Light Primer Strikes or tough primers?

So these are all happening with two types of ammo from one order from Freedom Munitions.

#1 300 AAC (.300 Blackout) 150gr Hornady FMJ remanufacturers [500 rnds]
#2 300 AAC (.300 Blackout) 208gr A-Max remanufacturers [250 rnds]

These were ordered online back at the end of May 2015, when there was a bit of a rush going on and my order got a little wonky- apparently the first order was stolen at some point between their factory doors and the UPS truck picking it up.

Anyways, I have two .300Blk weapons: A Rem 700, stock but for a Timney 510 trigger that I didn't alter beyond installing it. And then a .300Blk AR-15 that I put together. With the Remington, I'm averaging about 6-7 light primer strikes per box of 50 (both the 208gr and the 150gr), which obviously sucks. However, when I go put those light strike'd rounds in the .300blk AR, they still don't fire. I did a 3-gun match with my .300Blk AR and I think I only had 1 FTF, so I have to think that the problem is not the ammo, but my Rem 700's Timney trigger not giving the firing pin enough oomph to get the job done... but I scratch my head wondering why the AR can assumedly fire fresh rounds just fine, but can't finish the job if they've been dimpled by a light strike in the Remington.

I've read that places like FM source their primers from wherever they can get them, so could this batch of ammo have used primers that are particularly tough? Should I contact Timney and see what I should do about getting light strikes? (I've also read that some people contacted them and were sent a different sear spring which apparently cleared things up).

The red-encircled rounds did not fire, all other brass fired. There is a visible difference in the dimples between the fired ammo and the "light strike" primers, but I'd think that ever those primer strikes should have been enough to fire the rounds.

Attachment 66449 Attachment 66450

I suppose a test that I can do is just put the stock Remington trigger back in and go through another box. Unfortunately, .300blk isn't getting any cheaper, and FM is clear sold out for the time being (except for some expensive $0.80/rd stuff)

ETA: If it turned out that the boxes I used in the 3-gun match were miraculously good and the rest of the batch has genuine duds, 7/50 is not really acceptable and at that point I'd be complaining to Freedom Munitions. So perhaps a better test would be to pull the bullets from the duds I have (earlier on, I just tossed the first 6 from a box that didn't fire), remove the powder, then put the brass in a vice and try to detonate the primer with a nail and hammer.

I'd call FM before doing anything else. IMO they are not QC orientated and have issues across the board , reman ammo wise. That's where i would start .

While fun, i don't recommend hitting the primers with a nail lol. If you do wear your PPE (eyes, ears, gloves).

Some primers are harder than others. Does either rifle have ever problems with other factory ammo?

What trigger is in the AR? Does it have a mil-spec hammer spring? (you could try a stronger hammer spring, ive ran these on AR's shooting surplus hard primer Russian 545, makes the trigger suck though, or tweak yours to have a bit more wack)

post up a pic of the primer on an unfired example, they could have been smashed in there too far.

To me, the primer strikes on the dud rounds look a lot different than the rounds that went bang. They look like the pin did not hit as hard or deep. It easily could be the ammo. Freedom has been very hit or miss with me. Mostly misses lately with 9mm, 233, and 300. 9mm with squib or light charges. 223 primers popping out and jamming up the bcg. 300 inconsistent accuracy.
I have eliminate them as an ammo source and ended up shipping back thousands of rounds.

Take the Timney on the R700 out of your troubleshooting steps. Unlike an AR, swapping just the trigger on the Remington doesn't change the firing pin spring weight or force. The spring is internal to the bolt, and the trigger just releases the pin and factory bolt spring. (Unlike an AR trigger where the spring is changed on the hammer.) Unless you swapped your spring as well, but that isn't part of the Timney kits.

The only possible way it could interfere is if it was so out of alignment that it was hanging up on the pin after the sear breaks, that the friction between the sear and pin slows down the pin. EXTREMELY unlikely.

You call FM yet?

Your trigger might be dragging on the cocking piece slowing up the firing pin.

Put the stock trigger back in and try it.

ETA: On the phone w/ FM right now. They're trying to track down my +1yr order. So, they sent me an RMA request form:
Dear KestrelBike:
We are very sorry for the issues you have experienced. We stand behind our ammunition 100% and would like to make this right. In order to properly address this issue, we will need to get this ammunition back to our ballistics lab for further testing and evaluation. We can either replace this ammunition or refund your purchase, whichever you prefer.
Information we will need to process this issue is as follows:
Detail the exact issue you are having?
What is the order number?
How much ammunition is left?
What is the date of incident?
Where did the incident take place?
What is your current address and phone number?
What is the lot # (this can be found on a sticker on the end flap of the box above the bar code or below the bar code number)?
What is the head stamp information?
What type of ammunition (ex. 9mm 115 gr new)
Is the ammunition new or remanufactured?
Any pictures or video you have or can take will be very helpful.
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Thanks for replies and sorry for lack of response, got a bit busy. I just drafted an email to FM but have not called them yet.

I took out one of the projectiles, removed the powder, then took a nail & hammer to the case/primer. No detonation.

The AR has mil-spec trigger & everything else, nothing fancy. And I didn't touch the springs in the Remington 700, all I did was take the Timney trigger (bought from them) out of the packaging and installed it- I didn't fiddle with it at all.

A next test would be swapping out the Timney for the stock Remington trigger, which I should probably just go ahead and do. I might do that before I send off the email to FM.

The first pic shows the primer I took a pin & hammer to. The others show FM 223 on the left, FM 300blk on the right.
Attachment 66693 Attachment 66694 Attachment 66695

My RMA was approved on Tuesday (08/23) and they sent me a UPS label to print out, so they're paying for the shipping (that had been a concern of mine that they might not).

I'm out of town until Sunday, but will send it back to them the next day. I'm thinking I should double box the package...

I have returned no less than 4000 rounds of various calibers to freedom munitions in the past year and a half. They refunded my money promptly too. It did take them a while to get back to me with the rma though. When I had 2 squib rounds and bullets stuck in my 9mm (separate occasions, same ammo lot #), they called me on the phone to ask questions if there was gun damage or if I got hurt.

Yikes. No bueno. Glad you got your money back and apparently didn't get hurt from squibbs!

Update:
08/29 - With the UPS label they emailed me, I shipped the ammo back.
09/11 - One of the customer service reps gave me a call, we talked for awhile about it and they offered either a refund, credit, or an exchange. I requested an exchange, and since they were OOS on the remans, they just replaced it with New manuf. Very decent of them.
09/15 - The replacement order shipped
09/20 - received the order.

I won't be able to get out to the range probably until this weekend, but will go through a box. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the CS experience. I only ever dealt with one employee who handled my entire support case, and he never doubted my word or gave me any hassle. At the same time, I was only ever exceedingly polite to him and didn't demand anything- I just told him what was going on and asked him if I had options.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hoser

Your trigger might be dragging on the cocking piece slowing up the firing pin.

Put the stock trigger back in and try it.

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Where was all this dirty talk on my birthday?

Kidding. Thanks for that input. That will be logged for future memory/trouble-shooting, just in case.

OP, sorry you are dealing with questionable ammo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crays

Where was all this dirty talk on my birthday?

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In the springs ?