Ruger 357 Maximum missfire

[jays375]

I purchased a unfired Ruger 357 Maximum.It shoots American Eagle 357 magnum no problem.Today I tried some Remington 357 Maximums and really didn't dent the primer,no fire.Also tried some Grizzly 357 Maximums same result.Tried the American Eagles after and they fired.Any ideas?

[Lloyd Smale]

first guess would be that some amature gunsmith lightened the springs in it. I dont know if ruger will even work on it. Last i heard if you sent them in they were keeping them and giving you a choice of another gun. First thing id try is a wolf standard or extra power hammer spring. Also look under the grip panels and make sure both sides of the trigger spring are hooked up. If those two things dont cure it look at your transfer bar. Like i said my first guess would be the springs though.

[jays375]

The gun was unfired new in box.

[ole 5 hole group]

Lloyd pretty well covered what the problems could be and the "cure".   It's unusual for a new, unfired revolver to experience those problems but I think you'll find the main spring to be the likely culprit followed by the transfer bar. 
 

[BlkHawk73]

If it's hitting the primer with mags, I confused why the firing pin wouldn't do the same when a max is chambered. Just doesn't make sense although it is pre-coffee. 

[gcrank1]

Nothin' wrong with it that you cant fix; dont send it in!

[Swampman]

Maximum ammo is loaded with Small Rifle Primers.  They are harder.

[flatgate]

Hmm, interesting.  NIB/Unfired guns sometimes get "customized" and sold before they are ever fired by a consumer.
As mentioned in the previous posts, the ignition system is probably the source of the trouble.  I had a Maxi shooter many years ago and it needed a new firing pin.  The old pin just wasn't quite long enough. Many gun "customizers" believe the mainspring should be changed out to a "custom", reduced power design in an effort to make the revolver more "user friendly".  The Maxi's were shipped with the Old Army mainspring, which is a pound or two stronger than the standard Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk mainspring.


A Wolf 26# Mainspring and a new firing pin turned my troublesome Maxi into a fine shooter.  I've since decided calibre "rules" and usually carry .44 or .45 cal. revolvers while in the woods.


JMHO,


flatgate



"Safe Queen" .357 Max

[handi243]

trade you a ruger redhawk for it!

[Hank08]

Brownell's has heavier springs. You need one for the rifle primers.  If you reload use pistol primers.
H08

[ratdog]

loyd nailed it i had the same problem on my 1911.

[Axehandle]

New unfired in the box?   I'd clean and lube the beast while I was checking parts and replacing springs.       

[Blackhawker]

Definitely, DON'T send it in to Ruger.  A friend of mine sent one in for a timing issue.  Ruger told him that they can't fix those anymore because they don't make the parts. They told him that they'd give him a new .357 Blackhawk in exchange for it.  GEE, nice trade guys!  I'm sure one of the gunsmiths there just wanted to keep it for his/herself. 

He took the gun to a qualified gunsmith and it works fine now.  I'd suggest you do the same if a good cleaning of the internals and springs etc doesn't do the trick.  An old gun that's been sitting get's "gunked" up as the old oil can nearly turn to wax or worse.  It probably needs a good internals cleaning.  Second possibility is what Lloyd suggested.

[Steve P]

Light spring, rough spot, rim thickness, cylinder play..... several things that could be easily and quickly checked.  If you was close to me, I would help you out. 
 
Lots of the Ruger internals are fitted, but not finished real well.  A rough spot here or a burr there could be slowing down your lock time which could result in light hits or misfires.  As Lloyd stated earlier, it could be too light of hammer spring.  (The trigger spring with the two arms under the grip have nothing to do with the hammer spring weight....unless they are restricting its movement.)  If you can shake your cylinder forward and aft when pawl is disengaged, you could have too much play.  Hammer strike pushes cylinder forward due to the harder primer.  The magnum ammo could go off due to softer primer.  Detonation would push cylinder back.  If you feel any shake in the cylinder, you may want to order some spacers from Brownells to put on.  A dab of Loc-Tite or fingernail polish will hold them onto the front of the cylinder.  Use the base pin to hold washer aligned with cylinder when adhesive is drying.  (Use chapstick or crisco or similar as release agent on pin so pin does not adhere to cylinder and spacer.)
 
Hope some of this helps.  PM me if you get stuck.  I can always pull mine out of the safe and create a pictorial to help you out as needed.
 
Steve

[jimster]

Once I had a 41 mag Blackhawk that would fire Remington factory or brass, but not Winchester...or the other way around I don't remember, but come to find out I had a head space problem and one of those brands of brass the rims were just a wee bit thicker, so I had misfires with the thinner ones. I sent it back to Ruger they sent it back with another cylinder free of charge. All ammo fired after that. Not sure if that could be your problem, but it happens.
Ruger can fix it and it might not cost much.
 

[gcrank1]

On a current caliber probably so, but on that one I wouldnt send it anywhere.