Author Topic: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?  (Read 1183 times)

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Offline teddy12b

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Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« on: November 03, 2009, 05:41:04 AM »
Well, last night I got out with my new to me ruger redhawk 5.5" 44mag.  I've been wanting one of these for years, and ended up finding a good deal on this used one.  While I was at the range last night within 50 rounds give or take a little I had two times where the round didn't go off.  It was all handloaded ammo, but it was the exact same stuff being fired out of a puma 92 without any issues. 

When I first got the gun I thought it looked like the firing pin didn't penetrate very far when I was dry firing it.  The light primer strike round didn't have much of a dent on the primer and neither did the spent cases.  I'm not sure if there is something I can do or do I need to get this gun to the doctor.

Offline BlkHawk73

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2009, 12:18:53 PM »
  Could it have too light of a hammer spring? 
"Never Surrender, Just Carry On."  - G.S.

Offline Terbltim

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 11:46:15 AM »
Light primer strikes, ah yes.
I had that problem some years back and again recently with a different gun.
After an embarrassing investigation [a long story] I found that my primer-seating operation was in question.
When I changed it a little the problem went away both times.
What happened, you ask?
I wasn't seating the primers deep enough and the firing pin was pushing them the rest of the way in without getting a deep enough hit to ignite the primer.
A loose fit in the chamber will exacerbate the situation too, common for revolvers.

Take a good look at your primer-seating procedure.
Your tools may need "adjusting" of some sort or even replacement.
The fact that the Puma rifle doesn't do it means little if only an occasional primer is seated just a wee-little-bit too shallow.
This will often make hang-fires too, I've been there too.
It was always the primer-seating situation from my experiences.

You might also have some crud in the firing-pin recess.
It happens, even with new guns.
There are more possibilities but I think of these as " usual suspects."
"Stop global whining!"

Offline teddy12b

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2009, 03:13:09 PM »
Update...

I took it in to the gun Dr.  He looked at it and instantly had that lightbulb grin.  He said it was a bad spring.  20 minutes and $20 later I had a new spring and was heading out the door.  You could see the difference instantly just by looking.

Offline Terbltim

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2009, 01:10:22 AM »
Excellent!
I don't mind being wrong a bit and more so when the cure is simple and inexpensive.
Its a real pill to try to figure out a flaw in a priming operation...especially if there isn't a flaw.
Good for you, enjoy!
"Stop global whining!"

Offline teddy12b

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2009, 02:32:18 AM »
Well in all fairness, we think it fixed the gun.  I haven't had a chance to shoot the gun since.  I was hoping to today, but who knows.  At some point this hunting season I'd like to take it out if I get to be a good shot with it.

Offline johk01

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2009, 07:24:54 AM »
I have a Redhawk .41 and found that if I use CCI primers in it I would get light strikes so I switched to Federals and have had no further problems. I continue to use Winchester & CCI in the Blackhawk with no problems.

Offline teddy12b

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2009, 07:31:04 AM »
I have since fired the gun and had some more light primer strikes.  When the gunsmith changed the spring he didn't use the heaviest one in the package.  I took it back to him and he swapped the new spring for a heavier spring and there is a noticable difference.  I hope this has fixed the problem, but who knows.  I haven't had a chance to shoot it since my second new spring has been put in. 

Ironically as life would have it.  Life has just dealt us a few lemons and I may be selling this gun to make other problems go away.  It's amazing how it always seems to me that I get ahead, have a little extra and buy something I've been putting off for years, and then whammo something bad happens.  Oh well, my loss will be someone's gain.

Offline nodlenor

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2009, 03:58:49 AM »
Be sure to use pistol primers and not rifle primers, been there, done that. I was told they were the same but found out they are not.
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: Redhawk light primer strike problems?!?!?
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2009, 04:46:04 AM »
I've made reloading mistakes in the past, but never got my primers mixed up.  If you look back far enough on this forum you can read about several of my reloading mistakes.  Oh course, now that you bring that up it'll probably happen.