I just picked up this performance center revolver. It is just a bad arse, mean looking revolver. I took it out today with 100 rounds of 158gr LSWC, 4.5gr HP38. Win SPP

I got about 1 or 2 no fires each time I loaded the 8 cylinders. I can honestly say that I have never(ever) had a a primer failure to go off in loading 9, 40, 45, 38 and 357 ammo.

As I have no factory ammo or anything to compare it to I am thinking it is the gun and not my reloads. I even tried loading the "duds" again and restriking them, they still did not fire. If it is the gun, then why didn't they all fail?? If I put the non fired rounds in my 686 I would be willing to bet that they would fire. Which I will do the next time I go to the the range.

So the question is, is there anything I should try before sending it back to S&W?? Here is a pic of 3 non fire with light strikes and 3 of the rest that did fire.



The Gun:

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Still Running Against the Wind

Is this a new HG or used?
If used, it may have had the mainspring changed with a lighter aftermarket one to lighten up the DA pull. A side effect of this is often light primer strikes, especially if shooting DA. Reloaders will solve this by using Federal primers which are the most sensitive (CCI are the hardest). Also available for the S&W revolvers through Brownells are extra length firing pins. They also give more reliable ignition, but with the risk of perforating a primer (not fun!).
The last thought is that you .357 Mag ammo is loaded with very hard Magnum primers, which are even harder to ignite. You might try some factory Federal .38 Special for both better ignition and the appearance of more pronounced primer indents.
On the other hand, if it's a new HG, then send it back to S&W.

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NCY in the PR of NJ

Looked at the pix again. The bottom three look textbook. The top three are light, to say the least.
Did you shoot some DA and some SA?
The more I look at it, the more I lean towards a gun problem, though I'd still try the other ammo before I send things back.
Obviously, a little cleaning & lubing of the firing pin assembly should also be done.

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NCY in the PR of NJ

The rounds I fired were with Win Small Pistol Primers. Not Magnum primeres. Federal primers are not a option as I have none and none to be found.

This gun comes with a Wolff mainspring and some other performance center "tweaks".

Most shots were single action so I can not recall if it occured during single or double action shooting.

I called S&W and thy are sending a UPS pickup tag.
Before I send it back I will load a few more rounds and clean the pimer pockets (which I never do) and see if that makes a difference.
I did try double striking the non fires so I figure that would eliminate a high primer situation. I really do not want to go buy a $40 box of Fiocchi or S&B magnum loads as that's all there is around here.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The Wolff mainspring kits are the ones used that can lead to light strikes, but the inconsistent nature of the hits is not the usual result. They usually look all a bit light with some not igniting. Again, this is assuming that you fire all DA. Cocking and firing SA will lead to deeper, harder strikes, as the spring is tensioned more.
A final thing to check: the "tension spring" on the frame that pushes against the mainspring MUST be screwed in all the way. Loosening this screw was an old trick used with the stock springs to lighten the DA pull that led to light/inconsistent hits.
Winchester primers are harder than Fed's, but lighter than CCI's. Sorry that you can't find Fed's to use, as that's what all who have spring kits installed do to get reliable DA ignition.
Try the stock mainspring/trigger spring combo before you send it back. S&W won't happy that you've "altered" the gun and will discard the expensive Wolff parts and probably charge you as well.
I'd get the stock springs back in if their available from the previous owner.

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NCY in the PR of NJ

????

It is stock, that's how SW makes them.
I did check the screw, it is tight.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have a 327 TRR8 and got those light strikes some times too. I called S&W and was told the firing pin force was the same in double action and also single action and to make sure the primer was seated fully and also to use the moon clips that came with it so the cases will not move as much. Since then I haven't had any additional light strikes.

Interesting. I have not tried it with the moon clips but I will when I try it again. However, I would rather not have to use moon clips, they are a PITA for me. Useful for speed loading but I do not need to do that with this gun.

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Still Running Against the Wind