Revolver Failure To Fire
 

Had a failure to fire in my revolver at the range this afternoon. Shooting through a 50 count box of Remington UMC .38 spl in the S&W 442 today and I had one round that didn't fire. It was the 15th round that I shot. Everything before and after went off without a hitch. The gun has approx 200 rounds through it.

After it didn't go off, I checked the round and could see the dent in the primer. Leaving it in the same cylinder, I tried firing it one more time. When it didn't go the 2nd time, I reloaded and went throught the rest of the box. On the way out, i was talking to the rangemaster. He handed me his Model 60 and I went back in with the unfired round. Loaded it and it went off just fine.

Should I chalk it up to a bad round or possibly something with the firing pin on the gun itself. Visual inspection showed the round looking the same as the others (and it did fire in the other gun).

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

Probably a little light on the hammer fall. Might be a few causes like the hammer dragging against the frame, firing pin not protruding enough, and the more obvious one: too light a hammer spring.

With the pistol unloaded, try testing the strength of hammer fall by inserting a pencil (rubber eraser first) into barrel, pointing the revolver at the ceiling, and seeing how far the pencil shoots into the air. You can watch to see if the hammer is dragging when it drops...

Compare with another gun...

It could well be you had one hard primer out of the batch of ammo.

A gunsmith can install a heavier hammer spring for more reliable ignition.

Good luck.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

The 442 is hammerless.

Interesting trick w/ the pencil. How high should it go?

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

I had a stainless Taurus 22 magnum that I bought off a friend way back in 1979. It was horribly unreliable for misfires. I put the gun in a box and never used it till just this past fall. I contacted Taurus and got a new Hammer spring. When it arrived, I removed the grip panels and it became apparent that the original owner had changed the spring to a lighter after market spring, probably to lighten the double action pull. Once the spring was replaced, it goes bang every time. Because it was in such pristine condition, another friend gave me a good buck for it in a partial trade on a Series 70 Colt Combat Commander. I like the Colt much better.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

Only time I have had ftf with a revolver it was because I had too light of a spring in it.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

Sorry, didn't realize hammerless. Probably at least a foot or more for a good hammer hit.

The double-action-only trigger might benefit from an action job by a competent gunsmith, as well as a little stiffer spring.

Also, it may actually be okay. Try different ammo, and just use the highest quality LE grade ammo for defense, like Winchester SXT, Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, etc. If you have another misfire, definitely have it looked at...

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

I can tell you from personal experience, do NOT do the pencil test. I tell you this as a fire-arm friend. The very first time I learned of this "trick" I was at my wifes office. I proceeded to unload my carry peice, put the ammo far away and put a pencil in the barrel to test(its just her in the office). I then spent the next 2 hours trying to see how many pencils I could get to stick in the ceiling, much to my wifes chagrin. :bull-smile:

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

:111::111:

I was reading that expecting a "Bullet through the ceiling" story.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

Thanks. The gun was purchased new so all of the springs are factory. I wouldn't think that would be an issue, but I won't dismiss it either. I'll keep watching it.

I did see some reports on the lighter scandium frame 357s having a problem with a short firing pin which required replacement. I haven't seen anything to infer that on the 442 or 642.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

My vote is for the Remington ammo being the problem; I've personally had FTF's so far with their .380, .30 carbine and .22 mag ammo. I have since stopped buying Remington ammo.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

You might also check the mainspring strain screw (on the front strap of the grip frame) these have been known to loosen up and back out a bit and this will result in a light hit.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

its hammered.....just not exposed...

good thing about a revolver is ...one bad primer doesnt stop the gun

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

No such part on this one - It's a 442 w/ the newer design featuring a coil spring surrounding a stirrup that is held in place under tension in a notch cut into the frame cross support about 1/2 way down the handle.

Re: Revolver Failure To Fire
 

:cry1: Now that's funny.