Wow - got lots of data now and will work out a few things to try. Been reloading for 23 years now without drama. Not much experience with cast projectiles in rifle cartridges and never in straight case rifle cartridges. Certainly good to learn something new.

450, does the factory crimp distort the lead projectile at all?

86thecat, interesting article. I think MacD37 was wrong about the hangfire though - I am sure that the bullet would already have moved and I suspect it would already be jammed at the start of the rifling when it finally ignited. A primer alone will do this and it will otherwise feel and sound like a dud round.