Did I just have a primer failure?

[migrant hunter]

So I was shooting some .303 British in my no 4 yesterday, CCI large rifle primers and 41 gr R15(nice moderate load).
After about 10 rounds I had a missfire, with a tiny wisp if smoke from the action. When I opened the bolt, the bullet was lodged in the throat, and the powder still in the case. I tipped out the rest of the powder, and a tiny clump of it was fused together. I don't believe it was contaminated, it was as if the primer did'nt have enough power to light the powder but enough to push the bullet out. It was'nt very cold outside, well above freezing.
Anyone ever experiemce this? I have been loading for 15 yrs or so, so I have a fair idea what I'm doing before anyone starts flaming.

 

[Dake21]

I had the same experience last week. I heard the "clik" from the firing pin but no bang at all and the bullet was stuck in the barrel.

 

['Boo]

Could be a few things:

1. A "bad" primer without enough priming compound in it.
2. A primer that wasn't seated correctly or deeply enough.
3. Too low a powder charge. (Not enough chamber pressure to ignite the powder)
4. Damp power. (Could be caused from moisture in the case if you wet-clean your brass)
5. Weak firing pin strike.

I have seen this before with ball powder that is hard to ignite but never with Reloder 15. My wild-assed guess is number 2 above.

 

[Ganderite]

I have seen this quite often with ball powder, but never with RL15. The primer fired but the powder did not ignite. My guess would also be #2.

 

[Dogleg]

I've seen enough problems with CCI primers that I don't use them any more. Powder heated but not lit? Yep, had that.