Missouri Ruffian

Six to eight months. I try to do a full tear down and ultrasonic cleaning once a year. That makes it approximately 200 rounds. Not what I would consider real dirty.

Thanks gentlemen for your consideration of my dilemma and your considerate replies. They will all be very helpful. Yes, I do believe it must be a timing issue. The only question, what is the cause. I will be checking the usual culprits; cylinder stop and hand plus the spring. A weak spring was suggested by a semi-intelligent Cowboy in our club. As for collecting more data, I don’t see it necessary. Since it happened five out of ten times and four of the five were on the last round, odds are pretty slim of it being the same chamber. Which leads me to believe it’s not a bolt notch (also suggested by another equally intelligent member of our club). If it were a bolt notch it wouldn’t likely be as specific as four out of five on the last round. Again more data might not make a difference due to one instance of primer strikes 180 degrees opposed to each, with already indicates it’s under and over rotating. As for going slow and going fast I unfortunately know only one speed - slow. But seriously, I will check all things aforementioned even if I don’t think they apply. The hand plunger spring is an interesting idea. It might be weak or even non-existent. A couple of years ago I found that spring was missing on one of these two revolvers. How the revolver continued to function is a head-scratcher, but the world is full of mysteries. Because of that I have an extra spring so it’ll be one of the first things I check and possibly replace. A broken firing pin is also an idea. One that I checked after the first match and it appeared just fine, but I’ll check it none-the-less. Once again gentlemen thanks for the help. I can now go through a systematic check without replacing parts “willy-nilly” in hopes of finding the issue. I’ll report back when I find the remedy.

I’m having a problem with a revolver that I think is real curious and I assume others will also. Shooting identical Pietta 45 Colt revolvers with transfer bars at our last two club matches. One has developed an intermittent issue where the firing pin is striking the side of the primer and of course failing to ignite the primer. Since having the transfer bars repaired/replace when new (many years ago) these guns have run flawlessly - one still does. Here’s the story as I remember it: April Monthly Match Stage 1 - Five rounds discharged properly, every primer strike in the “center.” Stage 2 - First four rounds discharged properly, fifth round failed to discharge, declared gun unsafe and handled accordingly, Upon unloading four rounds showed primer strikes in the center and fifth had a primer strike on the edge. Stage 3 - First three rounds discharged properly, fourth round no ignition and fifth round properly discharged. This time I decided to go around and still no ignition. Declared gun unsafe handled accordingly. Upon unloading four rounds showed primer strike in the center and fifth had a primer strike on two edges 180 degrees apart. Stage 4 - Five rounds discharged properly, every primer strike in the center. Stage 5 - First four rounds discharged properly, fifth round failed to discharge, declared gun unsafe and handled accordingly. Upon unloading four rounds showed primer strikes in the center and fifth had a primer strike on the edge. May Monthly Match Stage 1 - Five rounds discharged properly, every primer strike in the center. Stage 2 - Five rounds discharged properly, every primer strike in the center. Stage 3 - First four rounds discharged properly, fifth round failed to discharge, declared gun unsafe and handled accordingly. Upon unloading four rounds showed primer strikes in the center and fifth had a primer strike on the edge. Stage 4 - Five rounds discharged properly, every primer strike in the center. Stage 5 - First four rounds discharged properly, fifth round failed to discharge, declared gun unsafe and handled accordingly. Upon unloading four rounds showed primer strikes in the center and fifth had a proper strike - this time on the edge of the case. Since the last primer strike was on the case I don’t think I will be shooting this revolver (concerned about breaking the firing pin) until I at least have some idea of what is causing this intermittent off-center primer strike. Photos shows rounds on left April - Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 5 -- On right May - Stage 3 and Stage 5