boats wrote on Apr 24^th, 2013 at 6:53am:

I can't agree with that entirely: well, the consistency of the strike doesn't matter much, but have you not ever experienced a hang-fire? (Someone's probably pointed this out further down the line...) Primers which have become damp or been contaminated with oil can sizzle a bit before flashing, which could bring yyour next point into play.
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Aonghas

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Not that I would advise doing so ...  but the breech block on a CSA highwall would easily seat an exposed primer as the action was being closed.   

Chris.

A myth?  One has to have a VERY wide knowledge base to be able to say that.

It is likely rare, might be non-existant, BUT with the consequences being what they are (loosing one's sight or ...) it is worth the two or three minutes.  Yea, I usually wait half a minute or so and take precautions on the round in question.

semtav wrote on Apr 26^th, 2013 at 12:06am:
56gr of 1.5F or 2F Swiss, 325gr BACo 'Money' bullet in 20-1, re-sized Rem 45-70 or Starline 40-65 cases, Rem LR primer, 2x0.060" & 1x0.030" Walters fiber wad and SPG lube. All cases have been fired at least 3 times and and do not sizing on fire-formed cases. Bullets are thumb seated and can be easily removed with ones fingers. Newspaper was on top of the last fiber wad below the bullet. Only compression comes from pushing the wads down on top of the powder with a pencil. 
Will be trying a couple of things once C.Sharps has returned the parts.
Will try compressing 0.10". Will try adding an additional grain of powder and leaving out one wad. But, will shoot the existing load first, to see if it is the new hammer spring and whatever else was done at C.Sharps fixes the problem.

I much prefer to wait a bit after a mis-fire. Saw the results of a 5"-54, which uses BP as an ignition source, when one did not wait for the prescribed time. Can make a real mess. I like my fingers, face (such as it is) and, especially, my eyes. Not worth 30sec to give any of them up.

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Most actions have rebound locks, so a protruding firing-pin would be a rarity. I can't ever remember seeing one.

Aonghas

Just a thought as I was reading this. Last year I was working on a load in a 38-55 using Unique for a up and coming 100 yd offhand match. This load was shooting very well MOA at 100 yds bench which I considered good enough for my offhand shooting. Then I started dropping shots out of the group 8 to 10 inches low at 100 yds. I was shooting a CPA action and with a Badger barrel and it has always shot very well. I about lost my mind trying to figure out what was going on. Finally I noticed that sometimes as I cocked the hammer back the screw that holds the hammer was rotating with the hammer. So I tightened it up and that fixed the problem. When I got home I turned it out a bit and applied a drop of Lock Tight and no more vertical stringing.

I don't know if that is your problem or not but it might be something to look into. I could see where 10" at 100 yds would translate into many feet at 1000.

Richard

One thing that seems to cause confusion is that high wall Winchesters and most of their clones have a firing pin retractor, so when the block goes over center on it’s way down, the retractor pushes the pin back and then the block moves downward. If the timing isn't right, it can cause problems.