Fail To Fire Problems

[Matt3357]

Hello gentlemen,

Please be kind to me if this has been discussed before. 

I have a 223 Ultra that I had fit at the factory with a 20gauge Ultra slug barrel that just drives tacks.  That is when it fires.  It will some times fire every shot I throw at it and other times it will not ignite after 3 or 4 hammer drops.  I am pulling the trigger all the way back completely engaging the transfer bar so that is not the problem.  It does this both with 223 ammo and 20 gauge, but more so with the 20 gauge.  I shoot Remington Accutips through it but it doesn't seem to follow ammo.  Happened with Hornady's as well. 

I have heard of a few fixes, but I want your opinions before I tear into it.  This is the only receiver I have that I have not had apart and I won't have time to work on it for about a week.  My plans are to check and see if the rim was cut too deep, check firing pin protrusion (what is it supposed to be?), possibly order a new hammer spring, check for burrs around the firing pin assembly, polish everything and lube everything up.  Anything I missed?  I really don't want to have this happen when I'm sighted in on a big deer.  Out of 3 shells today, I had 2 fail to fire and both fired in my girlfriend's 870. 

Thanks,
Matt

[moorepower]

Does it look like it is hitting  the firing pin hard and centered?

[Matt3357]

It looks a bit weak and it was mainly centered.  It wasn't rim near the rim of the primer by any means. 

Matt

[bud1]

  Make sure your primer is FULLY seated.  A primer NOT FULLY seated will not fire.

[Matt3357]

bud1,
Yeah I initially thought that was the problem on my 223 and it may have been but the 20 gauge barrel only shoots factory and it is the one I am most concerned about with November coming mighty fast.  On the bright side, when it did shoot last sunday, I killed the x out of the 1/2" bull. 

Matt

[quickdtoo]

You can remove the hammer extension to see if that helps, but the best way to figure out what the problem is, is to replace the hammer spring and make the other fixes so it works right, since you have to tear it apart to do any of it, just git er done, good pin projection is .050"-.060". 

Tim

[Matt3357]

Thanks for the info Tim.  I'll order a new spring and what not.  I think i know what the problem is though.  I picked it up to compare to my 22 hornet frame and noticed when I let the hammer down, it just barely clipped the focus ring if it was turned just right.  Could be enough to cause it.  I am still going to tear into it and clean it real good but I think I may have fixed it before I started. 

Thanks,
Matt

[quickdtoo]

Hammer interference is a big problem with H&Rs, take a big off the tip of the hammer and it might solve the problem, but only if the scope on the 20ga barrel is interfering also.

Tim