If memory serves, in the military it was two turns of 30 degrees or more to ident using primary radar.
However, the df was displayed on the radar screen so, if you had a df trace go through a primary blip, you could get away with one turn rather than the two. Perhaps that it why you've had transmit for ident, report your heading? Just a guess.
Civvy Street is a little different. A single turn of 30 degrees is sufficient without the use of df.