Seeing as you've been a machinist for 25 yrs let me ask you a stupid question.
Is it in any way possible we're seeing these oversize firing pin holes from any manufacturer due to simple bean counting?
Is it cheaper to drill a larger hole due to less bit wear and breakage? Less machine down time and employees cost due to retooling.
Me being the Cro-Magnon type would much rather drill a 1/4" hole through steel than 1/16".
Ask me to drill a 1/4" hole through steel and I'll ask you to point where.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Ask me to drill a 1/16'' hole through the same piece of steel and I'll tell you to go to the hardware store and buy every 1/16'' bit they have.
![lol :lol:](./images/smilies/lol.gif)
Might seem stupid, might be that simple.
Are machinist's as scared of small holes as I?
![lol :lol:](./images/smilies/lol.gif)
Do small bits wear faster than large?
Working with steel is not my thing but its the only conclusion I can come up with for doing it.
Unless of course you fall into the Bovine excrement and blindly believe its really Chocolate Pudding.
Now why would anyone have their bolt bushed if cratering is a good thing?
![chin :chin:](./images/smilies/chin.gif)
You would think the innovative custom gun guys would have figured out the benefit of cratered primers long before Reminton, Savage, CZ, or any other mass producer of firearms.
FWIW None of my Savages (thats all I own for rifles folks) have any cratering problem and I've been known to run them hot. Except for one bolt head I bought from Midway. Not blaming Midway, as far as I know they're Savage manufacture. As you said though, nothing like what we're seeing in these photos.
I sincerely hope factory cratered primers is not the future.