I just got my rifle back from Springfield Armory. I had sent it back to be inspected after I found some pits sround the bolt face. They have been there quite a while, I kind of drug my feet about sending it back.
They said it was fine, but the pits were caused by leaking primers. I have fired South African, British, and some really bad Indian ammo in the past. I now shoot mostly reloaded milsurp brass with Winchester primers and IMR-4895. I haven't noticed any leaking signs....
Has anyone seen any problems with the surplus ammo? I suspect the Indian stuff, it was really bad, in terms of accuracy and appearance. How about with reloaded milsurp? Most of what I shoot is LC or PMJ stamped and performs real well. I have reloaded some OFV stamped brass, but it ain't too good.
I shoot reloads in all my rifles, the M1A is the only one to show these pits.
I had the same problem with Winchester primers , only the large rifle ones. This problem is on several other forums too. Switch brands.
That Greek Ammo from the CMP is 2moa and nothing to complain about! ..:..
I'll try some different primers. Any recommendations?
I use CCI 200s (w/IMR 4895). Have never seen a problem.
CCI 34s. They are mil spec primers, magnum grade and less sensitive to the hit from the floating firing pin.
What is the headstamp date on the OFV ? The OFV made during the the '70's is considered safe,,,the stuff from the '80's not so much,,,the stuff from the '90's not at all. But I don't think any of it was corrosive.
I've used the older silver cup Winchester primers for quite a while,,, never a problem. The newer copper coloed primers are supposed to be more 'sensitive', which i would translate to having a thinner cup. I have much less expierience w/ them, I have run a few reloads through an FAL, but have had no problems either.
Sly223 mentions the Greek ammo, which would be 30/06, but I think the op is dealing w/ .308 (7.62x51)
As for pitts in the bolt face, again I would have you check the dates on the Indian ammo. Also, run a review on any odd lots of ammo you may have used in the gun. Perhaps you used some foreign corrosive stuff, but the effects, left unchecked, would have been apparent, strip the gun and have a look see any way,,,but you have probably done that.
Leaking primers on factory ammo could only be primer pocket out of spec, defective brass, or overpressure loads.
That's all I got.
Have some primer pitting on the bolt face on my first M1A also (Stainless, Synthetic, Loaded). However, it's got over 5,000 rounds through it and keeps on ticking. The only thing I replaced on this rifle so far was the recoil spring with a Tubb CS spring and the soft SAI extractor with a GI extractor. After all of these rounds it still gauges a 5 on the chamber (freebore) and will consistently ring 4 MOA steel at 500 meters all day long!
Fired a lot of surplus through this rifle many years ago initially - LC, South African, German, Portuguese, Yugoslavian, and some 70's Indian - but don't know what the culprit was (could have been the Indian or any of the above, don't know). Still have lots of surplus stacked deep and shoot it from time to time, but both of my rifles (Loaded and Super Match) now get fed a consistent diet of M852 equivalent reloads. I use CCI 34's primarily, but have used CCI 200's, Winchester, and Wolf successfully as well. I only reload my brass 5 times for these gas guns so the primer pockets are still pretty tight (I use surplus LC swaged with a Dillon tool, or Federal brass - they weigh the same), but continue to use this brass for my bolt guns after that and shoot it until they show signs of failure or actually fail. :cool2:
Don't sweat it - keep shooting your stick until it needs a new barrel and then buy and headspace a new bolt at the same time. Until then turn money into skill with what you've got, brother!
Git-R-Done! :---
The leaking primer problem is with recent Winchester primers . It has happened with new Lapua and Hornedy brass as well as brass with multiple reloads. I use the same primers in 6.5x55 ,.308, and 30.06 with the same small leaks. when the round is fired I can tell it leaked gas by the smoke coming from the receiver. The bolt face in both my 6.5 and 30.06 1917s were pitted after a day at the range, changing to magnum primers cured the problem for me. I think the primers were at fault and not the primer pockets or brass. I've started reloading about 1972 or 73 and have never encountered this before.
Thanks for all the info! All the surplus Indian is gone - I've been shooting mostly those reloads. I'll swap to CCI 34s and see what happens.