Wolf NCLPM (lg. pistol mag.) primer problems?

[OrangePwrx9]

Been putting together a lot of .44 mag. rounds using Wolf primers from lot 3-09. Took a few to the range today to test. Three out of nineteen wouldn't fire in my Redhawk. All were seated below flush.

In this particular case I was experimenting with a .44 Special load (10 gr. of Blue Dot behind a 240 gr. lead SWC in magnum brass) so I could shoot the RH at the indoor range. This is well below the full power magnum loads I've been stockpiling. Used older, probably 3x or 4x fired, brass....did NOT clean all the primer pockets.

Anyone had problems with this lot? When I find my bullet puller, I'll tear 'em down and see if I crushed the pellet. I seldom get 3 misfires a year with my reloads...but this is the first time I've used Wolf primers for handgun reloading.

FWIW, the load seemed quite accurate.
Bob

 

[ljnowell]

I had a bad lot of spp and swore I would never use them again. The tula's went on sale at powder valley though and the cheap side of me kicked in and I bought 25K of them. So far so good.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Update

Update on this.

Disassembled the rounds and examined the primers. None of the pellets looked crushed, pockets were clean...so I guess those pockets DID get cleaned. Reseated the primers in the same cases (no bullet or powder) to try popping the primers in other weapons.

Two of the three duds fired in my TC Contender. One did not. Before trying the Contender, I tried them in a Super Blackhawk. None fired in that gun. Might try the last one in the Marlin 1894.

It appears the primers are very hard and not inert or crushed. I normally seat primers on an old RCBS Jr. press from the late '70s. Love the seating feel it gives. Still, I seat them with a fair amount of force...there's no question they're bottomed out in the pocket.

The thought now is to back off a bit on the primer seating force. I can feel when the primer bottoms. Usually I up the seating pressure a bit beyond that point before stopping. That may be compressing the primer assy. a bit too much. The plan is to back off the seating pressure as soon as bottoming is felt.

Any thoughts?
Bob