I've been working on a .30-30Win. hammer gun lately and today went out to the farm to test it. During chambering it just closed on the GO gauge and would not close on the NO-GO gauge. It fired primed (empty) cases from both barrels consistantly but today the right barrel would not fire a loaded cartridge. Even repeated hits would not fire the round. Admittedly the indentation in the primer was light but the striker is as long as possible without it protruding from the breech face. Protrusion (with the hammer down) is already much more than I'm accustomed to with other guns. The mystery though is why it would fire primed unloaded cases but not loaded ones????
I thought inertia may have something to do with it but common sense would suggest the heavier loaded case would have the advantage there. To, the headspace is pretty tight on the rim so I can't think there would be enough movement to make the difference... yeah, I know we're talking fine tacks but still. I added a bit of weld to the nose of the hammer to lengthen it and reshaped the face to more closely match the angle of the striker collar, thus giving total contact with the collar when fully down and I hope pushing the striker a thou or two farther. The indentation in previously fired primed cases was noticable when I snapped it on a couple of them after the "nose job" so I hope it solved the problem. Will not know until I can return to the range though.

Anyone ever encounter this? Anyone want to further a guess?