Contender rifle not firing every time

[22shooter]

I have a old contender pistol that I bought in 1976.  It has been fired very little.  I recently bought a stock and a 23 inch Thompson barrel in .204 Ruger.  I am have a occasional problem with it not firing every time when I press the trigger.  After waiting 20 seconds or more I look at the cartridge that did not fire.  There is no indentation on the primer.

Usually they will fire the second time.   What do you think is my problem?  Does it just need a good cleaning?  Any help will be appreciated.  Thank you.

These are relaods and I am using CCI BR-4 primers.

[PA-Joe]

Are you holding the trigger all the way back until after the round fires. If this is one of the guns with the hammer block safety this is the most common cause for misfires. You may also havbe to clean this area of dirt or rust. The second most common cause is failure to completely close the action.

[KN]

It may be that the lugs on your new barrel are not engaging deep enough to push the hammer block out of the way. If it works with the old barrels but suddenly won't with a new barrel that would be my guess.  KN

[scrounger]

Factory loads or reloads? I've had that happen with reloads. Problem was I wasn't setting shoulder back quite far enough. Opening the action and closing it pushes the case in the chamber a few thousandths deeper and that's all it takes to get it to fire. If you're reloading, turn your sizing die in about another tenth of a turn. A bullet seated out too long can do the same thing....

[tcman]

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING TEST.....

First, what are the primers looking like on the ammo that actually fired??? any pressure signs as in flat primers?

If yes to the above, take a loaded round, place it in the barrel and then "raise" the bottom of the cartridge to get the case past the extractor.

See how far the ammo round sets in the barrel. What I am getting at, is that your ammo MAY be setting too deep in the barrel chamber and as such, the primer may not be getting struck all the time?

Worth a look anyway

[abhound]

I think KN might be right.  I had the same problem with a 223 barrel on my 1975 contender.  For me the problem was the receiver had the old stile locking mechanism and the new barrel had the new stile lugs.  Sometimes mine would also be difficult to open.  I called TC and sent the receiver and the old barrel back to them and they fixed them free.  Got the gun back and never had another problem.  The easiest way to tell if this might be your problem is to look at your old barrels and see if they have a solid or split lug on them.  All the new barrels have split locking lugs and all the old ones have a solid ones.

[22shooter]

Thanks for all your help.  I will follow up on all the suggestions and let you know.

[22shooter]

KN was right.  The lugs are very stiff and sometimews the action is extremely hard to open.  Thanks to all for you help.