K22 Not firing

[robin990]

I have a 1957 K22 I just bought......shoots very accurate and I certainly like the gun.... Problem is it is not firing every cylinder every time. Probably , every other 6 rounds , one and sometimes two will not fire , the hammer leaves a mark on the cartridge rim. , but they round does not fire.....Any suggestions ?.....also , it has marks like its been dry fired.....I can post or send pics to anyone who might be willing to help.....after I get some advice , I plan to take the gun back to the dealer and get this sorted out. Thanks in advance

 

[alec.mc]

Make sure your strain screw is all the way tight ( under the grip on front strap )

 

[Sebago Son]

You can give the main spring a little more energy by placing a spent large pistol primer (anvil removed) under the tip of the main spring strain screw and the main spring it'self.

Another potential remedy would be to try another brand of ammo.

 

[armorer951]

Other possibilities would include dirt/debris under the extractor (and other places), cyl. end shake, and modifications by the previous owner.....to mention only a few.

 

[MichiganScott]

If the pistol has been dry fired, it is possible that a burr has been raised in the chamber rim preventing the cartridge from being seated completely. Dry firing may also leave a peen mark on the chamber rim softening the crushing effect of the firing pin.

Examine each chamber carefully. You could even mark each chamber with a paint stick to see if it is one chamber only that is causing the problem. Dirty, lead fouled chambers will also prevent the cartridges from seating fully.

 

[1blindref]

All great suggestions so far.

OP - you don't mention anything about the ammo you are using.
How old is the ammo?
Is it a quality ammo?
Have you tried different ammo?

Before going crazy trying to figure out if it's a gun problem, I'd try a few different brands of ammo.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Over the years I have owned half-a-dozen S&W .22 rimfire revolvers. Every one was somewhat finicky about ammo, and every one benefited from meticulous cleaning.

 

[robin990]

Thanks everyone.....I used three different ammos and they all have the same effect. CCI Minimags , Federal and Winchester Xpert HV

The gun is clean through out......

 

[arjay]

If you're using quality ammo (not bulk) and there's no peening preventing the rounds from seating,the mainspring may be tired or the strain screw may have been shortened for a "trigger job" at some point.

 

[raytsmith]

Probably not the ammo if you have used 3 types. Does it do this all the time or only after shooting a few cylinders full ?
Some of them have real close tolerances and after a few rounds, the cylinders gum up, then if you don't seat the new load all the way, they will start misfiring because part of the hammer force is used up in pushing the brass all the way into the cylinder. So make sure you push them in good. I've gotten so I run my thumb around the case rims just to see if any feel like they are not all the way down before closing the cylinder.
And if it ain't that, you probably need to get a new factory mainspring.

 

[robin990]

Well , looks like the strain screw was shortened......the gunsmith put a new one in and told me to go fire the gun....I will tomorrow......thanks you all for your help , I ALWAYS learn something new when I ask a question here.....this might fix or not the fix the problem , so your other suggestions are of great use.

 

[robin990]

My continuing saga....the gun continued to miss.....so the Gunstore send it to Smith and Wesson for repair.....I was gonna just get out of the gun but since the factory is doing the repair im hoping for a solid gun when it comes back.

 

[bigmoose]

The K22 is an awesome gun. Don't get discouraged. This problem will get fixed and you will have one of the finest .22 revolvers ever made. Best of luck.

 

[robin990]

I was going to just get out of the K22 and buy a 4 inch 617.....then I looked at the finish of the 617 , and reversed myself and decided to wait for the K22 to come back from S&W. I bought it because of its quality and finish, so ill just wait for its return.

 

[Jebus35745]

Be patient, good things are worth waiting for. While you're waiting, try to find some .22 ammo!!!! Larry