Breech block peening on Quigley model Shilo

[patchbox]

I'm noticing some peening around the firing pin hole due to primers. I purchased the rifle used - do not know how many rounds were put through this rifle by previous owner or what his loads were. Rifle is chambered for 45-2_7/8. I am using Bell brass - has a rim thickness of .065. Only primers I have ever used are large rifle and only loaded with black powder - 90 grns. Primers always seat flush with case rim. I have put about 300 rounds through. Is this condition normal? If not, what would cause this? How much peening is acceptable until block needs replacement? I don't remove the block every time after cleaning - have removed it twice since I purchased the rifle - could be a pre-existing condition from previous owners loads. Any info would be helpful.

Regards,

Eric

[MikeT]

patchbox,

I would guess that 300 rounds of BP loads will not have left a trace on the breech block.
The previous owner probably shot it with the other powder, and too much of it
more than likely.

Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT

[gunlaker]

Is there actually a depression on the breech block, or is it just shiny? My .45-110 has a shiny area on the breech block around the around the firing pin, but no detectable depression.

Chris.

[Kurt]

I'm getting gas cuts on the face of one of my breach blocks from blow back from primers leaking past the primer pockets.
Yes the primers still seat tight. But I have a circle of pits around the firing pin channel on the block face.

Kurt

[patchbox]

I don't see any pits - just a shiny circle around the firing pin hole - I will remove the block and put a straight edge across the firing pin hole - if I see gaps under the straight edge then I know there is a slight depression - It could be just an illusion as gunlaker has suggested. If there is an actual ringed depression I'm inclined to think what MikeT has proposed - previous owner shot it with smokeless and loaded it pretty hot.

[patchbox]

It doesn't seem to cause any problems mechanically - breech lowers just fine and isn't getting hung up on primers

[Kirk]

Hi,
You just need to make sure the firing pin moves free, if it's cratered you can see it without a straight edge. I would imagine somebody was using pistol primers, that use to be the big fad.

Thanks,
Kirk

[Kurt]

Eric.
Don't worry about a little crater on the face of that Breach block
Here is the face of the block out of my .50-2.5 that just gets fed with WLR white and blue box rifle primers. I lost count of the amount of primers I used loading the .50.
During the last primer shortage a few years back I was on No 16th brick of primers and I had to end up using the rest for other rifles and lost count what went through that rifle. So you can say 16,000 closer to 20K plus and it just keeps on shooting better.
The photo does not show the crater because of the light but the gas cuts?? if that what I see around the primer crater have me puzzled.
Kurt

[patchbox]

Hi Kirk, Kurt,
There seems to plenty of hole diameter for the firing pin to move freely - I suspect as Kirk said - previous owner was using pistol primers - as long as everything functions mechanically, I think I will stop worrying about it, keep reloading, keep shooting and have fun!

[Kurt]

Good idea that's what I do

Kurt

[Eric Johanen]

I have not seen evidence of peening on my block and I use large pistol primers a bunch. I use Federal which I believe are the largest diameter and a .004 note card under primer wad. This is working well for me and the closest large rifle primer in terms of accuracy is the CCI bench rest, followed closely by the standard Winchester large rifle primer.

[Kenny Wasserburger]

I have cratered 2 blocks in my 45-110. Used some duplex loads back in the day with Reloader #7. Then 4fg. Rifle has in excess of 24k rounds on it now. Always used WLR primers. Back in the day they often bushed the breach block because of this.........lastly remember a 2-7/8ths generates 3 times the chamber pressure the standard 45-70 BP load does.


Kenny Wasserburger,

[gunlaker]

I have to admit that I worry about cratering a breech block in one of my rifles. I do have a Shiloh in .40-65 that likes pistol primers. Fortunately I have a bunch of Remington brass that was made with shallow primer pockets. I have to cut them deeper to even accept a pistol primer so I think I am safe here.

I also have a .45-90 that seems to really like pistol primers. I worry mostly about that one. I use a wad in the primer pocket to reduce the distance between the primer face and breech block, but the Starline brass I have has primer pockets that seem a bit on the deep side to me.

I had a good friend that cratered a breech block with pistol primers. He warned me that it didn't seem to happen gradually. It was apparently fine for thousands of rounds, and then one day it was not.

Chris.