45-70 BC handload primers

[jimbobb55]

My 45-70 BC shoots a great group 1 1/2 at 100 yds. Today I went to the range with my first attempt at hand loading. 34 grs. 4198 with 300 HP Hornady, CCI primers. The problem is the hammer has to strike the primer twice every time to fire.Am I seating the primers to deep? Store bought ammo shoots fine.

[PHATINJUN]

Are they neck sized or did you full length size them? Kurt

[quickdtoo]

Primers that aren't fully seated will cause that, first strike seats it, then the second works, but so will a weak hammer spring, bad/poorly fitted transfer bar, insufficient pin travel, excess headspace due to too deep a rim cut, or just plain not pulling the trigger all the way to the rear each time(see handi Basics sticky). Switching to a different primer may help, lots of info in the FAQs on fixing misfires/FTFs(failure to fire).

Tim

[jimbobb55]

Full length size. Hand loaded primer CCI 200

[quickdtoo]

CCI's are generally harder than others, I prefer Fed 210 and Remington 9½, have had the least trouble with them, they also don't seem to be sensitive to off center strikes which can also be a problem.

Tim

[jimbobb55]

Thanks quickdtoo I have noticed off center pin strike,I will try other primers too thanks.

[mechanic]

Another vote for the Rem. 9 1/2.  No fail to fires at all with these for me, and I've used a bunch of them for 45-70,,,
 
Ben

[bikerbeans]

jb55,
 
Hodgdon's website has 45 grains of I4198 as a start load for 300 grain jacketed bullet (sierra not hornady) so you should be shooting a fairly low pressure load.  I would think you could substitute Large Pistol Primers as a temporary solution to your FTF problem.  I have used Win LP Primers (new ones marked Magnum/Standard) in 45/70 & 45/120 loads that by the book are at the top of the trapdoor pressure range, without primer failures.  The pistol primers are a tad shorter so they are slightly recessed in the pocket when loaded, but the primers are so much softer than rifle primers that they always go off, at least for me.  FWIW, FTFs are a good way to become familiar with the innards of a Handi receiver.
 
BB

[jimbobb55]

Just loaded some 45-70  imr 4198 40 grs. rem.9 1/2 primers 300 hornady fnhp. Hope to have better luck with primers. Going to the range in the morning.