A why question. My reloaded primers are duds. Mixed Prime All following instruction sheet. The primer cup was full. I tamped the powder down Added a paper disk, tamped, added alcohol and water (50-50 mix) then the anvil. Squeezed it together with my reloading press. Some primer mix was squeezed out. let dry for 24 hrs. Mounted each in a 9mm case. Out of 15 only one fired. Most of the strikes were good, a few light strikes.The primer mix is rock hard, absolutely making the anvil imovable. Most have the edge of the primer cup flush with the legs of the anvil. Could I have had too much primer powder (should the primer powder cake be thin, barely touching the anvil?) How do I know when I have it right? Does the anvil need to flex prior to or during ignition? Powder in primers is good, goes bang when smashed one with a hammer. Any help would be much appreciated.
First photo is the one that fired and a couple emptied of very hard powder. The second photo is what the primers look like about 4 days later. Those, too, are in the batch that did not fire. In the next batch, I plan on using acetone 6:1 shellac. I just don't like the idea of water. I'll start with filling the cup 1/4
I've included a photo of the primers.