Difficult Primer Strikes with a G2 - Apparently it was the primers

[Ranger413]

I was wondering if anyone else had this issue.  I bought my son a G2 with a 6.8 SPC barrel with the intent of making it his deer hunting rifle.  I purchased brass from Silver State Armory, bullets out of the classifieds, and primers and powder at a gun show.  I loaded up several test loads using H335, Sierra 110gr. SPs, the above mentioned brass, and Remington Bench Rest primers.  I'd never used bench rest primers before but it seemed like I was getting a better deal - bench rest primers for the same price as regular primers. 
 
We made a few trips to the range with severe disappointment.  About 50% of the rounds I loaded up wouldn't fire.  Those that did fire sometimes needed a second hit with the firing pin.  I've been reloading for over 25 years and just couldn't figure it out.  I thought initially that I had bumped the shoulder down and created excessive headspace.  Another test shows that wasn't the issue.  I finally got a couple hundred standard primers and made up about ten more test loads.  Thankfully each round fired without an issue and proved acceptably accurate.
 
I've come to the conclusion that the primers were the issue.  I seem to have this nagging thought that bench rest primers are harder than regular primers and therefore more difficult to set off.  I'm not sure where this thought comes from and I can't find any info online to that fact.  If that is true I wonder if the G2 just doesn't have the force necessary to set it off?
 
Anyone have similar experiences or an idea here? 
 
Thanks,
 
Ranger413

[BUGEYE]

doesn't a bolt action rifle with a striker have more force than a hammer gun.
you're probably right about them being harder.

[Doublebass73]

I had a similar situation with my G2 when I bought my 45-70 carbine barrel. About a 25% FTF rate with different types of brass. I tried a bunch of different things and in the end the thing that fixed the problem was a 44# extra power hammer spring. I haven't had any issues since.

[Hopalong7]

     A little trick that has worked in several cases is to place a small washer over the end of the hammer spring.  This compresses the spring slightly giving it a little more power.  This is applicable to G-2 Contenders only.
Walt

[SD Handgunner]

The Remington #7 1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest Primers do indeed have a harder cup on them. As such they are recommended for use in AR-15's with their floating firing pins as the chance of a slam fire is said to be less with the Remington # 7 1/2 Primers than say Winchester or Federal Primers.
Several years ago I had a Bullberry 6mm-223 Contender Barrel with a then new Stainless-Steel T/C Contender Frame. I too was having misfire problems and at first like you thought it was excessive headspace. Turned out it was the Remington # 7 1/2 Primers. At that time I tried several different primers and settled on Winchester Primers for my Contender Shooting.
Larry