
The last 1000 wolf i have i just wrote extruded on it so i do not use ball powders. If you look at the wolf website all the primer use the same compound. Seeing they all use the same compound there.can not.nenrjqtt
No they won’t.
I tried, they stopped this practice for primers and it only applies to loaded ammunition now.