action work done on 1873 Uberti rifle, now has a few misfires during a match

[rifleman56]

I had an action work done on my 1873 Uberti rifle but now I had a few misfires during a match. the fire pin hits the primer but doesn't go off. 

Is there a simple fix for it or do I have to send it back to the guy who did the action work? I also never had any problems with this rifle before I had the action work done. 

 

thanks

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

No one except you knows what "action work" was done.  So based on what you have said the first thing to try is to tighten the mainspring strain screw to give the mainspring a little more tension.

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Have you tried contacting "the guy who did the action work" ??

[Max Payne]

Tightening the main spring & contacting the guy is the first action. It would also be worth it to see if the hammer is dragging on one side or the other. Also, you can sometimes get a burr in the bolt where the base of the firing pin lives. A gentle turn with a drill bit with your fingers could help there. No drill though.

[rifleman56]

Ok,  the guy that worked on it is Cody, forgot the last name. I'll send him an email. Thanks for the replies. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Tighten the hammer spring strain screw 1/4 turn clockwise. 

How many runs had you fired, before you had the FTF issues? 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

What primers are you using (if reloading) or what "factory" ammo are you firing?   Some of the primers on the market need a stronger hit.   Cody C may have set your gun up with the "light-hit-will-fire" Federal primers in mind.

 

good luck, GJ

Edited October 13 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[Yusta B.]

1 hour ago, rifleman56 said:

Ok,  the guy that worked on it is Cody, forgot the last name. I'll send him an email. Thanks for the replies. 

  if it's Cody Conagher in West Virginia he will definitely help you.

 

 

[rifleman56]

That's the guy. I'm sending him an email and see if it can fix it. 

[rifleman56]

2 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

What primers are you using (if reloading) or what "factory" ammo are you firing?   Some of the primers on the market need a stronger hit.   Cody C may have set your gun up with the "light-hit-will-fire" Federal primers in mind.

 

good luck, GJ

I'm using Winchester primers. 

[rifleman56]

I sent Cody an email. I should have done this first. Thanks for all the replies. 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

2 hours ago, rifleman56 said:

I'm using Winchester primers. 

Those take a stronger hit to fire them than do Federals!  Sometimes tuners go light on the mainspring, causing this very problem.

 

good luck, GJ

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I can almost guarantee Cody will suggest tightening the strain screw a bit, as Lumpy mentioned.  But one other thing is to be sure your primers are fully seated.    Best way to check is to stand the cartridges upright on a hard flat surface (counter top, mirror, etc) and see if they wobble at all.  Good luck.

[Dusty Devil Dale]

Way too little info to be able to help you. 

 

"Action job" is too non-specific.  Were stock parts used, and if so were they modified?  Is the hammer spring a stock design or one of the many aftermarket divergent designs like Pioneer, or SGB?  Is the firing pin extension stock or weight- reduced (or otherwise modified)? 

Is the lever safety operative or disabled? 

All of those things affect firing pin forces --- and there are a number of remedial measures for each of them.

 

It could also be shooter timimg error, especially with a removed lever safety.  The bolt might not be fully closed when the trigger sear is released.  Try levering and shooting it very slowly to see if it detonates all of  the primers, or have another experienced shooter test fire the gun.  

 

Edited October 14 by Dusty Devil Dale

[Rye Miles #13621]

13 hours ago, rifleman56 said:

I'm using Winchester primers. 

I'm guessing that may be the problem. I only use Federals for my rifles, I have no problems with all other primers in my Colts.

[Cibola Al]

When I first got my Cody-matic 6 years ago it was the same deal. 1/4 turn of the mainspring screw fixed it, and the problem has never resurfaced.

[rifleman56]

2 hours ago, Cibola Al said:

When I first got my Cody-matic 6 years ago it was the same deal. 1/4 turn of the mainspring screw fixed it, and the problem has never resurfaced.

I tried that but it didn't work. Cody is sending me a heavier main spring. 

[rifleman56]

21 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said:

I can almost guarantee Cody will suggest tightening the strain screw a bit, as Lumpy mentioned.  But one other thing is to be sure your primers are fully seated.    Best way to check is to stand the cartridges upright on a hard flat surface (counter top, mirror, etc) and see if they wobble at all.  Good luck.

He did but that didn't work. He is sending me a heavier main spring. He said CCI are harder primers.  The primers are seated correctly. 

[rifleman56]

11 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I'm guessing that may be the problem. I only use Federals for my rifles, I have no problems with all other primers in my Colts.

 I bought these primers when there was a big shortage and I had to buy what was available. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

31 minutes ago, rifleman56 said:

 I bought these primers when there was a big shortage and I had to buy what was available. 

Make sure you seat the primers firmly to the bottom of the case's primer pocket. 

[Arcadia Outlaw, SASS 71385]

I would get some federal primers for the rifle and use the other primers for your pistols. Running a heavier main spring will make the gun harder to lever, although a quarter or half turn of adjustment s rew you probably won’t feel.

 

Cody is a great guy and stands behind his work, I have recommended him many times of the years and nobody has ever complained.

 

AO

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

13 hours ago, rifleman56 said:

He said CCI are harder primers. 

Yes, they are generally the hardest to light off.

 Then come Remington and Winchesters.

 

Then, the easiest to fire are Federals. 

 

Just because you bought some harder primers during the panic, does not mean that you TOLD Cody to set the gun up for those harder primers.  Or DID you?

 

good luck, GJ

 

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

15 hours ago, rifleman56 said:

 I bought these primers when there was a big shortage and I had to buy what was available. 

Federal small pistol primers are currently available for around $75 a thousand.  Now is a good time to stock up.  Use your harder primers for practice rounds or loading for other purposes.  (I use my harder primers for 9mm Luger reloads.)

[rifleman56]

4 hours ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Federal small pistol primers are currently available for around $75 a thousand.  Now is a good time to stock up.  Use your harder primers for practice rounds or loading for other purposes.  (I use my harder primers for 9mm Luger reloads.)

I'll check it out. Thanks 

[rifleman56]

6 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

Yes, they are generally the hardest to light off.

 Then come Remington and Winchesters.

 

Then, the easiest to fire are Federals. 

 

Just because you bought some harder primers during the panic, does not mean that you TOLD Cody to set the gun up for those harder primers.  Or DID you?

 

good luck, GJ

 

I never thought about it. I didn't know which ones are softer or harder. I do know though.