Primer Misfires

[huntitall]

I Sighted in My new huntsman saturday and on the first shot the primer didn't fire. I took it out and it  had a small dent in it. The second one did fire and out of 10 Shots fired I'd say half mifired. I thought it was the primers, I was using Triple 7 primers at first then swapped to CCI's with the same result for both, one would fire then the next one wouldn't. I measured the primer holder and the recess in the brach plug and I had about .040" gap. I put a .020" shim behind the primer holder and ran about ten primers through it and they all fired. Then I took out the shim and fired ten primers without the shim and they all fired. When I cleaned the breach plug I noticed a hard buildup around the outside edge of where the primer holder sits acting as a shim of it's own. Has any one else ran into this? I'm wondering if I should leave the buildup on the plug or make a perminent shim, or do something different. 

[Keith Lewis]

Check the firing pin in the action. It is quite common for fouling to build up around the pin causing short fall of the firing pin. Try some good solvent around the firing pin and see if that improves the situation.

[mangulator]

Try just finger tighting the breech plug and do Keith Lewis stated. Also, are you using a scope on your gun? I had the same problem and found the hammer was hitting the scope, so I used higher rings. I also just finger tighten the breach plug and cleaned out the firing pin in the action.

[usherj]

I had the same problem with mine when I got it back from the factory with a new ML barrel. Like you said, there is excessive gap between the frame breech face and the rear of the breech plug. A thicker primer holder would solve the problem. Until it's fixed, you will get misfires and blowback making a mess, including getting back into the action around the firing pin. A half assed fix that may work is just pushing the primer partially into the holder (not seating it all the way in). This may get you through the season until you can send it back. Not sure what NEF would do to fix it. This is another reason why the frame has to be sent back for each new barrel (not the best QC in terms of dimensions). Using a very thin machine washer (close to .040 in your case) in front of the shoulder of the breech plug may set the plug back enough to close the gap. What I did was get the 25 ACP breech plug. Yes, it cost $60, but I got it in 2 days and it fixed the problem. There is more than one solution to a problem. Good luck!

[OBXPilgrim]

Was the primer holder used several times (many times) prior to this?  Just wonder if the plastic has mashed down & "set" shorter than a new one.  I would rather have the plastic against the breechblock and a washer or shim under the rim of the primer. 

Also, Handi/Sidekick/Huntsman/Sporter single shots are bad for light hits if the trigger is not pulled all the way back.  If the transfer bar slightly drops due to a light pull, most of the hammer strike will be deflected - misfire.

Not sure how tight you have the plug screwed in, but backing off on it would shorten the distance between the breechplug & receiver face also.  I usually back out the plug slightly after 3-4 firings to keep it from sticking until I clean it.

[motordog80]

I've had the same problem, I switched primers, and when that didn't solve it I took it to the gunsmith to check out.  He didn't find anything wrong with the firing pin.  I might have to try making a shim to get me through the deer season. 

[PA-Joe]

On another board they advised to just turn the plug out 1/4 turn and in most cases that will solve the problem.

[huntitall]

Thanks for all the info. I backed the breechplug out a 1/4 of a turn and it did the trick. I took a nice seven pointer with it monday morning. I might look into the 25 ACP plug before next season. Can you get it from NEF? Thanks again!