Author Topic: T/C firing pin not hitting (Read 424 times)

contender hunter · « **on:** April 17, 2006, 08:14:10 AM »

I was shooting some groups fine and all of a sudden I would touch off a shot the hammer was falling and the firing pin wasn't doing anything to the primer, no mark , it did it off and on with 3 groups of 3 shots each!! maybe missfired 2 or 3 times , now this is with the .204 and I am using small rifle primers, rem 7 1/2 which have a heavier cup material . Frame is around a late 80's contender . Now I went to neck sizing on this batch of brass so I am wondering if the action isn't closing up completly , because the primer isn't marked at all , or wouldn't it cock and shoot if the action didn't close , cases are coming out a little tight after shooting I believe from the ncek sizing only not a pressure problem. Is it also possibly a weak hammer spring ?? Where do I start ?? Also I did check firing pin selecter and it was on center fire the whole time.

KN · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2006, 11:50:41 AM »

You will get alot of different answers to this but it sounds to me like its not locking up since there is no mark on the firing pin. I have had the same experience with neck sizing in the past. I no longer neck size for TC's. and I have never had the problem since. KN

PaulS · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2006, 12:07:11 PM »

If the cases go in ok, and come out tight it IS a pressure problem.
The pressure problem is probably also at fault for your neck sized cases not allowing the action to close completely (though it could be a new barrel on an old frame)
You can hide the symptoms of the excessive pressure by full length sizing or drop your load dow a couple of tenths of a grain and make your brass, gun and life last longer.

contender hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:43:40 PM »

KN , thats what I was thinking since there is no dent at all in the primer the saftey thats built in to the system doesn't let the hammer fall far enough to hit the firing pin. Paul I think its a neck problem ,after reading what you said which I agree with I tried some of the same loads that I hadn't shot yet and some of them are a little stuck when I try to open the action , the extractor needs just a little bump with the barrel to pull it out of the chamber. I will full length size a batch and see if the mis-firing goes away, also I see these cases are on the 5th loading and probaly need the shoulder bumped back a bit.