Was at the range last week trying out some 44 Mag handloads.Loaded 50 rounds at the bench using W296 powder with CCI 350 primers.Worked my through about 20 rounds checking cases and primers after each cylinder full for problems when I got an ignition delay of approx. 1/2 second on one round.Finished the rest of the handloads with no more problems.These primers were about 18 months old and have used CCI's with never a problem.I am pretty good about checking primer holes before priming but may have missed something.Just something to keep in mind when shooting.Don't assume its a dude if the hammer drops and nothing happens!Waiting a few extra moments might save you a nasty suprise!

Sounds like you had one of those freak things happen...One of the reasons they teach you to always keep muzzles pointed down range at all times. Evidently you did...Good on you. As long as you don't have another one or two I wouldn't worry about one in a thousand miss or slow fires.

I am sure not running down CCI,they have been puttin out good stuff from what I've seen.I use their primers for all my calibers and have never had a problem.Like you said,one of those freak things.Just wanted to post it and remind everyone to shoot safe and be aware.

I note you were using WW 296 powder. That powder, and the similar Hodgdon 110, the companies tell you to load ONLY as specified in the manufacturer's manual. If you look in that manual you'll see a very narrow range of powder charges recommended between the minimum and the max load.
I'm gonna take a guess that your powder charge was a bit lower than Winchester suggests.
The warning notices in the Winchester and Hodgdon literature say that using a too light powder charge with those powders can cause hangfires.

Thanks for the comments Jack.I was using Hornady 180 grain HP with 28.5 grains of W296.Started this batch of reloads at 28 and went up tp 29.5 grains just for test purposes.I usually live off the SPEER #13 reloading manual and found their lighest bullet to be 200 grains so I fell back on my old Sierra #2 manual and was working from that.They go from 28 minimum to 32 maximum.I think it was just a freak thing with the primer,recoil and report were normal so I don't think it was a light powder charge.I use one of those goose neck lamps at the reload bench and put it right above the press so I can look down into each case before I put in the bullet.I have made a squib load before(no powder)and the primer by itself was just enough to push the bullet into the barrel about halfway and lock up the cylinder.That sure made me more careful at the bench!

You were right on specs as far as Hodgdon is concerned - they list 28 to 29 grains of H110 (which IS the same powder as WW296) with a 180 grain bullet. The symptoms you explain are what I would expect from a light load or a heavily compressed load. (not recommended)

BTW I e-mailed Hodgdon for clarification of the similarity of ww296 and H110. I was told they ARE the SAME powder and the data is INTERCHANGABLE between the two. If you remember that there is a variation from lot to lot and in the components selected it explains the different loads for the two powders in the same books. The loads are almost always very close and the velocities very about the same percentage. I NEVER belived that they were the same and I got tired of seeing them called the same so I did the only thing I could. They now explain on their website that the two powders are the same - I guess they got tired of answering the question.