30-30, 165g coated lead, IMR-4227, which primer?

My Winchester 94AE shoots this load very well, when the primer ignites!

I'm using 17.0g of IMR 4227. The Lee Cast Bullet data says to use the standard large rifle primer. I'm using CCI 200

I'm wondering if the Winchester primer may be a better choice, or even a magnum primer.

Although intuition tells me its a gun issue, this rifle has never had a fail to fire with any other ammo before these loads or since I have been told that the CCI primers just do not work with some rifles. And go figure, I have 3,000 of them.

I read somewhere about the CCI primers being hard for some firing pins to ignite.

The rifle is as new as 1981 Winchester 94ae can be. It has less than 150 documented rounds through it. I put all but six of those through it. To this point I have only shot box ammo on it with no issues.

They all eventually fired except one. I haven't pulled it yet. I tried it 5 times and nothing.

I tried shaking the shell and dropping them in and they fired fine except that one.

I do not think contamination is the problem, I loaded them an hour before I shot them.

I'm at a loss

Stubbi, for plinking it wasn't bad. They all hit a 10" target at 100yrds. I couldn't get a decent group.

Thats with ghost rings and I did not flare these when I loaded them so some of the coating shaved off seating the bullet.

I now have a flaring die and the finished result should be much better.

As for primer seating, I don't know what to do. When I ram the primer in (LEE Classic Turret) it will only seat so far.

I'm new to re-loading but I guess I have 3,000 rounds of 8 different calibers and no issues until this. I have loaded at least 300 rounds of 30-30 for my 340a bolt gun and no issues there.

I don't doubt that is the issue, I just don't know what to do to change it.

I tried some Winchester primers today with similar results. I shot 25 rounds, three failed to fire on the first time, two fired on the second try and one never did fire.

I made sure the primers were seated properly

It's not the rifle. I ran 25 factory rounds with no issues.

I'm at a loss.

I will check that Arch.

Right now I'm using the Lee Collet Neck sizing die as this is "once fired" brass from this rifle. I also trimmed the brass but only one of the 50 cases needed any trimming.

Another side issue I'm having that could be related is that when I flare the brass to seat the coated bullet and I crimp it, it bulges at the crimp and fails the plunk test. I had to run the loaded rounds back through the Collet Neck die (without the decap pin) to get the bulge out. The rounds then plunked just fine.

I swear loading lead for this 30-30 lever gun is driving me nuts. I'm about ready to ditch the idea and go back to jacketed bullets.

The rounds that went bang are kind of accurate, I can keep the group at 8" at 100 yards from a rest but the weird thing is I was consistently ringing the 250 yard 18" gong standing off hand. Much to my dismay.

The IMR 4227 powder that I am using is brand new, less than 3 months old. I'm using a 17.5g charge.

This is the case that would not fire, hit it three times. I have had two out of the last 50 that i have loaded, both were Hornady cases, one was a CCI primer and this one is a Winchester.

I have had 6 rounds total that would not fire the first time through, 4 of those fired on the second try.

All were Hornady cases. All of the Remington cases have fired. So maybe a case issue or sizing issue.

Here is a look at the primer.

Another note to add, I pulled the bullet(which still looked new, no coating lost) and dumped the powder, which also looked good. I need to get this cap out of the case but I'm afraid to stab it with the de-capper


And from the pics, my diesel mechanic hands will never land me a job as a hand model LOL!

I ordered a set of comparators for all of the rifle calibers I load. I hope this tool will help me find my sizing issues.