Fail to Fire x 2

[Ultra25-06]

So I was trying some new loads today in my 25-06. The COL is longer than standard, brass is trimed to recomended length. I am using a powder I have not used before, H4831sc. 5 diffrent loads were made consiting of 3 rounds each. 1st load all there fired, 2inch group. 2nd load 1 FTF, but other 2 shots touching. Last case started to split in neck. 3rd load all three fired, closer to 1inch  group. 4th load 1 FTF, sub 1inch group. 5th load all three fired, one raged hole. Is this normal during load development? The brass was all once fired. Loads were started at lowest suggested starting and max load was kept 10% below max suggested. Could the one case neck split just be a bad piece of brass? What are your thought on the 2 FTF? Bad primers or something to do with the load? This powder does not completly fill the case even with the warm load could that have something to do with it? No other signs were noticed on brass other than the one that started to split in the neck. Should I bring the COL back a little and try again.  

[wtroger]

I would check to see it you are bumpin the shoulder back a bit to much causing the ftf. Also insure you are pulling the trigger all the way through. Sounds like you have a good load just work out details.

[BBF]

Make sure the primers are seated fully

[26-t]

What wtroger said. If you bump back the shoulder you will have problems. If this is the only rifle that you have in this caliber (neck size only) 26-t

[gcrank1]

When you got the FTF did you recock and try again? ie, did they ever go off?
The neck split on brass that little used is probably a fluke, but your die set could be undersizing the neck a huge amount (not unusual) and the expander ball then pulled through brings it back up to just under bullet dia. This work hardens the brass quickly and splits will become far to frequent. Annealing the necks will help reduce case loss but a die that doesnt undersize so far is the real answer. FWIW, I really like the Lee Collet Neck Size dies (available seperately, you dont have to buy the whole set) and only full length size when I get sticky extraction.
Having the loaded length long should have kept the primer well back to the pin, but if that shoulder was set back you will have to readjust. The factory adj. instructions only work if the chamber and die set both are within SAAMI specs. Im afraid we have a lot of guns (not just handi's) that are chambered overlong.
Adj. your size die up a turn or two, size a case, try it in the chamber & close action. If it wont fully chamber/close, adj. the die down a quarter turn and go through the process again untill it closes. For a while check each case this way before loading them to make sure they all fit. A tad shorter is better than finding out they are mostly a tad too long, loaded and at the range with cartridges that wont fit.

[necchi]

"Adj. your size die up a turn or two, size a case, try it in the chamber & close action. If it wont fully chamber/close, adj. the die down a quarter turn and go through the process again untill it closes. "

Good advice about sizing, but all that is really hard to do with a Handi that has to be slammed shut to get a good lock up. A cartridge OAL over sammi is not gonna affect head space unless he's jammin', and that's Hard to do with small bullets in most Handis. WE can't advise about a split neck unless we know the history of his brass and how he's careing for it.
 I'll size with the barrel out and in a vise so I can slide a case in to check for fit. If it's got an ejector, the ejector slide needs to be clamped "in" and down slightly so it doesn't interfear with the case head/chamber fit.

I'm guessing your FTF is about the trigger control, I did this same thing. You just get so focused on the loads your testing and being carefull in bench technique to prove the group,  ya forget about a full trigger follow though.
(a handi is hard to bench in a traditional manner, you have to move it to load it!)

This thread is almost better suited for the Handloading forum. Lot's of good tips and experiance over there.

[gcrank1]

+1 on all that......you'll get there, just work with it a bit! Thats the nice thing about single shots, you dont have a magazine to limit yout OAL, etc and since you are handloading you can custom fit your cartridges. I rarely even look at the 'book' for length loaded (only for trim to length, and then only to compare what my chamber will take).
BTW, the brass was once fired, but given what it takes to draw cases uneven neck thickness is not uncommon.

[Rustyinfla]

 I hope you get your FTF problems solved. Please post what you found when you get it fixed.

  BY the way that H4831 is what my son uses for his .270 Win. loads and it shoots great for him.

[Yak Angler]

I am having the same problem right now with my handi. It is a factory .270 and i purchased a .223 barrel from a member on this forum. Ever since i did a trigger job
mine is 1 in 3 shots fail to fire. I was so annoyed with this i left it sit in the safe for 5 months until today. Was hopeing time would heal its wounds  which didn't happen. My FTF's all show a weak pin strike.

When i got home from the range today i went over all the FAQ's and determined both barrels including the factory barrel had significant side to side play, so I inserted a .002" shim on each and both tightened right up. I also noticed my firing pin protrusion wasn't very good so i did some filling on the hammer where it meets the frame and that issue is now resolved as well i can still file it a bit more to get to maximum but will try it as is for now. before filling the pin stuck out 1/2 way compared to pushing the transfer bar manually and now it is 3/4 way out.

Hope to test it next saturday and will post a report. your problem might be the same as mine and both fixes so far were very easy. Only thing i can think of left for me to try would be the wolf spring. Hopefully we can both get this problem fixed.